Collated by Nick Syrett
Continued wet weather and gloomy forecasts have resulted in a proposed name change to “Hardly ever Farm” as an unseasonable amount of precipitation continues to drop its payload over Manchester. This, of course, is great news for our curator, who has been making the most of his green-fingered downtime, to complete his Level 1 bog snorkelling coaching course. Proposals to make pitch 3 and 4 and their surrounding area in to regional centres of excellence have been submitted to the BSA.
The 12th and 13th October was unlucky for some whilst other games featured performances so hot they melted Mars bars.
Catch up with our Junior team’s results from the weekend.
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U9 Timperley Villa rapids v WD&C U9 Harriers – 5-11 win. This was the first win for the Harriers coming after steady development over the last few weeks.Vaughn was on fire with 4 goals but it was the overall team play that delivered for us and is what should help us push on in the rest of the season.
WD&C Hawks u9s 11- 8 Lymm Fire
(Sam 5, Ollie 4, Ben, Bertie E)
A late goal rush saw Hawks advance to the semi final of the Powerleague Cup as they overcame a red hot Lymm Fire team.
Mars Bar Man of the Match Sam bagged five, four in the first half. Ben, Luca G and Luca B passed the ball well from the back, Angus won every challenge in midfield and Noah and Bertie C menaced the Lymm defence.
The two well matched teams traded goals in a ding dong first half. After Lymm went 8-7 ahead deep into the 2nd half, the Hawks turned on the style to score four late goals without reply. Bertie E swivelled and levelled the scores. Keeper Joe kept the Fire out and Ollie claimed a dramatic late hat trick to take Hawks into the next round.
Saturday was the first round of the cup but the U9 Kestrels couldn’t cause a ‘Cupset’ and bravely lost 12-0 to Barr Hill JFC.
The boys played with heart and positivity despite the scoreline. Our PoM is number 14 – JS
U10 Eagles – Cup match, Egerton (a)
Won 5-1
Played 7v7 and then sportingly went to 6v6 due to them losing a player. The Eagles soar into next round.
Scorers: Isaac, Bailey (3), mikki , PoM: Isaac
Meanwhile their feathered friends the U10 Owls lost 12 v 2 to Hale Benfica at Chorlton Park. We were equal at half time with a goal from Oliver and Blake. Then teamsheet change was met with Benfica score one after another, up to 10 goals in the second half. Owls managed to pick up pace in the last 5 minutes and almost score a third by Oliver with a long range shot clearing the bar. POM Ged Holt for focus, and staying cool, despite an own goal.
U12’s were at home v Altrincham Torpedoes. After last weeks away day goal fest v Altrincham, the under 12’s returned to Chorlton Park to take on another Altrincham team. This week it was the Torpedoes, who’s name suggested they maybe more of a handful than last weeks Lancers.
Our defence was boosted by the return of one our Jacob’s (W) and we really hope that the other (H) is back with us very soon. A great team performance with slick passing and quick movement going forward saw us equal our 8 goals from last week. Strong tackling and fierce battling at the back saw us record our first clean sheet of the season. Lots of brilliant individual performances but this weeks POTM for his clinical finishing, goes to George Roskell.
Won 8-0
Goalscorers: George Roskell 5, Isaac Marshall 1, Ted Christon 1, Frankie Sunram-Lea 1, POTM – George Roskell
Our Under 13’s lost at home 2-6 to Sale Community Devils who won our division undefeated last season. After being the stronger team we let in the softest of goals due to a simple handling error. Sale scored 2 more cutting through our defence absent of both of our centre halfs not available. Dylan scored for us but defensive frailty granted 3 more for sale. We scored through Zayn right at the end. Promotion means no easy games… we missed not having Morgan and seb to shore up our defence. Some good battling performances from several players but very disappointing was our first ever yellow card for us due to obscene language towards one of the sale players after a coming together. Fine to be paid by the player.
U14 Badgers vs Altrincham Hawks (a)
New formation of 3-4-3 and Christie input with it was great. First time had strongest 14 out. Will keep it like this!
Won 7-4
Scorers: Teddy (3), Joel (2) Austin (2), PoM Kayden
U14 Magpies v Hale Utd Montpellier
Drastic times sometimes call for drastic measures. Our mercurial mathematics boffin, whacky Aki, was up late last night scratching his oversized noggin to come up with a new strategy. A 5-4-1 formation was unleashed on Hale United with 2 duracell bunnies deployed as wing-backs. A goal against inside 90 seconds suggested some minds were still on the tactics board rather than the pitch. We generally passed and kept the ball much better and sniffed out a few chances of our own. The main objective was to keep the goals against tally down and keep us in the game.
Charlie claimed he spotted the keeper off his line as he arrowed a cross/come shot into the top far corner..1-1 and we’re in a game at last!
The half-finished with a few half chances for us to take the lead, but we just couldn’t find the net. Our first-half start was usurped by the second as we lost another from the kick-off inside 30 seconds!! I actually felt 2 more hairs change to grey.
We bossed possession and chances in the next 30 minutes in a thoroughly enjoyable game. We finally made the step up to proper grown-up football today as we worked the ball purposefully through our ranks. Chances came and went and it started to feel like nothing would go in. A deliberate handball in our box meant we conceded a 3rd via the penalty spot despite a strong hand from the Flying Fin.
A long, angled free-kick went straight in from Charlie (definitely a cross!) to give us hope and provide some impetus. We banged on the door repeatedly for the last 15 mins, but just couldn’t find a way in. Final score 2-3. A big leap in football maturity from a team hanging in there despite the played 5 lost 5 record…
Some winnable fixtures await, and the team is inching towards a victory. Keep digging in boys!
Goals:Charlie Atkiss 2. Potm Sonny Boy Wilson.
