Hill happy with Daisy's display in final friendly

Yahoo

22-07-2025

Daisy Hill rounded off their build-up to the start of the North West Counties League First Division North season with a comfortable 5-1 win away at Pause United on Saturday.
On a showery afternoon in Morecambe, Daisy had built up a three-goal lead at the break courtesy of Regan Brown, Kaiden Barlow and Dean Singleton, and although the hosts pulled a goal back early in the second half, two further goals from successfully-converted penalties by Jake O'Brien and Liam Sheppard rounded off a good afternoon for Lee Hill's men.
The Daisy boss said afterwards the game had worked out as he had hoped.
'It was a good workout today, and really pleasing to see some of the things we've been working on in training play out in the game,' said Hill.
'The lads have really bought into what we're trying to do which is great to see.
'We knew we would see more of the ball than we did against Padiham on Tuesday night. So it was about using the ball better, getting certain players higher up the pitch in areas that they can affect the game, and also finishing chances which we did.
'It was also good to get Liam Sheppard back, Nathan (Bartram-Conway) got minutes and so did Jack Iley.
'So overall, a really good day that allows us to go away and fine tune a few bits now.'
Daisy began the game well, and after Alex Dodd had a good effort saved by the Pause keeper, Will Kitchen, they took the lead after 14 minutes.
Dodd was involved once more, starting the move with a pass that played Sheppard through on goal, and he squared into the path of Brown, who rifled home into the far corner.
Seven minutes later, Barlow doubled Daisy's lead with a cracking volley from an O'Brien cross, and although a cross-shot from home striker Zach Clark two minutes later almost caught out Daisy keeper Morgan Newns, it was the 34th minute before he was called on to make a save, diving low down to his left.
After Brown's strong run into the box set up a shooting chance for Barlow that just missed the target, on the stroke of half time Daisy bagged their third goal of the afternoon.
The Pause United defence failed to clear a beautifully whipped in corner by O'Brien, and Dean Singleton had the simple task of finishing from close range.
Three minutes into the second half Pause United pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, but within two minutes Daisy had a penalty of their own, when a strong run from Jacob Ridings was halted when he was tripped in the box, and O'Brien made no mistake from the spot to restore the three-goal lead.
Barlow, Sheppard and Brown all had efforts saved by Pause United keeper Kitchen, before Sheppard set up Ridings for a shot that cleared the bar.
But six minutes from time, Daisy added a fifth goal from another penalty, awarded when Barlow was brought down in the box, and Sheppard stepped to make no mistake from the spot.
Daisy are back in action this Saturday when they host Ashton Athletic at the Ginge Power Stadium, in the opening game of the season in the North West Counties League First Division North.