Lostock Gralam 0

Middlewich Town Reserves 1

Mid Cheshire FA Saturday

Cup semi-final

LOSTOCK were dumped out of the cup on Saturday as their miserable home form continued, while Middlewich kept up their dream of meeting their first team in the final.

It is now a mammoth 133 days since Lostock last won at Manchester Road, a depressing statistic in itself, but this semi-final defeat has cost them their one realistic chance of silverware.

And with a string of home games still to come, manager Chris Peers must be praying for his next away trip. Menawhile, in the opposite dugout the Middlewich management team of Steve Moore and Neil Bithell can be very pleased with the way they have turned things round after a disappointing start to the season.

Lostock didn't start well and had captain Paul Stott to thank for keeping them on level terms early on, then Pete Gibbon hit the home side's first chance wide.

But as Lostock came more into the game, Tom Allen and Andy Tutt, with brothers Nathan and Adam Morris in defence, limited their chances in a tricky period for Town.

Then their winner came in the 35th minute when Jamie Petrie hooked the ball in from close range, although Lostock players surrounded the referee, convinced that goalkeeper Graham Wyatt had been fouled in the build-up.

The second period was a great contest as Lostock searched for the equaliser, Gibbon's 20-yard volley being matched by a fine save from James Prime.

As time wore on, Lostock became impatient and were again appealing to the referee when he waved play on as Caldwell went down after rounding Prime.

l BOTH sides return to Mid Cheshire League Division Two action this Saturday, Lostock at home to Whitchurch Alport and Middlewich away to Pilkington Reserves.