Match Report – Friendly – Saturday 22nd January

vs. Camlyn Rangers 2-2

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Joe, Stephen (capt.), Matty; Danny, Josh, Caleb, Adam; Jacob, Seamus.

With last week’s first match under their belts, this was a hard-fought draw played on a heavy pitch.

From the beginning, Adam and Danny were looking for space wide but it took a few minutes for Adam to get the measure of a dogged Camlyn right back. Caleb was once again finding space and time in midfield, setting Jacob free down the right after 9 minutes. Jacob then turned provider for Seamus, only for him to be flagged offside.

After a long range shot from Jacob flew wide, the boys created another chance from Adam’s work on the left. The throw-in that followed fell eventually to Seamus who forced a save from the Camlyn keeper.

They nearly took the lead in the 16^th minute as a corner from the left by Josh was nodded on to Jacob, only for his shot to be cleared off the line. However, they fell behind as Camlyn mounted an attack in response. After conceding a corner, the boys had a number of chances to clear the ball but the Camlyn forward was more determined and he shot across Ciarán to take the lead.

The boys nearly fell two behind 4 minutes later as a free kick for offside fell direct to the Camlyn forward but Ciarán’s full-length save kept the ball out. At times, they had struggled to beat their opponents to the ball in midfield and defence but they got the equaliser on the stroke of half time as the repeated the earlier corner routine but this time Adam was on the end of Caleb’s glance to turn the ball in.

The boys came out for the second half after some words of encouragement and the midfield put on a much more effective display. Elliot stepped in with a couple of well-read interceptions from right back and, after Josh had overlapped on the right, Caleb saw a good chance go wide.

They were unlucky to go behind again 10 minutes into the second half after conceding a free kick wide on the left. Ciarán pushed the ball back out, only for the Camlyn forward to put the ball back past him, with the Crosby netminder claiming in vain for a push in the back.

Seamus saw more of the ball in the second half, first being freed by Adam and then getting a shot in on the keeper after Caleb had picked up the ball from a loose clearance after work down the left by Josh and Danny.

Matty had a more solid second half in defence and Stephen and Joe were working hard as a new centre back pairing but they were caught out after 20 minutes as the Camlyn forwards broke through a high line. Ciarán was to prove their match, however, closing the angles to save the first shot with his legs and getting back up quickly to block the rebound shot from going into the other side of the goal.

Ciarán was back in action three minutes later making another solid save from the forward as the referee blew for offside. The boys were pressing at the other end and got the equaliser with two minutes to go. Danny worked the ball wide left and the ball reached Caleb whose square ball fell to Seamus. The shot was too hot for the keeper to hold onto and the match finished all square.

This was an improvement on the previous week, with the boys holding a better shape and making better use of the space. Man of the match this week was Ciarán, for a display of safe handling and a series of second half saves to keep Camlyn at bay.

Match Report – Friendly – Saturday 15th January

vs. Scarisbrick 0-3

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Josh, Matty, Stephen (capt.); Joe, Danny, Caleb, Adam; Jacob, Seamus. Sub: Ciarán C.

When this fixture was published, the boys’ first 11 a-side match, everybody took heart since their opponents had been put to the sword in October. Well, this was Scarisbrick, Jim, but not as we know it: a completely different team, in a different kit, playing well together. The ball marked “Southport Under 10s” and the SAFC hi-viz jacket on a supporter were a bit of a giveaway…

The weather finally reflected the name of the blog and so, with all this in mind, the boys should not be too disappointed by their performance. On a pitch so much bigger than they have been used to, it took until the second half for them to begin to exploit the greater space out wide.

The first half was a scrappy affair, although Danny and Joe linked well in the 4^th minute with Joe sending in a deep cross. Ciarán B was called into action after 5 minutes as Scarisbrick broke on their favoured left side, and he was out again two minutes later to block away another chance. The boys went a goal down after 12 minutes after a defensive mix-up left Ciarán off his line and the ball was lobbed into the corner of the net.

Although Caleb was working hard to find space in midfield, the boys were struggling to link defence and attack. They were not helped by a cynical challenge by the Scarisbrick captain that left Joe in a heap but it went unnoticed by the referee.

On his first game back after injury, Joe lasted until the 21^st minute before being replaced by debutant Ciarán C. Going up front with Danny moving to wide right, he was straight into the action, forcing a corner. An excellent Caleb cross then fell to Jacob but his shot was saved.

Adam had struggled to find the ball in space wide on the left but good work in the 23^rd minute forced another corner. Ciarán B’s keeping had been confident in the first half, with such a big goal behind him, and he finished the half in action again, blocking away another break.

The boys went a further goal behind straight from the restart, as the ball went directly to the unmarked red-headed forward. The referee seemed to be signalling for offside – it wouldn’t have been the first time this forward was in an illegal position – but the goal was allowed.

The boys kept working hard, with Danny looking to get wide on the right and attack at every opportunity. He lined up well with Jacob, the pair getting Seamus into the box but the defence held strong. Caleb was continuing to work hard in midfield, looking comfortable with the ball at his feet and getting his pass away under pressure and Jacob and Danny profited from his work.

Ciarán C was also putting in a good display up front on his first start and his good cross in the 10^th minute from the left gave Seamus a headed chance that was blocked away. Five minutes later, neat work in midfield left him with a run on goal. The Scarisbrick keeper hesitated, leaving Ciarán C with a chance but the resultant collision left the goalie in a heap and the Crosby forward with a mouthful of mud!

Three minutes later and the boys went three down as once again Scarisbrick found space on their left. Ciarán B did enough to put the forward off a minute later to ensure they didn’t extend their lead.

The boys finished the game going forward with both Adam and Danny finding space on each flank and Caleb continuing to show determination in midfield but the chance in front of goal never came.

There were plenty of positives to take from this first match on a full size pitch. Ciarán B was not overawed by the task, both full backs, Elliot and Stephen, held their shape and Matty and Josh put in some last ditch challenges. Caleb adapted well to the extra space and took responsibility for the corners with great effect – sadly nobody got on the end of them. Joe, Danny and Adam were looking for opportunities to get wide throughout the game and Jacob, Seamus and Ciarán C ran themselves into the ground up front. However, they need to talk to each other more on the pitch – be as noisy during the game as you are before and afterwards, boys! The Man of the Match award was given to Elliot, who again gave a solid display, slowly making the right back berth look his.