While their were certain to be some people feeling ruff after a big weekend for the club, there was no chance of Junior collator Nick Syrett straying from his duties – here’s the always entertaining Junior round-up from the weekend of March 23rd & 24th
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Curtain twitching in Chorlton reached fever pitch proportions this week as local residents were dumbfounded over 2 nights of midnight howling. A large, rare Super Worm Moon greeted the Spring Equinox this wednesday and with it seemingly released a large local hound dog of our own. Rumours that a pond weed covered figure could be seen leaping from bog to bog around Pitch 4 are as yet unsubstantiated. Wilder claims from an unnamed source that a sea shanty like song about his “super worm” could be heard echoing across Hardy farm are positively slanderous. Club stewards issued a strong statement: “Err, It’s more likely that the local canines of the community were tuning up their vocal cords in preparation for the National Non-league dog day taking place at the club on Saturday..”
Saturday 23rd
U9 Eagles
Europa league
Timperley Hurricanes (a)
Lost 1-2
Scorer: Fionn
PoM: Bailey
“We’re still working out just how we lost?!! It was one way traffic in the second half – the ball just wouldn’t cross the line!!” Some Ruff justice there on National puppy day.
Meanwhile, their feathered friends the Owls also didn’t have much to hoot about as they also lost 2-1 at home to the Unicorn Falcons. It was at least a great game of football. It was very even, and featured a late winning goal by Falcons. Jude Pinson x 1 goal. POM: All players for an outstanding performance
On a difficult pitch, the Under 11s won 1-3 away to Stretford Vics in the cup. Goals from Adam Coleman, birthday boy George Roskell and a wonderful chip from Isaac Marshall. POTM Jacob William for an all action game.
Sunday 24th
U13’s Badgers
Egerton Lions (a)
Europa League
Lost 0-6
Not ideal preparation before next week’s Cup Final!
(Sunday 31st March @ Trafford FC KO 11am v Ashton on Mersey Titans if anyone can make it)
A rather cross, pitch side Badger handler said: “We didn’t put our chances away and gave away 5 sloppy goals. Their manager said the score flattered them and ref said same-” Which was nice. . “Unusually their heads dropped today so a big morale lift needed!! “
“Training plan on tues – work out where goal is (for both attackers and defenders)”.
The U13 Magpies flew to the outer limits of the TDFL territories to encounter the Wilmslow Sports Dragons in leafy Cheshire. Without the dynamic duo alongside myself on the management bench, and pitted against an England legend with more high profile game time than Aki has had in naked sweat lodges, it was going to be a tough ask. The mind games began early as the wiley “DP7” sent us a slightly incorrect postcode to undo our solid pre-match prep. Undeterred, the Magpies flew out of the traps and raced into a 2-0 lead. A beaut of a free kick from The Boot of Harvey was glanced in by our Greek warrior, Ioannis. Soon after, a classic route 1 ball from Josh was latched on to by the Hitman and cooly slotted past the on rushing kamikaze keeper for 0-2 inside the first 10 minutes. UEFA A badge? 62 England caps?…Conscious of the first half wind advantage, I would have liked a nice cushion given the last matchup finished 5-5!. Alas, the Dragons didn’t paws for thought for too long and duly replied in somewhat fortunate manner with 3 before HT to lead at the break. Such was the controversy over some of those replies and the ruff justice, that Doulgeridis senior was lucky not to attract the inbound Manchester flights with his justified wild arm waving. I suspect the Greek swear box will be bulging at home this week.
Without the astute tactical and statistical analysis of my usual sidekicks, (thanks to the pair of Richards who stepped in to help this week) what wisdom and motivation I could impart yielded a quick return as Joe Haworth got us back in the game with an individual run and shot that snuck into the bottom corner. 3-3. 20 minutes of capitulation followed as our back line, defensive pattern and ability to pass a ball on the floor seemed to be sucked away by some kind of Jedi/UEFA mind trick. 4-3, 5-3, 6-3 7-3!!. Like a stunned, stumbling boxer, we got up off the canvas in the last 5 to restore some pride and show some character through goals from Josh Fookes and Jack Haworth (a cracker into the top corner that brought just praise from the watching left footed England man). 7-5 final score.
POTM :The flying Fin was just that today. Too much fetch and retrieve for the lad, but without him, we’d have been in a world of dog house.
The Under 15s played a friendly against Altrincham Juniors Panthers, mid table from the division above. “The team were a good match for them and went in 1-0 at HT after a great solo goal from Daniel Eaton. Unfortunately further chances came and went and in the second half 2 goals, one quality, one lucky gave them a 2-1 win. A good test and nothing to be scared of playing higher level opposition
The all conquering Big dogs of West- the U17s played an Away game v Wythenshawe. “A difficult fixture in difficult conditions on a pitch that made Chorlton Park look like Wembley.
After dominating the first 45 minutes we are level at 0-0, missing 3 great chances that on a better surface, we would have put in the bag.
We started the 2nd half in control again and it wasn’t long before we were ahead 1-0 after a mess up in the Wythenshawe defence. Sami Zaman pouncing on to a loose ball to finish.
Instead of pushing on we got a little comfortable, Wythenshawe reply immediately from a free kick and go 2-1 ahead with 20 minutes to play.
We were showing great character and kept playing our football. 10 minutes to go I went to three at the back and pushed Alfie Mars up front. We were creating chances and Wythenshawe were wasting time at every opportunity- but there’s no stopping our U17s lions and with 2 minutes to go Ben Twelvetrees banged in a rebound into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.
Overall it’s a great result as it virtually guarantees us a top 3 finish – If we win our next two fixtures, it could push us to a top 2 finish.
1 defeat in 5 now so a well done to the super U17s ?”
Eamonn
