Boys Miss Out As Final Beckons

Saturday 9^th July

Birkdale United Tournament

Squad: Ciarán B, Matty, Lewis, Tom, Josh, Joe, Caleb, Danny, Adam, Seamus, Ciarán B.

They say that the summer gets shorter and shorter every year for today’s footballer – no sooner has the season ended than another tournament starts. It’s no different at Under 10 level either, as a slightly trimmed squad gathered early at Southport Rugby Club for the Birkdale United Under 10s Tournament.

With the teams split into two groups of five – after the late entry of Ormskirk – the boys were drawn against some familiar opponents in their group of 7-a-side, 15 minute matches.

First up were Hesketh Colts and the match followed what was to be a recurring theme during the morning as they dominated their opponents without having the killer instinct to finish them off. After Josh had created space to cross on the right a number of times only for the Colts to deal with the ball in and Caleb and Seamus had gone close, it was the Colts that took the lead. A generous free kick – surely it was a Colts hand that was raised? – was poorly defended and the forward glanced it home.

That was the Colts one and only chance in the game but it took a trademark power drive from Caleb soon after to bring the scores level. With an opening draw beckoning, Ciarán S was thrown up front at the death and his first touch of the ball was to steer it past the keeper from a deep kick from Ciarán B.

Next were Birkdale Falcons, familiar foes, but Ciarán S was at them from the kick off and with a bit more luck could have scored in the first ten seconds. Twinkle Toes was on target later, though, turning it past the keeper after Caleb recycled the ball but again this was an equaliser after they had dominated the game. The Falcons had gone ahead with an early penalty conceded after the boys had done the hard work in winning the ball in defence, only to fail to do the easy work and clear it.

Ladybridge had looked a polished team in their two matches and they ran the boys close in a goalless draw. Ciarán B made two good saves to deny their opponents but it was not one way traffic as Adam hit the angle of post and bar with a free kick and Seamus hit the crossbar late on, getting onto the end of a clearance from Lewis, who was giving solidity to the defence.

The final group game was against Birkdale Eagles and, needing a win to give themselves a chance of making the semi final, the boys made hard work of beating limited opponents. They never looked likely to lose, but it took a late winner from Danny, scrambled home after a couple of Seamus efforts were blocked, to see them home.

Thinking they needed an unlikely result in the Eagles denying the Falcons, the boys gathered to watch the last group match. Surely one would roll over and let the others progress but, to their credit, the match was played fairly (obviously no Austrian parents in the Eagles side) and ended as a 1-1 draw.

The boys were through to the semi finals – but not as a result of this last match. Statto hadn’t read the small print: and, with two points for a score draw, they had already progressed and Birkdale Eagles first goal of the tournament meant that the boys had won the group..

They faced Ormskirk in the semi final and once again they should have finished their opponents off. An early shot from Seamus was smothered by the keeper but Ormskirk’s best chance in normal time pulled out an unbelievable save from Ciarán B, diving late to his right to push it around the post.

Josh found plenty of space wide right as Ormskirk were pinned back but the boys could not take advantage and, with three minutes to go, Caleb almost repeated his Forefield Festival trick of scoring direct from the corner, only for the keeper to just about cling on. At the final whistle, the Ormskirk keeper again kept them in it, pushing out a shot from Adam.

Into a five minute extra time period, the boys again took the game to their opponents without causing them too many problems and were made to pay. A poor touch at the back let in the Ormskirk forward and he coolly steered it home, leaving them with little time to recover. A late Caleb free kick was punched out frantically by the Ormskirk keeper but his team's one goal was enough to defeat the boys and see them through to the final against Town Green Jags.

Having played 11-a-side since Christmas, the boys struggled to adapt to the smaller game. With some scrappy form, they finally got caught out in the semi finals when they were good enough to make the final. However, with the last tournament coming up next Sunday, they have a great chance to make amends and finish on a real high. As manager Ian told them before the semi, they know what to do and don’t need anybody shouting from the touchline – so let’s go out and do it next week, boys!

Awards Evening

Friday 1st July

Most of the team were present at the Civic Centre for the Crosby Stuart Awards Presentation (Matty was on a school trip and Adam and Josh were banned after playing against their team mates for Scarisbrick...no, they were on the school trip too!).

Ian's short review of the year congratulated the boys on their continued improvement and success in the Forefield tournament and his delivery - without the notes stuck in his pocket - was of a man born to public speaking.

Also presented on the evening were the Parents'  and Players' Player of the Year Awards, given to Seamus and Caleb respectively - well done for an excellent season, boys!

Boys Denied Runners Up Spot

Tuesday 29^th June

vs. Active Soccer 1-2

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

The season finale went right to the wire but the runners-up spot in the Summer League remained just out of the boys grasp.

In an open first half, Ciarán B was quickly into the action, taking a confidence building catch above his head in the first minute. The first goal of the game should have been scored at the other end a minute later though, as a ball from Adam set up Jacob only for his fellow wide man’s shot to be saved.

Active Soccer were clearly up for this game and twice Ciarán had to be smart off his line to collect the ball into the area. Joe got a clearing header in as their opponents began to press.

The defence were holding firm but they were struggling to move the ball out of their own half. In the 5^th minute, though, Caleb forced a good save from the keeper diving at his near post. From the corner, Seamus’ glance flew across the face of goal to safety. As their opponents came straight back on the attack, Ciarán B was again down making a brave save amongst the forward’s feet.

Adam and Jacob switched wings in the 11^th minute as the boys continued to be pinned in their own half. Some weak challenges continued to leave the defence exposed and Stephen dropped back to clear. From the resultant throw-in, Joe’s shout of “mine” was quickly followed by a powerful header clear.

A minute later and the boys had the lead. After Jacob was bundled off the ball, Caleb’s shot from the free kick was once again turned around the post. The keeper punched the corner clear but after Joe and Jacob and headed it on, Seamus was on the back post to claim his 33^rd goal of the season.

Lewis was also playing his part in defence and cleared twice under pressure, either side of a goal disallowed for offside for Active Soccer, and then shepherded the ball to safety, recovering after the forward thought he had him beat.

Ciarán S had replaced Adam after 18 minutes but was seeing little of the ball as Active Soccer continued to press. Another attack broke down as Tom’s header guided the ball back to his keeper but their opponents finally got reward for their pressure in the 24^th minute as the defence failed to hold the front line, leaving Ciarán B with no chance. He was in action twice more before the half was out, though, finishing with another save to keep the scores equal at half time.

Adam, Danny and Elliot came on at the break for Tom, Jacob and Seamus as the boys went looking for the win to take them into second place in the table. The second half started as the first ended, however, as Ciarán B saved under pressure from the onrushing forward in the first minute.

They were trying to find more space out on the wings now and Adam set himself up with a low shot pushed out. Ciarán S and Danny linked up on the opposite side, creating a chance for Caleb which the keeper saved.

Joe was keeping up his first form at the back still, with a vital 33^rd minute interception. As their opponents kept up the pressure, Ciarán B made a point blank save with his knees in the 37^th minute. It was then the turn of the Active Soccer keeper to be alert to deal with a long range shot from Josh as Ciarán S followed it in and then the forward then broke free on the right in the 41^st minute only for the defence to smother the efforts of Elliot, Josh and Danny.

Ciarán B’s great goalkeeping display was almost rewarded with an assist in the 43^rd minute as his clearance beat both midfields but was just beyond Elliot too as he chased it into the keeper’s hands.

Matty had had his usual solid match at full back but was sacrificed with 12 minutes to go as Jacob returned and, needing a winner, they went to three at the back. He was straight into the action, slipping the ball through the back line for Caleb but it just ran away from him.

As the game see-sawed between the two defences, Lewis held firm and his clearance in the 49^th minute allowed Jacob to link with Caleb and Danny on the right to force a corner, which was cleared despite claims for handball as the ball bobbled around the defence.

Seamus came on for Ciarán S as a last throw of the dice with 5 minutes left but it was Active Soccer who made the decisive move 2 minutes later. Having broken through the boys’ defence once, only to make the wrong pass, they didn’t make the same mistake twice and a moment’s hesitation left the forward to slide the winner past the helpless Ciarán B.

A bang on the ankle meant that Tom replaced Josh for the final minutes and a late free kick from Joe taken well by the keeper left the boys deflated at the whistle.

Looking for a winning goal, the boys were once again caught out at the end, but they deserve credit for attacking right up until the end. They were guilty at times of being second to the ball, allowing their opponents to take advantage and build another attack. Showing the way, there was no hesitation from Ciarán B, who had a superb game, regularly coming off his line to take the ball safely. However, after yet another mature display at right back, it was Lewis who deservedly picked up the Man of the Match award – “Nice one, Louie”, as Caleb would put it.

Seven Up!

Friday 24th June
vs. Scarisbrick JFC 7-2

Goals from Elliot, Lewis, Ciaran S (2), Seamus, Caleb and Joe saw the boys romp home in what was surely only a friendly - especially as Josh and Adam played for Scarisbrick and Adam scored both their goals! That puts you on -1 goals for the Summer League, Adam ,by the way...