BRADFORD NEXT UP FOR LAIRDS
By Paul Mcloughlin
Bradford Park Avenue are the visitors to Kirklands this Saturday (KO 3pm) and Cammell Laird will be hoping for a good result to prevent them falling into the UniBond Premier drop zone.
Big spending Avenue are currently lying in fith place and will be hoping to exact revenge on Lairds who recorded a surprise victory at the Horsfall Stadium in October.
Lairds are reeling after leaders and title favourites Eastwood Town showed their credintials in a 4-1 defeat for Derek Ward's men at the weekend.
The Badgers had to come from behind against a plucky Lairds side, Tony Rendell and Rob Courtenay looked dangerous up front and tested Shane Redmond in the home goal.
The surprise lead came in bizarre circumstances after 16 minutes when Carl Clampitt rose with Redmond to meet a floating free kick. The Republic of Ireland U23 stopper misjudged his grasp and spilled the ball into his goal.
Eastwood proceded to put Lairds under pressure and the inevitable equaliser came just before the break when Marc Smith defelcted the ball past Richard Whiteside in the Lairds goal.
The second half saw Eastwood determined to use the strong wind to their advantage, Whiteside pulled ioff several great saves to keep them at bay but had no chance of stopping a Lindon Meikle shot on the hour mark.
Despite Lairds valiant efforts to get back on terms Eastwood always looked comfortable, John Corrigan was unlucky not to grab the equaliser only to be foiled by Redmonds trailing legs.
Smith bagged his second on three quarter time after good wing play by the Badgers and turned the screw on Lairds with an injury time header to complete his hat trick and leave Lairds just one place above the relegation zone.

Last edited by BMW Joe; 16th Mar 2009 9:55pm. Reason: added to calandar