Not one of the Anvils vintage performances but weather conditions of a gale force and bitterly cold wind made it much more difficult for both sides to play a decent standard of football on than we are used to at The Haven.

The Pirates settled the quicker of the two sides with fullback Craig Ottley firing the first salvo well over, a minute later and Ottley fired in a cross that striker Kevin Barden with an open goal fired wide, the first Pirates freekick came with Jack Aston firing into keeper Andy Greaves arms. The Anvils with virtually their first attack then went in front on 5 mins when Ben Brooker broke down the right to cross, thus finding Dave Houlders in space to tuck home the Anvil opener. 1-0 Anvils.

Houlders then had another chance just after but this time the shot was wide. Pirates Andy Garman then tested Greaves on 15 with another freekick which caused problems in the Anvil box before being hastily cleared upfield, and just to finish off this little cameo, substitute Jamie Morgan then forced Greaves to tip over his freekick as the visitors continued to probe. By 20 the Anvils were beginning to take control of the match with first a Harry Lowe corner finding Houlders who from outside the box fired over, just after another corner this time from Brooker caused panic in the Pirates box before being grabbed by keeper Yankuba Camara at the second attempt, come 30 and Sam Cane joined the party with his shot being turned away by Camara for another corner which resulted in Lee Thomas heading narrowly wide, as the Anvils continued to huff and puff but without any further addition to the scoresheet. HT 1-0 Anvils.

With the wind now in their favour and kicking toward the Kop End, the Anvils on 48 struck quickly with Blair Cooney on one of his many charges down the right flank sent in a cross that found Cane in space and to nod home the Anvils second of the match. 2-0 Anvils. Just after keeper Camara off balance was still able to claw away another Cane effort as the Anvils upped the tempo, on 56 came the first Anvil change with Myles Pitt replacing Harry Lowe. The Pirates continued to push forward when possible, with Garman testing Greaves into pushlng away his shot, and a Barden pile driver being blocked by James Day.

On the hour mark busy mid fielder Mike Spence on a rare sortie thro the middle of the park then went close with a shot just over, but tho now more on the offensive the Anvils were still finding it hard to convert the many chances that they were creating and failing to finish. On 72 and completely against the run of play the pirates pulled a goal back when visitors striker Barden’s rather tame looking shot somehow squeezed thro the Anvils defence to give the Pirates a possible lifeline. 2-1 Anvils.

On 75 Josh Alcock replaced Thomas and Goodwin replaced Brooker. The Anvils still dominating continued to push forward and on 79 got their reward when a combination of Brooker and Houlders set up youngster Pitt to fire home the Anvils third. 3-1 Anvils. Further chances went missing for the Anvils before the end but bearing in mind the conditions another good result. FT 3-1 Anvils.

Team: Andy Greaves, Blair Cooney, Hass Shurmahi, Mike Spence, Steve Dixon, James Day, Dave Houlders, Lee Thomas (Josh Alcock), Ben Brooker (Andy Goodwin), Sam Cane, Harry Lowe (Myles Pitt).

MOM: Sam Cane Attn:42