Last weekend's defeat at Rochdale St Clements was pretty difficult to take - as the lads had played well and worked hard throughout - so today was about keeping that ethic and doing the one thing that was lacking at Burton Park and that was putting away our chances. Because this was a 90-minute shoot-out baby! The Lancashire FA Amateur Cup was rolling into Breightmet - again - as we were going into this 3rd round tie knowing a win would take us the furthest we've ever been as a group in this tournament. A place in the last 16 of the Lancashire County Cup! That sounds great doesn't it - so the incentive was there for everybody this afternoon...

The visitors today were to be Ince Central - who ply their trade in the Premier Division of the Wigan & District League - and having seen their league form so far, there was a feeling that this could be a walk in the park here today. That was quickly dispelled though when they were reminded that to get here today, they had seen off Turton Reserves in the last round so they must know their stuff. We had to focus and keep our eyes on the prize here. The lads arrived early to get their brews in The Clubhouse and as a healthy crowd started to congregate on The Veranda, we came out to warm up. The pitch looked nice to the eye but it was pretty soft in places so we'd need to keep our wits about us with our way of passing it short. With the stretches done and the ball-work completed, it was back into the dressing-room to see which 11 were to be starting here. It was good to see Chris back from his jollies - congratulations to Kay and Mr Gettins on their engagement in Mexico by the way - and although it was sad circumstances, having Keegie in the ranks after the funeral of his Grandma yesterday was also a plus. And when the team was announced, it saw the boss say true to his word - and play 10 of the 11 lads that were at training on Thursday night. That meant the only change from the defeat last weekend saw Robbie in for Callum. The bench was pretty defensive too - with Keegie and Chris joined by Gatesie - and with Brian our only attacking option today, we were praying for no injuries! Ha ha! The message was simple though - just play our football with a smile, work in triangle and the most important thing - if we wanted to improve on the result last Saturday - was 'decision-making'. We needed to make the right run at the right time. Play the right pass - to the right player - at the right time. And finish our chances! The lads looked up for it and as they made their way onto the pitch, they received a warm round of applause from the United fans lining the walkway...

And within the first 50 seconds, we thought we'd see our first chance as Charlie received the ball on the right and as he drove towards the heart of their defence, the ball just wouldn't sit properly enough to unleash his shot. We were showing early intent though and that was a pleasing sign. And on 4 minutes, Charlie was once again involved as he combined well with Yatesy to see a shot defended really well by the Ince back-line. From the resulting corner, Charlie signalled a '1' and as the ball was curled in, it went over their keeper's head and looked on it's way into the net - until Alex and Jack both tried to head it in and from where we were stood, it looked like the skipper who managed to head it over the bar! It was in - so great defending mate! We were on top in these early stages though so that was something...

And on 11 minutes, our pressure was made to count. We worked the ball well through the middle - with Liam and Alex combining well to see Mark feed it into Yatesy - but he didn't get the power he wanted and their No.1 managed to get down to save it . But the ball popped up and there was Charlie racing into the space to smash the loose ball into the back of the net from close-range - and with that we were in front! Shows the benefit of at least making the keeper work - and definitely the importance of chasing all lost causes. 1-0 and we were off...

But for some reason, we then did what we have been guilty of a few times already this season - and we began to make the wrong decisions and get involved with the other side of the game. Giving away silly free-kicks and playing passes that were through people rather than around them, it gave the Ince lads a way into the game and on 18 minutes, it took a superb save from Mitch to keep us in front. We gave the ball away far too easily about 25 yards from goal and as the visitors worked it in from the right, their striker thought he'd scored - until he saw our Mitch looming large in front of him to save it low down. Things that like should galvanise a team so it was going to be interesting to see what happened now...

Ince put together another good move minutes later and as their guy pulled his leg back to shoot, he thought to all the world that the ball would fly goal-wards - but he hadn't counted for our captain sliding in with an excellent challenge to stop it in it's tracks - and although we were showing heart in our defensive-third, we shouldn't be allowing them anywhere near our penalty box really. Decision-making. Think about what we're doing and stop rushing things...

We did then get our foot back on the ball and with Mark buzzing around all over the place, we started to see it in more attacking areas again - with Lewis guilty of firing a good chance well over when he had a lot more time than he thought - and as the minutes ticked by, the only time they looked dangerous was when we gave them a set-piece or throw around our box. Charlie was working well with Nathan down our right - with Ben and Lewis linking up well on the left - and with the midfield battle being won by our three at this stage, we couldn't let them back in this before the break. But boy did we all think we'd doubled our lead on 28 minutes! Everybody in the ground thought we had! Mark took hold of the ball in the middle of the park and drove straight at their defence - getting about 25 yards from goal and hammering a superb shot towards the goal. It looked in all the way - until their keeper managed to pull off a world-class save by somehow managing to get his finger-tips to it to knock it onto the crossbar. The ball dropped just in front of Charlie and as he went to tuck it home, we have no clue how their No.1 managed to get up quick enough to launch himself once again and this time he pushed it around his post for a corner. When that came to nothing, it was great to hear the applause ringing out around Moss Park for their goalkeeper. That was some double-save that...

The first yellow-card of the game came out of the referee's pocket on 32 minutes - and it was our Jack that received it for somewhat of a cynical foul about a yard outside of our box. Alright - if he hadn't done it then the guy was clean through - but we shouldn't have been allowing them these types of opportunities whatsoever. The away side struck the dead-ball and as Mitch got down to parry it before smashing it clear, they were screaming that the ball had crossed our goal-line. The only person that mattered didn't think so though and as the referee waved play-on, we really were making this harder than it needed to be. We needed to play our game and not adapt to the opponents' style of football..

We were looking dangerous when we went forward all game so far - and Mark had another great chance to double our lead when yet another piercing run into their box saw his shot looking likely to go in - but it took a wicked deflection that saw it travelling towards the inside of the opposite post. Don't ask us how - but their keeper managed to change his whole body-shape in a milli-second and as he flung himself in the opposite direction to tip it around the post, the Breightmet fans were scratching their heads as to how he did that! The opponent's No.1 was keeping them in the game here...

Funny wasn't the word when we then saw a free-kick awarded to us and as their player stood in the way of us taking it early, Nathan decided to try and take it anyway - and as the crunching challenge came in, our No.2 landed on the floor. That wasn't the issue - it was the fact that their player didn't even know he was involved in a tackle! The home fans cheered and giggled and we're sure that all Mr Bancroft wanted to do was get himself dirty out there today...

The second goal was needed now - just so we could relax and play with a bit more freedom - and on 42 minutes, we thought we'd got it. Another good move saw Yatesy and Charlie link up well and as the latter hit the byeline, he whipped a delicious ball across the face of their goal that saw Mark launch himself - Gazza-style - to see his studs centimetres from connecting and as the ball went past him, we all had our heads in our hands. This lad had worked his socks off so far and had been so close to breaking his Breightmet duck...

Shortly after that, the referee decided that he had seen enough and as he blew his whistle for the break, it was going to be good to get our boys in and regroup. We'd done well out there and deserved to be in front. But this was definitely not won yet...

Half-time: BREIGHTMET UNITED 1-0 Ince Central

As they came in, the lads were busy praising each other - not just for their efforts but for the positivity they were showing out there. That's been missing recently but we were showing that we were in the trenches together out there and that was replicated by wanting to work for each other. We needed to keep that up, keep making the right decisions and stop them having anything 'free' anywhere near our box. If we got the next goal, then there was every chance these could crumble - but if we allowed them to equalise, this would be so much more of a game that it needed to be. Relax. Take our time. And make the right choices. No changes were made and the lads were back out there again ready to take us to the last 16...

Although it's not his position, Ben has been asked to do a job for the team in the past couple of games and slotting in at left-back, he has performed really well back there - so when he worked really well with Lewis early in the second-half, it was no surprise to see the fear in their full-back's eyes. A great 1-2 saw Lewis put it back into the space and as Ben smashed his shot in, there was their keeper yet again to save well low down - but this time there was nobody following up and their centre-half just hit it out for a corner. That came to nothing but we were quickly showing our intent again...

That said. the Ince lads weren't going to lie down and take a defeat here and whenever they could, they were trying to cause us trouble. At times they felt as though the man in the middle was against them - but we do have to say that Isaac was probably one of the best referee's we've had so far this campaign - and just before the hour-mark, the visitors were up in arms although they needn't have been. A long-ball over the top saw their striker at least a yard offside and despite the flag going up and the referee blowing his whistle, their guy slammed it past Mitch and into the net. Thinking they'd levelled the score, the away fans were dancing and singing - so the noise from the home contingent was obviously louder when it was chalked off. Still 1-0 but this second goal was needed - and it was needed soon...

More good work from our midfield trio saw Liam dink out a great cross into the mixer not long after - and with the away defence stood with their arms up calling for offside, their own linesman kept his flag down - but all Charlie could do was weave his neck back enough to get it goal-wards and see the ball drop about a foot the wrong side of the post. That would be have been interesting to see their reaction if that had gone in, that's for sure...

The gaffer decided to make some changes on 65 minutes - and that meant Robbie and Lewis were coming off to see Gatesie go in at right-back, Nathan come over to the left and with Keegie going into the heart of the defence, Ben was pushed further up on the left. Now comes a debatable issue that was definitely discussed in The Clubhouse afterwards. The boss has said that it was a 'tactical masterclass' as moments after the changes, it was 2-0 - and it involved some the changes he'd made! Once again, Mark had hustled and bustled their midfielder off the ball and he played a delightful pass inside the centre-half and full-back - as Wayne had asked for all game - and Ben was onto it like a whippet. He cut inside and used his silky skills to drag their defence out of shape before hitting his shot towards the far corner. It looked in - but once again, there was their No.1 to stop it with another great save - however this time Yatesy was charging in at the far-post and from a narrow angle, he managed to slam the ball into the back of their net from close range. YES! There was that important second goal that would hopefully enable us to relax and enjoy the rest of this game now. 2-0 and the Breightmet fans were in full voice now...

The away side were trying still - to their credit - but whenever they did manage to breach our lines, Mitch was in fine form this afternoon and looked determined to keep that elusive clean-sheet we've not seen for a while now. And whenever we did get the ball up their end, we were still creating and still failing to put them away. Winning a free-kick on our left about 40 yards from goal, Ben swung a delicious cross in that saw Keegie rise highest - but he could only head the bar well over the bar and the chance was gone. A third goal would definitely seal it...

Then came what seemed a moment of madness from not one but a few of the team in blue - and it appeared to come from nowhere. Obviously annoyed at going two goals behind, they lost their heads briefly - and saw themselves reduced to 10 men when they came out of it. Gatesie had won a great tackle over on the right - in front of their dug-out - and their guy seemed to take umbrage by pulling away at his shirt. As Gatesie went to get up, the Ince player seemed to hang off his neck and drag him down again and after the silly scuffle had died down, the referee issued a red card to the away culprit. Up in arms, the Ince bench made their feelings known and we saw at least one more yellow card brandished before things got back to normal. Now a man to the good as well as two goals up, surely if we managed this properly now, it was job done...

With 83 minutes on the clock, we decided to freshen things up top a little - if that's what you call it - when we brought Chris on for Yatesy in a move that saw Jack go up top again and not long after, we had a great chance to make it 3-0. Working the ball well in the middle again, we fed it through the channel and as Ben got to it, he tied their defender in knots before unleashing a great shot with his right-foot that looked destined for the top corner - until that pesky keeper of theirs once again managed to get to it first. By far and away the best player for the opposition out there today and the Breightmet fans also agreed with that...

Then on 86 minutes we thought we'd seen a really cheeky goal that Marko's performance had deserved today - but it wasn't to be. We'd won the ball back from the team in blue as they were trying to attack and as the ball fell to our No.6, he spotted their keeper way off his line and out of position. Lobbing it over him, we were all urging it to drop the right side of the bar but alas, the ball went just over with their keeper beaten for once. So unlucky but great, quick thinking...

Wayne then decided to ensure that Mark received the adulation his performance had deserved - so he brought him off to give our Brian a run-out - and that in itself caused a stir. As he took his place up top - with Jack dropping into the midfield - their defender was heard to say 'Are you putting the fat, old man on 'cos you're winning?' He really didn't expect Brian to come back at him with 'I can't see without my glasses either!' and all we could have asked for now was for Mr Palin to get himself on the score-sheet...

He had chances as well! One flashed just in front of him and then one he just couldn't get out of his feet to shoot - but he also showed his lazy side by not getting out quick enough and being caught offside and with the Breightmet fans in a joyous mood now, the atmosphere around the place was buzzing. We'd done it. We'd made it to the last 16 of the County Cup! How good is that?

The referee blew his whistle to end the game having played a couple of minutes of injury-time and we'd just like to say that we thought he had a top game out there today. He made the right decisions consistently for both sides and despite the Ince lads thinking otherwise, we'd say that he was the best match official we've had the delight of encountering this season and we hope to get him again somewhere down the line. Back to the game though and as both sides shook hands, it was good to see the earlier stuff forgotten and it was lovely to hear them wishing us luck in the next round. We hope you had a safe journey home and wish you all the very best for the rest of the season...

Our changing-room was jubilant as the lads came in - and that's what working hard for a win does! Each and every one of them in there had done their bit for the cause this afternoon and as we reflected on the result, it was due to the determination and togetherness that saw us through. Sure - we could still be better with our finishing - but a win is a win and we deserved this one. Marko was awarded the ROMAC Logistics Man of the Match - with Mitch, Ben and Charlie not far behind him - but all of them can go home pleased with themselves tonight...

Whose next then? Things will get harder now as a place in the quarter-final is up for grabs - but we'll go anywhere and give it a shot don't worry about that! Make sure you keep an eye out for news of the draw and who knows - might be a day and night out in Blackpool on the cards...

A huge shout-out to the United fans that came down and cheered us on from the first minute to the last and we really do appreciate seeing you there week after week. Bolton Rangers away next weekend - in Darwen - so we hope to see you there as well as three points are very much needed...

And that was that. The Clubhouse was a hive of activity as our Ressies and A team came home from their games - and all thoughts started turning to the huge Breightmet Derby tomorrow. More about that next weekend...

We're through. To the last 16! We'd have taken that at the start of the season surely...

#OnceUnitedNeverDivided