Daisy Hill’s hopes of picking up their first home league win of 2025 were dashed on Friday night by a first-half goal from Tom Romano, that earned Atherton LR a 1-0 win in the North West Counties League First Division clash at the Plumb Factory Stadium.
In a game of few clear chances, Romano’s strike was enough to see LR through to victory, although they also missed a first-half penalty and Daisy’s hopes of a late revival were hindered by losing skipper Jake O’Brien to a red card 15 minutes from time, when he was penalised for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The derby clash between the sides was played out in front of a bumper crowd, swelled by the publicity surrounding the appointment of Aaron Hunt as Daisy Hill chairman.
BBC television reporters and journalists, social media influencers, content creators, vloggers and their followers from all over the country mixed with local supporters of both clubs, on a night that was quite unlike any other seen at Daisy Hill in the club’s long history.
Daisy manager Lee Hill summed up his feelings after the game.
“It was a good night for the club, the attendance was close to a record for recent times, and it’s been a real game changer for the club,” said Hill.
“As for the game itself, I thought it was a really good close game, and both teams worked very hard.
“I don’t think there were many chances for either side although that’s what games between us and LR are often like.
“The games can be tight and recent form goes out of the window, and in the end it was decided by a slightly fortunate goal, with a shot taking a deflection.
“LR have lost their last couple of games, but have been used to winning this season, and when you are used to being on winning runs, sometimes those sorts of chances fall for you.
“We had a chance late when Liam Sheppard chipped one over the keeper, but unfortunately for us it went wide.
“When we were chasing the game, losing Jake O’Brien to a red card in the last 15 minutes kind of tied our hands a bit in terms of making too many changes, although I don’t think we needed to change too much.
“Even when we went down to ten mean I thought we were good value.
“We were still pushing for an equaliser, and we just maybe needed a little bit more quality in the final third, and a little bit more luck, and we could have got something out of the game.
“I said to the lads that when we match opponents’ energy and passion and willingness to make runs and apply ourselves, we can take on anyone, and they did that.
“I’d also like to thank all the supporters who turned up tonight to support us. People have come from places like London, Plymouth and Newcastle, and they were really enthusiastic and supported the team.
“Hopefully, they liked what they saw, and we did enough to make them want to come back and support us again for the remaining games this season.”
Although both sides have been in good goalscoring form recently, it was for the most part a close-fought game with clear-cut chances few and far between.
Daisy has an early half chance when an O’Brien corner was nodded down by Nathan Bartram-Conway into the path of Kaiden Barlow, but the striker’s shot flew over the bar.
The decisive moment of the game came on 28 minutes when Romano bagged what turned out to be the winner for LR.
A ball was played through to him on the edge of the box, and as he shaped to shoot, Daisy skipper O’Brien slid in attempting to block the shot but only succeeded in deflecting the ball high over the head of Daisy goalkeeper Morgan Newns.
It was an unfortunate break of the ball, but Daisy continued to enjoy a good share of possession, and four minutes from half time created their first clear chance when Sam Howell played Liam Sheppard through on goal, but LR keeper Joe Bickerstaffe safely gathered the striker’s well-struck shot.
In first half stoppage time, LR were given the opportunity to double their lead when Jacob Ridings was penalised for a challenge in the box, and the referee awarded a penalty.
Harvey Sample took responsibility for the spot-kick, but was denied by a fine diving save from Newns who blocked the effort with his legs.
After the break, the pattern of play continued with both sides enjoying a share of possession, while neither keeper was seriously troubled.
Daisy skipper O’Brien was involved in two of the key moments as the game moved into the final quarter, firstly pouncing on a loose ball before firing a shot wide, and then with 15 minutes remaining he was shown a straight red card for a trip on LR striker Sample, the referee ruling that O’Brien’s challenge had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Ten minutes from time, a ball over the top of the LR defence set Sheppard racing through, but his attempt at lofting a shot over the advancing Bickerstaffe in the LR goal missed the target.
A final push from Daisy saw Barlow have a shot blocked in stoppage time after good work on the wing by Fin Stafford, but LR survived the late pressure to pick up the points.
LR boss Dave Jones said: “We missed the feeling of picking up three points over the last few weeks. It’s a group that spends a lot of season winning so the last few weeks has tested them..
“You’re coming up against a Daisy Hill side that have worked so hard to make things difficult for us tonight, but credit to the lads for digging deep and seeing out the three points.”
Daisy are back in action this Saturday in the North West Counties League First Division North when they travel to face Droylsden.
Meanwhile, LR are on the road against Holker Old Boys.
