Collated by Nick Syrett, above photo by Chris Horner

For many this weekend will be remembered for an exciting climax to a pulsating Premiership season, but for one of West’s stalwarts and cornerstones of the Junior section here and previously when we were Oswald road, it was a day to remember for non-footballing reasons. Joe Traynor was for the first time in decades wearing a suit at 3pm on a saturday afternoon as he wed Bernice in Whalley Range. Some of the junior section and managers formed a West guard of honour to show their thanks and wish him well.

The U9 Eagles continue to soar and won the bragging rights v Hale Braga 7-4..

Goals: Nico x 3

Luca x 2

Micky x 2

Pom: Nico for great efforts defending

U9 Owls lost 8-0 away at Urmston Meadowside predators. Suhaib Saigh play of match for focus in defence, and great free kicks.  

Sunday 12th May

“Under 12’s won our final league match this morning at Hardy farm on pitch 2 against the team in second place Wilmslow Colts to leapfrog over them so we finish the season in second place. Despite the long grass we put them under constant pressure down the right prairie.

Goal one came after a long throw from Gabe came to Kaylum to score from close range. Kay and Rory both hit the same post in the next 10 when we were on top and a Gabe goal line clearance kept us 1-0 up at half time. Wilmslow always dangerous on the break were generally out battled by Morgan and Lewis in particular. We got a second early second half after Kay skipped past a defender following a short throw to score in the far corner. We went 3 up after gabe beat a few men on half way and sent Iwan through with an accurate long pass.

Dylan tripped an attacker in the box with 15 to go to concede a pen and it was 3-1. We went 4-1 up thanks to Gabe picking ball up 30 yards out beating 2 men before shooting low. Soon it was 4-2 after failing to clear and  Louis pulled off a great save with 10 to go. Colts scored again to make it 4-3 with 5 to go. Edgy end as they threw everything they had at us. Superb performance by ALL. Goals Kaylum Hepburn 2 Iwan 1 and Gabe 1. Pom all of them “

U13 Magpies V Cheadle Town

When Whacky Aki answered the door in his tye dyed PJ’s and orange sunglasses at 0850 holding his Ipad, he immediately allayed  any concern i had visually expressed on my face by pointing out he had some creative inspiration for next season’s team formation.  It soon became clear that his time spent at the all night rave at Chorlton leisure centre was time well spent..

Any plans we had for daring formations in our final league game against the Giants from Cheadle town were blown out of the water by 2 late drop outs, a goalkeeper in brighton chilling his champagne and a Hitman resting his cricket bound legs. Given that we’d been hammered twice already by this team this season, I was expecting a cricket score myself as the season approached it’s tail end.

We rode our luck a little in the first half and pressed really well to limit them to just a solitary goal at half time; A vicious, pacey, whipped in inswinger that went straight in from the corner! Not the test you want for a goalkeeping deputy.

The 2nd half began to show up the cracks in our wearing team as they exposed our makeshift formation and goal keeping options. There is something quite fun about watching outfield players have a go in goal though, and to their credit, they did keep the score down to a respectable number.

A crazy 15 minute spell towards the end of a hot day saw a few people lose their cool.  Firstly, our commander in chief centre back had to take some time out to ponder the local bird life after someone tried to re-arrange his “fruit bowl” with their studs.  His groin troubled absence coincided with some mad cap defensive chaos and 4 quick goals against. Soon after, an unpleasant kick out by a Cheadle player (Think Beckham v Argentina) was spotted and red carded by the no-nonsense ref. The young offender clapped the referee and left the pitch in despicable circumstances that served as a lesson to us all. That behaviour by player, fans and management does not happen on a Magpie watch.

The game ended 0-6. Another bitter experience from a league campaign that reads P 18 W 5 (all  away !) D3 L10. Goals for 66 Against 91. An average of a point per game usually means relegation. We finished 3rd bottom in a tough division of 10. Despite that, the lads have still progressed well and played some lovely stuff at times. A small team of fast, fit, pass and movers (just like Aki on a swimming pool dance floor) bodes well for the future. We all look forward to sprinkling some of Aki’s magic formula in to the team next season with some new fresh faces that fit the mold that this team has been forged in. Adios 2019/20.

U13 Badgers

Division 4

Sale communities (a)

Lost 2-6

Scorer: Kayden (2)

PoM: Kayden

“ We battled well against league winners. Played good football throughout and deserved more.

League done ?”