RESSIES IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

After last week’s defeat in the cup at Styal Geoff Parr was keen to make sure that Billinge raised the standard.
With a change in first team goal - with Tom Hull stepping up - and a late drop out for cover with the reserves, Parr had to step into the firing line and tend the goal!
Was this to be the downfall of Billinge?
The answer is no!
The first-half was an all-action, master class display that saw the Billinge team score five very impressive goals with Eagle only replying with one. Martin Rennox set the tone with his humiliation of the Eagle right back knocking the ball past him and breaking into the open grass.
The right back knew from minute one that he was in for a hard days graft.
And it was Rennox who scored the opening two goals putting himself in the right place at the right time. Firstly from what was brilliant link- up play and secondly from a bit of poor goalkeeping leaving Rennox with an open goal.
Eagle did manage to pull a goal back and it looked like they could be up for a fight.
The Eagle right winger found himself in space in the box and managed to get a shot across the goal that Parr saved well but the rebound found its way to the Eagle No. 9 and he slipped the ball into the net.
Sadly for Eagle this half was going to be Billinge and up stepped the ever-impressive captain Rob Ablewhite.
Able who was joined by his old partner Jamie Anderson managed to bag himself a first half trick even though at kick-off he had declared he may not be able to sprint at full pace.
The introduction of Anderson was a big plus for the reserve team in a week where three of Parr’s better players were needed for first team action.
Rob and Jamie work in harmony and have an almost telepathic communication whilst in the midst of a game.
This is a half where the team could have had seven or eight!
Although it was the attackers grabbing the headlines it was the solid back line providing the foundations.
Adam Dickinson was impressive at centre-half on his return from a spell learning his trade with the first team, Elliot Twigg, on his return from backpacking (or was it was bag packing at the CO-OP!) hardly put a foot wrong.
Ant Higgins was solid and as fiery as ever and Shaun Latham barked the teams orders and made vital challenges.
In front of them was a new-look defensive midfield pairing of Phil Burrows and Jay Parkin.
The pair worked great together and were able to stop a very creative No 6 getting the Eagle game going whilst turning defence into attack.
5-1 at half-time.
Parr knew that it would be hard to maintain such high standards and just requested his lads stay focused and it was Eagle that came out the sharper in the second-half and on a couple of occasions early in the half managed to get a couple of long range efforts on goal that failed to trouble the Billinge goal.
Then came the sucker punch; a quick counter by Billinge down the right with Rennox who found Anderson in space just in the box and he struck a lovely shot in to the top corner!
6-1 game over as a match but not as a spectacle.
Eagle kept going forward to their credit and grabbed a goal back. Again a break down the Eagle right resulted in a shot across Parr’s goal which was saved superbly only for him to see the ball skew up in the air straight to an Eagle player who nodded in from two yards.
Then came the goals of the game: Firstly from Phil Burrows who picked the ball up in his own half and set off taking on the Eagle team knocking the ball around the opposition and eventually finding himself one on one and slipping the ball calmly under the advancing keeper.
Then from Eagle who went straight up the other end and worked the ball onto the edge of the box only for it to fall to a full-back who struck a speculative effort that looked to be swerving well wide only for it swing back and nestle in the bottom corner.
There was surprise from both sets of players on that one: Parr had no chance and that was the end of the scoring.
A great team performance by Billinge and Parr was able to bring on young Luke Shaw for his debut - replacing the hard working Dan Hague - and also give more game time to the improving James Armstrong.
After the game manager Parr said: “Not having a regular keeper going into a league fixture at this standard is always a worry as teams can really put you under pressure.
"My defence never let that happen today and they put their bodies on the line.
"That coupled with our great attacking flair made sure Eagle never had a chance.
"The lads were great and it's really good to see them responding to my tactics and carrying them out whilst enjoying their football. "Having played nearly every minute with them - prior to my appointment - I know how good they are and all I want them to do is achieve what they are capable of and that’s winning trophies”

MOM: Martin Rennox (could have gone to eight or nine players).
Wooden Spoon: Ant Higgins – promised he would score and never even had a shot!

Next week Geoff and the lads are at home to high-flying Barnton in what will be a superb match.
Kick-off at Barrows Farm is 3pm: full preview later in the week