Collated by Nick Syrett

A drink with Eric “The coffee King”, a playable “Hardly Farm”, a cup final,  a penalty shootout, and a first home win for 3 years!! It’s all going off down at the Farm..

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The U9 Hawks made it through to finals day at the Powerleague where they played 2 epic games

Cup Semi final: Hawks - 8-8 Urmston Inferno (Hawks win 3-1 on pens)

(Sam 3, Lucien 2, Ollie 2, Bertie E. Pens: Sam, Ben, Bertie E)

Final:Hawks U9s 2-5 Trafford Thunder

(Lucien, Sam)

The Hawks picked up a runners up medal in the Powerleague Cup on a day of drama. Hawks stormed into a 4-0 lead in the semi with goals from Sam, Lucien and Ollie. Luca B pulled off a couple of stunning saves while Luca G, Angus and Joe’s tough tackling snuffed out Inferno. Hawks were cruising at 7-2 but Inferno were not finished and pulled it back to 8-8. An incredible death defying block prevented Lucien grabbing a dramatic late winner but Hawks kept their nerve in the shoot out. Mars Bar Man of the Match Bertie E sealed the win.

In the Final Hawks faced an impressive Trafford team and took the lead when Lucien nutmegged the keeper. With Ben spraying passes around, Bertie C and Ollie had goal bound shots blocked. Sam scored an outrageous solo effort but Trafford added two goals at the end as Hawks pushed players forward. Mars Man of the Match Noah played in virtually every position over the tournament.

Broadheath Spartak U9 v WD& C U9 Harriers 

The  Harriers went 2-0 down in the first ten minutes thanks to some industrious play from Broadheath against an initially disjointed Harriers defence - but the soft underbelly the Harriers displayed In the early part of the season seems to have been cured as the team galvanised to smash 9 unanswered past the opposition with returns coming for Oliver, Olly S, Lucas, Max P, and Max H. Such was the violence of the onslaught the manager even had to withdraw a player to try and even things out but the scoring continued despite the restriction. The last goal was a difficult finish taken from Olly S when he had easy options in the middle - as a final individual flourish it was acceptable but the victory had, by then, already been built on a solid team performance characterised, this week, by some fantastic interceptions and passes by Theo.

Final Score 2-9!

U10 Eagles vs Mobberley Rangers (h)

Quarter Final Cup

Lost 2-6

Scorers: Fionn, Jake

PoM: Max

Lost it in the first half. Strong words at half time = much better performance 2nd half and showed what the Eagles are capable of. If only…

Now have development games up to Christmas.

The U10 Kestrels had a much more even challenge today against Sale Utd U10 Sabres. It was close to the end but Sabres managed to get one extra in, final score 6-5. GS - 9-JP(3) 8-BH 6-LH Coaches player of the match is 9-JP for his 3 goals and 2 assists!

The U10 Owls won 6-2 away to Ashton Pumas. Great team defensive talk. Hatrick for Blake, Oliver 2 and birthday boy Oscar 1. POM Blake! All others played well especially the defensive players Ged and Suhaib!

On Sunday, the Under 12’s played away v Altrincham Torpedoes 

Won 4-3

Goals: George Roskell, Ted Christon (2), Isaac Marshall

POTM – Lucas Ball

What a match in the latest installment of the Altrincham trilogy. It could easily have been 12-12  - but that was just in foul throws! 

West looked like repeating last week’s 8-0 defeat of the same opposition as they raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to the deadly strike duo of George Roskell and Ted Christon. 

George created the first himself, cutting in from the byline and then following up to tap in after his first effort was saved. He then hit the crossbar with another chance, before turning provider cutting the ball back for Ted to tap in from close range.

The management duo of Phil and Tony were doing their best touchline impersonation of Pep Guardiola and Nuno Espirto Santo as the team attacked with purpose and could easily have added more goals. But they forgot how to defend and found themselves being pegged back to 2-2 as Altrincham mounted a spirited comeback.

The George/Ted combination worked again as Ted met George’s cross with a crisp half volley to restore the lead before half time.

The second half began with one-way traffic again, and ignoring the growing frustrations of the crowd and players at the mounting foul throw tally, West increased their lead with a classic route one goal as Isaac latched onto Jacob W’s long punt from the back to lash the ball into the top corner.

But there was still time for Altrincham to make it a nervy end to the game as they pulled the deficit back to one goal again and the home crowd increased its volume in anticipation of snatching a draw.

But West held on to record another win – and make it three for three against the Altrincham sides. Some good attacking play occasionally let down by the final ball, but work to do in defence – and with throw ins!

Under 13's Falcons won 6-3 v Unicorn Hurricanes at Hardy Farm as an away fixture as their pitch failed its inspection…. on Monday!  This was our second league match and we went behind as their right winger easily got onto a through ball.. after a few adjustments that weakness was tightened up and gradually we competed better in midfield. We equalised through kaylum after just stepping up pressure to force an error. Goals traded and each side taking the lead took us to 3-3. We went in 4-3 up after Gabriel fought hard to win the ball and fire in a scorcher. Unicorn had one player aged 12 bigger than several of our parents and he was a 1 man panza division scattering and flattening a good few of our boys but summoning up David v Goliath spirit determination and quick feet from Rory and Gabe tipped the balance and in the second half we created loads of chances. 1 goal from flicked on header from Iwans free kick fell for Jack to score and Iwan scored late on after Rory won the ball high up the pitch and unselfishly squared for a tap in. There were some cracking goalmouth scrambles where we somehow kept them out in the second half. The players were great today with so many digging in deep and carrying on after some colossal flattening.. defense was strong and up front some good movement too. Goals Jack kaylum 2 Gabe 2 Iwan. POM  Gabriel but so many others really good.. particularly good second half from Rory and all the back 4.

On a Sunday dominated by local football rivalry chat, it was perhaps fitting that the U14 Magpies should aim to kick on from their recent good showings against local rivals Hough End Griffins. A let up in the weather meant that Hardly Farm was at last playable, and hosted the much awaited “Mauldeth Road Derby”. A controversial request for the home team to wear Red made the City supporting youngsters in our ranks a little uncomfortable with the choice.  And with new coffee King, Eric and his red van in residence, the theme was distinctly rouge. The red ranks of West passed the ball like a fine vintage of a Fergie XI. The only problem was that the forward minded players who carved out a catalogue of fantastic chances were finishing like the current United team bereft of confidence. Post and bar were hit when you expected the net to burst, an open goal was spurned and their keeper leaped like a mythical Griffin to somehow keep the ball out of his net. Given that the Griffins played 30 mins with only 10 men, we wondered if some kind of pre Halloween hex had been put on the ball. 0-0 @HT.

Half time chat was all about keeping cool and trusting our plan. 

More glorious chances came and went as the boys kept their foot on the gas.  Remarkably, it was a centre back who broke the deadlock as Ralf ghosted in at the back post to poke home a short corner/lethal cross from Josh “cool hand” Fookes. Relief all round.  Like buses, the hitman darted forward latching onto a through ball and rounded the keeper to make it 2. The hitman threw more metaphorical punches than a sparing champ, but was a very unlucky boxer today. With the floodgates open and The Griffins wings clipped, Josh smashed in a loose ball in the box to make it 3.  Harvey Boot put the cherry on top with the goal of the day. A step over, a swivel of his South American hips and powerful ping across and over the keeper into the bottom corner. Scenes. 

The new formation and emphasis on possession based football from our coaching team is starting to pay off.  A great team effort to a lad. POTM- all of them. A first clean sheet since about February 2019 and a first home win since October 2016!!! 3 blinking years!! Perhaps we should play in red every week..

U 15's (Phoenix) v Sale Jets

Div 2

Lost 1 - 5

I'm afraid this eagerly awaited top of the table clash was effectively all over in under 15 mins by which time we were 4-0 down. A total mismatch in pace  between their right winger and our stand in left side of defence was brutally exposed !

By the time we moved personnel around it was too late - the lads could have caved completely at that point but with personnel switched the remaining 65 mins of the match played out at 1-1. Final score of 1-5 was a little harsh and didn't tell the whole story (we're playing all our opponents for the 1st time…in the return game to come we'll definitely remember their rapid right winger & plan accordingly). Great spirit shown by all today to fight back after the opening blitz. Bring on next week!!

The U16s fell to their first defeat of the season with an out of character, lacklustre display against Brooklands Dragons Cosmos. A goal from Nicquille made it 1-1 at half time and we all thought we’d raise our game second half and blow them away. Unfortunately it happened the other way around and we lost 4-1.