RECREATION GROUND | BROOKBURN ROAD | CHORLTON | M21 8FE

 

Junior Roundup | Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th November – West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC

Junior Roundup | Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th November

Collated by Nick Syrett

Forecasters lead us to believe that what seemed like the end of 40 days/nights of rainfall was drawing to an end.. With our groundsman on an away day “Bogz snorkelling” adventure in the Lancashire Cup (they triumphed in a thrilling 6 ends to 5 7/11 victory BTW), the West hoards descended upon Hardy Farm to see how it was holding up. Ooops. The only winners this w/e were Bozz and his regional troop of flipper wearing friends..

WD&C Hawks U9s 10-3 Ashton Sabres

Ollie 7, Rudy 2, Lucien

Despite half the squad out covered in phlegm and vomit, Hawks comfortably saw off the Sabres with pink-haired Ollie rattling in 7 (seven) goals.

Initial exchanges were even but Sabres were rattled when Ollie and Lucien put Hawks two up. A long-range free-kick pulled it back to 2-1 and then Sabres cut through again. Luca B saved the first shot and Ollie made a goal-line clearance to keep Hawks ahead.

A spate of poorly tied shoelaces disrupted the flow of the game but Hawks pulled ahead in the 2nd period with Rudy and Bertie C causing havoc down the flanks. Ben and Lucien were passing the ball well and after several near misses Rudy jinked through and smashed in his first Hawks goal.

Sabres were not finished but Noah made some good saves and upfront Ollie was in unstoppable form, fed by Bertie, Ben and Lucien’s sublime passing. The change round for the 3rd period seemed to confuse some players. Noah bravely blocked a shot with his face: but it was a shot from Ollie. Luca B’s flick header struck the post: our own post.

The day ended with chaotic scenes as no-one could find the Mars Bar, but eventually, Noah found it and received his man of the match award.

Owls lost 1-4 at Hardy Farm to Sale Predators. A good performance by Owls who hit the crossbar 3 times, so more even than the scoreline suggests. Lorin got our goal, after creative play by Liam. Ged Holt player of the match for athleticism and muddiest.

Harriers U9 v Broadheath Boca 0-11. The Broadheath team were a class above today but the Harriers dug in and should have learnt a few lessons in the process – when the boys pressed as a team it made things difficult for the opposition. There were regular forays into the opposition half which nearly bore fruit and we looked dangerous when Tyler started playing on the shoulder of the last defender instead of dropping deep. Max H deserves a special mention for putting his gloves on in the last third and pulling off some stunning saves – one with de-gea like splayed legs. Hopefully a return to winning ways again next week!

U10 Eagles

Urmston meadowside (a), League, Lost 1-6

Scorer: Fionn 

PoM Frankie

Before game squad decimated with illness. Did well to fight for this result.

u12 away v Altrincham Lancers, Winter cup

3-3

Scorers – Isaac Marshall, George Roskell and Ted Criston

POTM – William Eaton

U12 hopes lanced by a resilient Altrincham

An hour’s respite from the rain saw West U12s take on Altrincham Lancers at the muddy Grove Park playing fields.

West started brightly, putting together some great passing moves. Altrincham had their goalie to thank for keeping them in the game for much of the first half, making saves from George, Ted and Isaac. West found it hard to break the deadlock, seeing shots sail wide, Kofi hitting the woodwork and a header from Jacob W looping over the bar. Although it was nearly all one-way traffic, when called upon Alfie was brave in net, diving into the mud at the feet of oncoming attackers. The whole team performed as a strong unit, with resolute performances from William, Kenta, Wilf and Frankie.

West finally made the breakthrough with a goal rush at the end of the half. Isaac followed up a shot by Ted to fire home. With confidence high, it didn’t take long for the second goal to come.William started a move with some assured defending, Isaac sent through a well-weighted pass that George finished skillfully. The third goal was soon to follow through a great volley from Ted from Wilf’s corner. West went into the half time break 3-0 up and well on top.

Both teams struggled to get going in the second half. However, it was a tale of two halves from Altrincham, leading to a much more even second period. Despite some solid defending from West and possession on the wings leading to half chances, it was Altrincham who were able to make the pressure tell. They opened their account with a great shot from the right which looped over Alfie’s head. A second goal from close range was followed quickly by a third. West were denied a strong penalty shout late in the game, but managed to keep their heads up to hold on to the draw.

The home fans were ecstatic at the final whistle, having seen their team claw back for a draw following a really high quality first-half performance from West.

Crowd (approx), Home – 6, Away – 11 plus a dog

Match report – Zara (with help from LJ and Lawrence)

U13 Falcons won away 13-0. Goal scorers Kaylum 6. Sam 4. Jack 3. POM. Morgan Scott and all back 4 for achieving challenge set at half time to keep a clean sheet. Played on full-size pitch and our defence strong midfield and forwards just too quick for Sale.

Having not played a competitive fixture for 4 weekends, a rusty U14 Magpies outfit found their ranks plumper in every sense of the word this weekend.  A full squad (bar the long term injured Josh F) assembled on the stodgy Hardy Farm for a match up with a historically physical Brooklands Dragons.  With no official referee allocated and Andy under the weather, the best option we had was a dad of one of the opposition players (an FA ref but..) The news he had booked his own son and given a penalty against him to lose the match was comforting at least! Tough love is all around us.. And it was certainly Wet Wet Wet underfoot…

A quick scan of the opposition before kick-off once again evoked the classic U14 concerns that They Might be Giants.. With the passing game we have been working on negated by the mud bath that presented itself, any long ball thoughts were also blunted by the sight of 5 kids that wouldn’t look out of place in the BFG. 

A sticky and stodgy first half was not pleasing on the eye  Perhaps the same eye had mud in it and caught out our flying Fin for their first goal as a cross-come-shot defeated our back pedalling keeper. 

A through ball from the ever reliable assist king Charlie put the arch poacher through on goal, who coolly slotted home a 1 on 1 with the keeper.  The composure missing in our last game was evident in this effort by our ruthless assassin (Jack Haworth). 

A defensive re-jig may have caught us out for their 2nd as a newly installed right wing-back/centre back combo were left stuck in the mud as their winger beat one, two and then flashed a shot into the near post/top corner to take the halftime lead 1-2. 

The second half followed the first as the ball was smashed hopefully forward at times to move possession into better areas of the pitch. Alas, a well-aimed corner found the head of a “Bone crunching Giant” on the 6 yd box to head home and remove any Birdhouse from our soul. 

1-3 soon became 1-4 as Brooklands worked the ball down the grassier flanks and again cut inside to flash a shot in at the near post. There was time for our playmaker “Ioanniesta” to put the Hitman through for his second to perhaps give us hope, but the Dragons were not to be slayed in the mud today.  Not a day for beautiful football. The ref sin binning one of their ranks for descent did cheer me a little, but not enough on a soggy, cold day…1 win from 7 in the league, we are looking over our feathered shoulders. 

Final score WD&C Magpies 2- 4 Brooklands Dragons

Goals: Jack Haworth 2

Assists: Charlie + Ioannis

POM: Ralf: Great reading of the game, snuffed multiple raids and a commanding run forward. 

U14 Badgers

Division 5 (h), Unicorn Athletic Lightning, Lost 1-5

Scorer: Teddy

PoM Joe

We played a lovely passing game today and both oppo and ref commented on that. 5 long balls got us caught out. But I’m proud of how well we battled with the opposition who liked leaving their studs in..

U 15’s Phoenix v Wilmslow Town (Away), Lost 3 – 5

Where do I start with this..4 – 1 down at half time & could have been far worse!

The 1st half was as if the players who’ve played so, so well this season had been replaced by a group who’d never played football before in their lives (where were our boys ? Abducted by aliens ???)

Incapable of receiving a simple pass (balls bounced off shins & ankles straight to the opposition) Passes were made straight into touch (going nowhere near teammates) total confusion & disbelief from the coaching staff as to what was happening ?

Half time team talk was lively to say the least !!

2nd half started but,almost immediately, we went 5-1 down !

At this point miracles were needed, a quick prayer was offered up ?& out of nowhere our normal team of players returned (Hallelujah !!)

Our normal free flowing footy was being played again resulting in a wonderful team goal finished off by Oli L (football that was a joy to watch)

Attitudes completely changed, players began chasing down the opposition, passes were being made straight to teammates, corners were being won, shots being taken & Wilmslow were starting to wobble & cling on.

Helal slotted our third to make it 5-3 & we were completely on top (their coach was losing his cool & screaming at his players – what a turn around)

Sadly for us we ran out of time & couldn’t complete the comeback, but pride had been salvaged.

We’ve only lost twice this season but both times have been an early start 10.00 away games…it would appear our lads like a Sunday morning lie-in & the 12.00 home game kick-off times ??

Back to 12.00 kick off next week…fingers crossed

(Player of the match Sam P)

U16s playing on a soggy Hardy Farm were 6-1 winners over Altrincham Juniors Leopards and move to the top of the table. 4-0 at half time should have been 8 with some wasteful finishing and a similar pattern in the second. Against better opposition poor finishing will be punished but today West ran out easy winners. 4 goals for Daniel Eaton and 1 each for Nicquille Clifton and Samuel Berlyne. MOTM was Ben Solomon with a stirring display on right winners.