Andy Taylor taps home the match winner! Photo courtesy Neil Mitchell
STRIKER Andy Taylor, making only his sixth start in the first team this season popped up with the match winning goal after 18 minutes to send
Kirkham & Wesham though to the semi-finals of the Vodkat Second Division Trophy.
And Taylor was quick to dedicate the victory to coach Colin Methven.
He said: "Colin just loves 1-0 victories and l'm just pleased that I managed to get on the end of things to win the match."
Manager Mick Fuller rested a number of his key first team players and gave other members of his squad, including Taylor an opportunity to stake their claim for a place in the side ahead of next weeks all important trip to Crowborough in the FA Vase.
He said later: "We made a lot of changes today but we are through to the semis and that's the important thing.
"It wasn't pretty at times but these things sometimes happen in football.
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"We can't always play well and win, but l'll take the win in preference any
day."
Kirkham will now play either Oldham Town or Ashton Athletic in the semi-finals which will be played over two legs on Saturday's 23 February and 1 March, although the March date may have to be changed should the side progress further in the FA Vase.
And Taylor certainly made his presence felt after 18 minutes when he ghosted in at the far post to tap home after Ged Smith and James Sheppard had combined on the left to put Taylor in.
Indeed Taylor could well have added to his tally had he taken a bit more care after 34 minutes but he fired straight at Ashton keeper Danny Vickers who saved well.
In a pretty scrappy game it has to be said, Kirkham's changes made life difficult for the home side to get into any real sort of rhythm, and while Ashton's front man, striker Chris McNally proved a handful all afternoon he
was kept under close control by big defender Jon Moffatt who had a great game in the heart of the home defence and made two timely interceptions and blocks in the first 10 minutes to set Kirkham on their way.
Ged Smith, Sean Paterson and Mike Clark all had chances to add to Kirkham's tally but were thwarted in and around the goal.
Fuller added: "It was an ideal game for us really - not too much pressure as it wasn't a league game or in the Vase so we could try a few things and give players on the fringe of the squad some playing time.
"A good exercise you might say and if Crowborough spies were watching l'm not sure they will have learned anything from this - which is good."
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