Collated by Nick Syrett

Cup wins, top of the table clashes, parental refs and Grandmaster Flash.. The Junior roundup is a roller coaster ride of youthful highs and lows..

A big thanks this week goes to our Obelisk sized curator, who grafted all week with a vast collection of agricultural machinery to get Hardy Farm looking like a patched up Groom the day after his stag do. Rumours that he doubled as a heavy roller upon tripping out of the tractor cab are unfounded. But either way, It was a remarkable turnaround from the mud bath we left last weekend. 

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U9s Sale Utd Colts 14-4 WD&C Hawks

Lucien 3, Ben

Hawks’ new low-carbon approach to match day travel saw Ben, Bertie E and Luca B cycle to Sale.  But having safely negotiated busy roads and the canal path, the wheels fell off in the first period as Sale Colts galloped into a 5-0 lead. In truth, Hawks could have scored but the Sale keeper was in fine form. 

New coaching assistant Iris made a few tactical changes but the goals continued to flow despite Lucien’s flying saves. Ollie’s hairdressing appointment to renew his pink tints had ruled him out and Sam was again forced off due to illness. The small, muddy pitch didn’t suit Hawks normal expansive passing game but Ben pulled a goal back with a solo effort.

The game evened out in the final period as Mars Bar Man of the Match Luca B and Rudy kept things tight at the back, Angus was putting himself about in midfield and Joe pulled off some smart saves. The Sale goal led a charmed life as efforts from Berties E and C flew wide. Lucien grabbed a late hat trick including a late penalty, emphatically put away.

Timperley Youth Villa rapids u9s v WDC Harriers – result 2-7 win. An assured performance from the Harriers with goals coming from Tyler (2), Vaughn, Oliver (2), Olly S and Max H. The Harriers attack looked most dangerous when playing on the shoulder of the last defender, and that was where Tyler’s first goal came from as the ball was launched into acres of empty space in front of the opposition goal and finished with casual aplomb. The other highlight was Max H’s goal which came from a belting free kick resulting in a full team celebration. By the end we had taken a player off to even things out but still the Harriers looked most likely to score, even though the team play had by then descended more into an individual pursuit of glory.

U10 Owls lost 3-1 away to Lymm Predators. An intense and exciting game. Lots of skills and a lot of hard graft. Oliver Copley-Gould scored. Player of Match Luca for fabulous keeping.

U10 Eagles

Wilmslow Sports Colts (a)

League 

Lost 1-3

Scorer: Bailey 

PoM: Alex 

Battled well throughout on a cowfield. Good football played and had never say die attitude. Proud of them. Go again next week

WD&C U12  2 v 1 Ashton-on-Mersey Tornadoes

Goals: George Roskell, Frankie Sunram-Lea

POTM: Frankie

West battled to a deserved win against Ashton to reignite their Winter Cup ambitions.

Goals from George and Frankie, coupled with a tenacious display in defence and midfield, helped overcome a 1-0 deficit against a strong Ashton team, and secure West’s first win of the campaign.

The match was end-to-end stuff, making those who had chosen a carol service over a muddy and cold Chorlton Park regret that decision.

West started brightly following the slightly early kick off (it said 10am ref!). As your correspondent trudged through the mud he saw some goalmouth action in the distance as Isaac burst into the box, but his shot and Ted’s follow up were both saved. The ball fell to Kofi on the edge of the box, but his curling effort was straight at the keeper.

Another West attack saw Ted and George combine down the left before Isaac was played in. But he lifted his effort over the bar. It was all West as Ted then passed to George in space, but his strike went agonisingly wide.

But Ashton gradually gained more of a foothold in the game. First they struck the bar with a great strike from just outside the box. Then they had two good chances in quick succession but poor finishes meant the game remained goalless.

Jacob and William were defensive rocks at the back, constantly breaking down Ashton attacks.

Despite the Ashton pressure, West still could have gone into the half-time break in the lead as Frankie found space in the box only for his shot to go the wrong side of the far post.

The second half started with West quickly going behind. From a promising position on the edge of the Ashton box West lost the ball allowing a swift counter attack. Some excellent defending by Louis and Lucas seemed to have snuffed out the threat, but a collision in the box resulted in a penalty.

A coolly taken spot kick gave Ashton the lead (0-1).

But as in recent weeks, West don’t let their heads go down. After Frankie had seen a long-range effort fumbled round the post by the keeper, George brought West level from the ensuing corner.

As the ball fell to him in the box he shifted it quickly onto his left foot leaving three defenders going the wrong way and hammered the ball into the net (1-1).

Both sides went looking for the win.

But with Isaac, Frankie and Louis battling in midfield and Jacob marshalling the defence, West weren’t going to be denied this week.

After Frankie had seen one shot tipped round the post and a fantastic free kick hit the woodwork, he finally got his reward. The ball broke to him from a corner and he rifled a shot under the keeper for the winning goal.

There were yelps of delight from our canine support and cheers of relief from the humans, as West secured the win that should give them confidence for the rest of the campaign.

WD&C U13’s Falcons 4 v  Egerton Tatton 1. 

Goals Jack 1 kaylum 1 Sam 2.  

West scored 2 goals per half, amd were 4-0 up when a late goal was conceded. Egerton pressed all game. At 1-0 ahead they had several good chances and hit post and arguably deserved a pen our second goal just before half time was welcome. Dylan (first half) and Iwan (second half) played great in goal, both coming out to save in one on one situations. Defence was great again with 2 key defenders out of the team. Every player did really well and were a credit to the team.. We deserved the victory but worked hard and great skill shown all over the pitch. POM Louis Davidson if I had to pick just one.

Ahhh, nothing like the magic of the cup to distract from a painful league campaign. 

Finding a fiver on the way (when you’re short for the refs fee), playing in the lucky ‘Red’ kit and matching up against the only team you’ve beaten all season were all good omens for the U14 Magpies..

Another Mauldeth road derby vs Hough End was thrashed out on a decent Chorlton park surface. With White lines clearly visible and the newly installed Grandmaster Flash (Uthman-our young UCFB coach) in residence, the boys felt confident. 

That pre match positivity was soon rewarded with an early scrappy penalty box pinball goal, poked home by Harvess at the back post. Wing back tick-1.

A curious moment that could/should have seen our flying Fin sent off for either of his x2 offences (handling outside the box then scything down the attacker) went huuugely in our favour as the ref played an odd advantage…I didn’t even have to pay him before the match! Insult was added to injury as we went down the other end and the effervescent Charlie poked home from Harvess for another scrappy goalmouth poached effort. Wing back tick-2.

The hitman put the lofty Griffins down on the canvas with our 3rd before half time.  A high press coughed the ball up on the edge of their box, and the Hitman rammed it back down their throat. 

3-0 @HT and cruising. Buzzing? Get higher baby..

The move of the match saw a back to front move from the keeper, down the flank, an overlap, first time cross from the touch line and a first time finish into the corner from Joe. Take a bow team….take a bow. Wing back tick-3 

Fin, was clearly getting a little bored. Despite keeping us in the game with some key saves in the first half,  he thought he’d make it interesting with some sweeper keeper action that was more Bravo than Ederson. An errant pass out found a grateful striker, and then he upended a striker to concede a penalty. 4-2. Eek. 

Fortunately, Sonny was on the end of another great passing move and calmed the managements nerves with a tidy finish at the back post. Wing back tick- 4

Our play down the flanks can still be bettered, but down those white lines today it was something of a phenomenon…we just blew them away. Take a bow Grandmaster Flash..

Final score 5-2. 

Our first foray in the cup was a ¼ final. Hoorah, our cup runneth over.

Goals:

Harvey Boot 

Charlie Atkiss

Jack Haworth

Joe Haworth

Sonny Wilson 

POTM: Charlie 1 goal, 2 assists and back to his duracell best.

U14 Badgers

Mersey Valley (a)

Cup 1st round

Won 7-0

Scorers: Teddy, Austin (2), Aaron, Connor, Joel, Jai

PoM: Aaron 

Played really well today and scoreline flattered opposition! Good passing game and growing as a team. All played well.

U 15’s (Phoenix) v Sale Utd Jets 

Div 2 (Home fixture)

3 – 3 draw

WOW !! What a breathtaking, thriller of a game that was on a HF mud bath of a pitch.

With illness cry offs last night & this morning & playing against the Table topping Sale Jets it was all hands to the pump.

After what is becoming a trademark sluggish start from the lads we found ourselves 2 – 0 down (annoyingly, 2 self inflicted wounds)

Would the lads rally against this high class opposition…you bet ya !!

From that point on it was a full on ding dong battle between 2 quality teams.

As we came roaring back Sale started to lose their composure.

0 – 2  became 1 – 2, became 2 – 2, became 3 – 2…We were ahead !!

Glorious football in mud, mud glorious mud !!

The lads were fighting for everything, ill bodies were being pushed to the limit (& past)

All credit to Sale (an established, well drilled & successful team) who threw everything at us to score an equaliser.

On a heavy energy sapping pitch both sides were going for it. Chances at both ends, incidents galore, yellow cards, heart & desire from both sets of players.

With 5 mins to go Sale produced a fully committed attack & scored an equaliser.

The final 5 mins were a nerve wracking affair (far more grey hairs by the end than I had at the start !)

The game finished in an honours even draw

Congratulations to both sets of players for producing such a thrilling game in such trying conditions ??

(Impossible to give an individual POM this week – it was a joy to watch)

Only 4 points separate the top 4 teams in Div 2 now..shaping up to be a fascinating finish.

In our 1st season together we’re well placed in 3rd spot (Let’s keep it going)

Paddy 1 goal

Helal 2 goals

West U16 girls had a vital 1-0 win v East Leigh. We only had ten girls while the opposition played with 11. Lots of our girls were at a college taster day, However, our girls played really well and deserved the win. Back up to second spot in Division 2 – just one point behind leaders Lymm. Exciting times. 

U16 Boys were playing Brookland Dragons in an eagerly awaited 1st v 2nd match up. Unfortunately, we had no referee for the game,  so one of their parents did the job. We went down 1-0 early on. We then went 4-1 up with a hat trick from Niquel and one from Sion. The longer the game went on the more tense it got and some of their players started to get frustrated. Including one of them punching our right back. Not seen by parent ref. We got less and less from him and they got it back to 4-4. We hit the bar and post and our boys kept their cool and behaved impeccably. Not the refs fault but a shame that 1st v 2nd isn’t allocated a ref. Player of the match was Sion. With special mentions to Niquel, Daniel and Kipp our stand in goalie.