Another loss - but some promise after break

Saturday 1^st December

vs Hudson Hibs 1-6

Team: Ciarán; Ben, Joe, Tom, Elliot; Adam, Ollie, Caleb, Josh; Danny O, Jacob. Subs: Cormac, Danny D.

These are hard days for the boys as they went down to another heavy defeat, although they showed much greater belief in the second half.

They were a goal down after two minutes as, having cleared the ball once, they allowed Hibs to pass through them with ease. A minute later Elliot’s clearance off the line saved their blushes with the Hibs forward alone at the near post.

Relief was coming mostly down the left side, with Ben feeding Adam down the line. Joe’s quick free kick to the same man was clever, but Adam put his shot wide as the forwards streamed into the box. Adam and Jacob then both went for the same Caleb corner as they finally put Hibs under some pressure.

Ollie and Josh swapped roles to try and bolster the midfield but, having got away with stopping for an offside decision that never came, they fell further behind in the 16^th minute. Lady Luck is not smiling on them at the moment: Joe thought he had done enough to put the forward off but a touch turned into a lob that deceived Ciarán.

The keeper is suffering with every mistake being exposed at the moment and dropping a free kick after 21 minutes, allowing Hibs to extend their lead further, left him cursing his error. He could, with some justification, ask why the first three players to respond to his spill were Hibs’ forwards as the defence again stood and watched.

Cormac and Danny D came on at half time to play down each flank, replacing Tom and Danny O, and each played their part in an improved display after the break.

Danny D used the space on the right well, rounding the full back and putting in a series of dangerous crosses. On the left, Cormac looked to hold the ball up and link up with his midfield teammates as they came forward. The boys moved the ball around quicker in the second period but struggled to penetrate as Hibs held them at bay on the edge of their box.

A clean take from a swerving shot in the 35^th minute restored Ciarán’s confidence and he went on to pull off a string of fine saves during the half. The defence still looked easily exposed, though, and so were grateful for their keeper’s heroics. Joe played his part, too – a shot on the break in the 47^th minute was only parried by Ciarán and the centre back somehow got back to incredibly hook it off the line.

The boys had been denied a lifeline a minute earlier when Caleb, after Cormac had slid it into his path, rattled a shot onto the crossbar. Jacob was quickly on hand to head home the rebound only to be denied by a strange offside decision. After that and Joe’s heroics, it was a cruel blow to concede again in the 49^th minute as Ciarán pulled off another great save only for the rebound to be tapped home with a hint of offside about the forward’s position.

Cormac shot narrowly wide as they attacked straight from the restart but Hibs promptly went back up the other end and scored as a simple ball took out the midfield and defence and the forward rounded Ciarán to score.

Danny Don - Man of the Match

They pulled a goal back as Ollie headed home Josh’s corner with 5 minutes left and nearly had a second as Jacob nodded Caleb’s free kick just past the post but Hibs scored their sixth goal just before the end as the boys failed to deal with the loose ball in the box.

The tentative display in the first half was, to their credit, replaced by a better effort as they responded to the half-time challenge to, at the very least, make the second half a contest. The substitutes both played their part in this and the Man of the Match award went to Danny D for his penetration down the right wing.

Collapse sees Active run riot

24^th November

vs Active Soccer 1-8

Team: Ciarán; Adam, Ben, Tom, Elliot; Joe, Josh; Ollie, Lewis, Danny O; Jacob. Sub: Cormac.

This was a dispiriting display on a barely playable pitch – although the terrible surface was the same for both teams, Active Soccer’s more direct tactics allowed them to exploit a heartless second half performance.

Active created a couple of early chances, winning headers from corners, but the boys had started brightly on the attack. Jacob and Josh combined to force a corner, which was wasted as they all attacked the near post.

Joe stood firm to block shots as Active came back at them but the boys were having the better of the early contest. Lewis’s throw set up Josh for a 12^th minute shot which the keeper took at the second attempt  and then Jacob saw his shot taken by the keeper. After 15 minutes, a great cross from Adam was tipped off Jacob’s head and, from a well-worked short corner, Ollie shot over the bar.

Ciarán was unlucky to concede a goal after 17 minutes as the long range shot bounced horribly in front of him and the forward was first to pounce on the rebound off his chest. Two minutes later and the Active lead was doubled as the forward, running onto the ball over the defence, was deemed onside and the Crosby keeper was lobbed.

Josh and Lewis forced saves before half time but the writing was on the wall as the boys folded after the break. Active scored three more in the first ten minutes of the second half as they carved out chances at will.

The indecision all over the pitch constantly left the boys chasing their opponents and, in the 45^th minute, Lewis and Joe combined to upend the forward in the box. They were grateful that the penalty struck a post, as was Ciarán whose feet were stuck in the gluepot of a pitch.

Cormac replaced Danny O for the last quarter but, despite a Lewis header just over the bar from Josh’s corner, they continued to ship goals. An inability to clear a corner in the 48^th minute, followed by indecision from Tom and Ben allowing the forward a free run on goal two minutes later, sent them seven down.

They finally showed what they were capable of after 52 minutes as Lewis robbed the ball in midfield and passed to Josh, whose cross was headed home by Jacob. Then, in the final minute, Active came forward and, with the defence standing off, found it all too easy to wrap up their victory with an eighth goal.

Defeat to a good side is acceptable. However, until the first goal went in, the boys were playing the better football and were as likely to score as Active were. After the first goal, their heads began to drop; after they went further behind just after half time they collapsed and the heart and, to some extent, the desire went out of some of the boys. The value of the work in training may now be more obvious to them than ever after this abject display. Some credit goes to Ollie, taking the Man of the Match award for trying to play some football on a quagmire pitch.

Second half display secures victory

Saturday 10^th November

vs Maghull FC 3-0

Team: Ciarán B; Tom, Joe, Matty, Ben; Josh, Caleb, Jacob, Adam; Elliot, Cormac. Subs: Lewis, Ciarán S.

The boys rode their luck in the first half but a flurry of changes after the break ensured another victory.

After last week’s superb display, and with Maghull only able to field a scratch side, it was surprising that too much of the first half was played in front of the boys goal, as they were constantly outfought and were guilty of dawdling on the ball. They struggled to cope with a series of early corners and, after Ciarán B had made a great save to deny Maghull in the 11^th minute, they should have gone a goal down as the rebound was blazed over.

Any attacking threat was coming down the left as Adam linked with Ben, Caleb and Cormac to run at the full back, without forcing any serious threat on the Maghull goal. Switching Josh and Jacob gave the side better balance, greater strength in midfield and they were a more potent threat as the half ended. Jacob set himself up in the 23^rd minute, only to shoot wide and Cormac linked up with Josh only for the midfielder to see his shot on the stretch easily saved.

Maghull had a half-chance late on after Tom was caught in two minds but Ben and Caleb opened up the left again and Josh’s instinctive lob drifted wide of the far post. Elliot was quick to close down the goal kick and joined up with Jacob to rob the ball from the throw-in: the keeper pawed the cross off Adam’s head to keep the scores even at half time.

Lewis came on for Caleb after 31 minutes – the midfield maestro struggling with an ankle knock after a poor, and unpunished, tackle moments earlier – and his swashbuckling run forced a good save in the 33^rd minute. Adam then shot narrowly wide as the boys built on their strong end to the first half.

Ciarán S came on for Tom, with Elliot dropping in at right back, but the defence was looking stronger as Matty coolly stepped up to pinch the ball off the forward and feed Josh. He gave Ciarán S his first chance to run at the Maghull defence: the ball may have run away but they were now being stretched constantly.

Lewis pulled another shot wide in the 36^th minute and a sly tug, missed by the referee, stopped a typical barnstorming run at the heart of the defence by Josh. Cormac, with his last action before being replaced by the recovered Caleb in the 40^th minute, then linked with Jacob to create a chance for Adam, only for his shot to go narrowly wide.

In the 42^nd minute, Lewis pushed the ball down the inside right channel for Jacob who decided to cross when the shot seemed like a better option and Ciarán S forced a save out of the keeper. The boys nearly paid for this generosity a minute later as, looking stretched on the left, Ciarán B came to close down the forward and was grateful to see Joe on hand to head out, the keeper clutching on to the clearance from his defender.

It looked as if the goal wasn’t going to come when, a minute later, the boys nearly hashed up a short corner, only for Josh to cross and Ciarán S to hit the crossbar. Then the bounce from a lob into the box completely deceived the keeper and somehow they prevented Jacob from getting a touch to the ball.

Lewis was beaten by a bobble and shot over in the 47^th minute but the goal finally came a minute later as Josh, from the right, sent the ball in and Ciarán S set up Jacob to slot home.

Josh took a knock in the build up and Matty, whose break from the action lasted only a minute, came back on with Tom now at centre back. Maghull were buckling now and Jacob was upended in the box in the 50^th minute. Caleb’s penalty was high but onto the inside of the right hand upright to double the lead.

Three goals in four minutes finally reflected their dominance for three quarters of the match and the third on 52 minutes was a classic free kick move: Ben’s ball was far too good for the Maghull defence and Jacob touched it past the keeper for his second. It took a great clearance off the line by the defender to prevent Jacob’s hat-trick a minute later as the Maghull defence froze as Ben’s deep ball set up the chance.

A much-improved second half defensive display was nearly ruined in the last minute as Maghull broke out, only for Ciarán B to preserve the clean sheet, saving with his legs, as the boys recorded another win.

The boys played the match unaware that the three points were already assured by Maghull’s inability to field a fully registered team. They put first half wobbles behind them to run out easy winners and, once again, it was difficult to pick a Man of the Match with a number of them getting a vote. In the end, Ian’s casting vote went to Joe, the bedrock of a defensive display that again provided the foundation for victory.

Poor display in return to action

Saturday 27^th October

vs. Town Green 0-5

 

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Tom, Matty, Ben; Danny, Caleb (capt.), Jacob, Adam; Joe H, Seamus. Sub: Cormac.

A disappointing display with the boys too often second best meant they were on the end of a heavy defeat.

Lack of movement up front, wingers keen to go forward but no so happy to track back and a defence pulled out of shape all too often made for an uncomfortable morning for those watching on the touch line. The first goal, after five minutes, came as Town Green easily picked up the ball in their defence and moved it quickly through the middle. Gaps at the back left Ciarán exposed as the forward rounded him to score.

The boys went further down after 12 minutes, as Town Green were able to walk the ball in after the defence stopped, claiming what looked like a blatant throw-in (not given, coincidentally, by the Town Green manager with the flag).

There were occasional flashes of passing play, with Joe putting Seamus in over the top and good interplay through midfield from Caleb, Jacob, Danny and Joe nearly set up another chance for Seamus.

Joe touched a Caleb free kick wide but it was the sloppy play when they didn’t have the ball that caused the problems, even if Matty and Ben were doing their best under pressure.

If they were hoping for a better second half, the hope died in the first minute. The defence stopped to watch a ball over the top, which took them all out and left the forward with a simple chance to extend the lead.

They came close to pulling one back in the 31^st minute as a wicked Caleb corner was twice cleared off the line, the second effort by Joe, but Town Green almost scored again as they weren’t closed down and the shot from outside the box hit the foot of the post and Ciarán had to be up quick to block the rebound.

The pattern was set for the second half: the defence easily breached and Ciarán left exposed. His touch stopped one break in the 35^th minute but the left side was pulled out of shape for the fourth two minutes later and a long clearance was allowed to bounce and take out the whole defence, the forward lobbing over the keeper for their fifth goal in the 43^rd minute.

Ciarán made a couple of further saves and, despite Caleb looking to push the ball forward when he had the time, Jacob never hiding and Adam pulling a late shot across the goal after some determined play, the Man of the Match award went to the substitute, Cormac. Coming on after 40 minutes when Danny took a knock, he showed far more determination to close down the Town Green player on the ball, win it back, chasing down loose balls and showing lots of spirit.

The bitty nature of this season – this was only the third competitive match since early September – and the loss and absence of players has not allowed the team to develop a proper start to the season but they still need to learn not to be so nice, allowing their opponents to make the decisions. Cormac’s effort in his 16 minutes on the pitch was, perhaps, a lesson for his team mates.

Seven up start to new season

8^th September 2012

Vs Marina Sands Tigers 7-2

Team: Ciarán, Elliot, Tom, Matty, Adam; Joe H, Josh, Caleb, Jacob; Danny, Joe T. Sub: Cormac.

After a shaky start, the boys began their U12 careers with a solid win - a five goal margin over the Tigers is becoming a habit.

Terrible defending from a 4^th minute throw allowed the Tigers’ forward a free run on goal and Ciarán was left red-faced as the ball went through hands and legs and trickled over the line.

The boys were looking to play a mature passing game wherever possible and they slowly worked their way back into the match. A ball from Jacob down the inside left channel opened up the defence for Joe T but they held firm and the forward then set up Joe H as the Tigers conceded a corner.

Caleb put an 11^th minute free kick onto Jacob’s head, forcing a great save from the Tigers’ keeper and he denied Jacob again from the resulting corner.

Joe T’s movement up front was too good for the Tigers’ defence as he opened up space to create a chance for Danny, who had another chance after a backward defensive header landed at his feet.

Although Adam and Jacob had to double up as the Tigers broke upfield, they continue to press in search of the equaliser. Caleb saw a free kick fly over the bar and Joe T’s smart play on the edge of the box in the 23^rd minute forced another flying save out of the keeper. From Caleb’s corner, Joe H was on hand to nod it over the line.

A minute later, the boys were able to take a lead into half-time when Danny was upended in the box and Caleb coolly put the penalty away.  

The Tigers came out fired up as Jacob cleared a 30^th minute corner off the line but another series of defensive errors gifted them the equaliser two minutes later.

Tom took a knock in the build up to their goal and was replaced by Cormac. The reshuffled defence, as Joe H dropped back, took a few minutes to settle but Elliot’s solid tackling and a corner dealt with safely ensured the Tigers did not take any advantage.

Danny was left in a heap from a poor challenge long after the ball had gone, which went unpunished but the referee gave a free kick for a foul on Josh after 40 minutes, which Caleb rifled home  to retake the lead as the keeper grasped at the air.

The chances were now coming thick and fast as the boys pressed home their superiority in midfield and on the flanks. Cormac shot straight at the keeper after Joe T had stretched them on the left and the boys went two goals up in the 43^rd minute as another Josh under the crossbar was again headed home by Joe H.

Caleb unleashed a rocket from 25 yards that pulled another great save out of the keeper and they should have been three ahead as first Joe H and then Jacob missed headers from another dangerous Josh corner. The relief for the beleaguered Tigers defence was short as Jacob was on hand to bundle over the next Josh corner to make it 5-2 in the 47^th minute.

Ciarán made up for his Pepe Reina moment after 53 minutes with a great save as the Tigers broke out  but the pass of the game from Caleb a minute later left Jacob in acres of space to bring it down and slip it under the keeper for his second goal.

Jacob had his sights on a hat-trick and should have completed it a minute before full time: the keeper made the save but Josh was on hand for the rebound just ahead of Cormac, his goal a worthy reward for the wicked corners that had provided goals for his teammates. There was still time for Jacob to be denied twice at the near post by the keeper and then by the final whistle as the boys ended in total control.

With a number of boys deciding to move on, a thin squad with only one training session put in a good display after taking some time to get going. They conceded goals from silly defensive mistakes but there was plenty of good movement and passing going forward to build on in forthcoming matches. Caleb took greater command of midfield the longer the game progressed, Joe T was lively up front without getting any reward but Jacob took a tight Man of the Match vote for an all-round display.

End of season round up.

Despite a number of efforts, the weather and Birkdale's inability to muster a full team meant that the final match of the summer season was not played and the boys finished mid-table as the league fizzled out. 

The final goalscorers table for the U11 season ended up as below - congratulations to Ciarán S for finishing top:

	Winter	Spring	Summer	Total
Ciarán S	9	9	3	21
Adam	6	7		13
Danny	7	3	2	12
Caleb	5	4	1	10
Lewis	1	3	5	9
Josh	5	2	2	9
Darren			8	8
Jacob	3		3	6
Joe H	5			5
Joe T			5	5
Elliot	1	2		3
Matty	2	1		3
Cormac	1			1
Tom		1		1

On 22 July, the boys took part in the Scarisbrick Hall School Tournament. Drawn in a group of four, they started with a 1-0 victory over Mill Hill from Blackburn, with a goal from Lewis.

After a 0-1 defeat against Marina Sands Lions, the other results left them needing at least a point against MHS Rangers from Huyton - last year's tournament winners. They got the draw to see them through - Lewis on target yet again with a superb equaliser - to see them through to the semi-final and knock the Lions out in the process.

Scarisbrick Stars had won the other group and so the boys faced them in the semi-final. In a tight match, Lewis scored his third goal of the afternoon just after half time. With minutes left, Darren had a great chance from Josh's perfect cross, only for the ball to be bundled away for a corner. The Stars defended it well, went down the other end and equalised. Their tails were up now and they got the winner moments later to knock the stuffing out of the boys.

It was a good performance at the end of a long season in a tournament full of quality teams - the Stars were defeated 2-0 in the final by Marine. 

The U11 Season awards were presented at the first training session after the summer break:

Parents' Player of the Season: Caleb

Players' Player of the Season: Matty

Manager's Award: Elliot  

Boys throw away victory

Thursday 28th June 
vs Formby JSC 3-5

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Tom, Joe H, Matty; Danny, Caleb, Lewis, Adam; Ciarán S, Joe T. Subs: Cormac, Darren, Josh. 

The boys continued their topsy-turvy Summer League form by throwing victory away in a suicidal second half.A 2^nd minute goal from Man of the Match Joe T after a strong run down the middle from Lewis promised much. 

The second goal, after 9 minutes, as Joe T turned provider from Danny’s cross to set up Ciarán S for the goal, reflected their control of the game.

Poor defending to allow Formby to pull a goal back in the 13^th minute was a sign of things to come but the two goal lead was restored 5 minutes later as Ciarán S took full advantage of the keeper’s poor touch on Joe T’s great ball to slide it into an empty net.

It was sheer luck that they didn’t start the second half further ahead – Adam, Caleb and Darren went close – and Lewis had a chance soon after the break. Instead, Formby were back in the game in the 36^th minute as the defence lost its shape defending a throw-in.

The scores were level in the 46^th minute as keeper Ciarán B was left exposed, pulling off one save but powerless to stop the second and two minutes later they had the lead as the defence, not helped out by a sloppy midfield, were all at sea.

Lewis and Darren caused problems at the other end but Formby scored their fifth and best goal 5 minutes from the end to round off a miserable day for the Crosby defence.

 

Second half surge sends North packing

Tuesday 26th June
vs Liverpool North 5-0

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Tom, Joe H, Matty; Danny, Lewis, Josh, Adam; Ciarán S, Joe T. Sub: Cormac.

The boys ran away with this match in the second half, after a fast and furious opening period had ended goalless.

A strong Ciarán S run forced a corner in the 6^th minute, only for Adam to see his shot hit the crossbar, bounce onto the line and go safe. Two minutes later and North did the same – and went on to hit the woodwork twice more in a first half where they gave as good as they got. Ciarán S was a constant threat, Lewis saw a free kick go narrowly wide and nobody was on the end of Josh’s wicked corner just before the break.

Crosby woke up in the second half and gradually took control. Joe T had come close from a huge clearance from keeper Ciarán B but it was Ciarán S who opened the scoring in the 40^th minute with a great back post header from Josh’s cross.

A surging run from Josh a minute later set up Joe T for the second and pressure on the keeper in the 45^th minute left him with a tap in for the third and his second goal in as many minutes. The fourth came moments later from Josh, sliding home after a shot from Adamwas saved and a run of five goals in nine minutes was completed with a long range Lewis free kick, who shared the Man of the Match award with Matty after his solid first half performance at left back.

Boys succumb to league leaders

Saturday 16^th June

vs. Active Soccer 1-3

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Tom, Joe H, Matty; Danny, Caleb (capt.), Lewis, Jacob; Darren, Ciarán S. Subs: Adam, Cormac (unused), Josh.

A disappointing second half display in weather more akin to March than June saw Crosby Stuart slip to defeat.

A strong crosswind hampered both sides but a well-drilled Active defence kept the boys at bay, although Jacob nearly opened them up for Darren after 5 minutes.

Lewis came close from both open play and with a free kick in the first quarter. Elliot was solid in defence, linking well with Danny outside him and slipping a low cross into Ciarán S which the Active defence scrambled away.

Ciarán B had to come quickly off his line to tackle the breakaway forward on the edge of the box as Active pushed out but was powerless to prevent them taking the lead after 21 minutes after a missed defensive header left the forward in space.

The Crosby keeper pushed one shot around the post and saved another as Active looked to increase their lead but Darren and Ciarán S continued to cause problems at the other end.

After the break, the boys pinned Active in their own half and got the equaliser in the 34^th minute. The Active defence failed to deal with a long ball from Josh and, with keeper and defenders together on the edge of the box, Darren lifted the ball over all of them into the empty net.

Active regained their lead after 36 minutes after a strong challenge on Matty went unpunished and a forward was on hand to tap in off the post. They extended their lead 5 minutes later in fortunate circumstances as a speculative shot hit the inside of one post and flew into the side netting on the other side of the goal.

In worsening conditions, where the solid midfield display of Caleb saw him named Man of the Match, the boys tried to get back into the game as Darren twice stung the keeper’s hands but it was a late Ciarán B save and the crossbar that prevented Active from scoring again.

First half display secures second win

Tuesday 12^th June

vs. Marina Sands Tigers 6-1

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Tom, Joe H, Matty; Danny, Caleb (capt.), Lewis, Adam; Darren, Ciarán S. Subs: Cormac, Jacob, Joe T, Josh.

This game was all over at half time but a series of changes as the full squad got a run out and some relaxation meant that the Tigers avoided an embarrassing score line.

The boys were a goal up after only two minutes. The cross from Danny’s right wing run went for a goal kick but Darren quickly picked up on the weak kick to push forward and shoot across the keeper and into the corner of the net.

An immediate change of keeper for the Tigers brought some respite but they were second best all over the pitch. Matty had a lob taken quite easily and a 9^th minute run from Darren saw the forward stopped from shooting as he was mobbed by defenders.

The Tigers pushed forward but Adam’s head at the near post set them away again and a cross-field move between Ciarán S and Lewis almost set up Danny but the keeper was quickly off his line to take the ball.

Darren saw a header saved in the 12^th minute but got his second goal a minute later as he was on hand to tap in after more good footwork by Danny and Ciarán S had again opened up the left side of the Tigers.

A minute later they had extended the lead further and Darren had his hat-trick. A quick ball out from Ciarán B came to Danny who yet again hared down the wing and slipped the ball to Ciarán S. He then slid the ball across the box, only for Adam’s shot to be blocked but the tall striker was on hand to shoot home his third.

Darren was too strong for the Tigers and was getting on the end of nearly everything. He powered a header against the crossbar from Lewis’ cross after 16 minutes before joining Elliot, Lewis and Danny on the sidelines as all four substitutes were used after 19 minutes.

Josh and Joe T combined straight away, only for Joe T’s shot to be saved but he got his goal in the 22^nd minute, packing the ball into the corner of the net from a decisive Jacob pass.

The Tigers were no more able to contain the boys after all the changes than before in this half as Joe T turned provider a minute after his goal, breaking down the right to set up Josh, whose shot was pushed around the post. That might have been a good save from the keeper but he got away with dropping the corner with nobody on hand to take advantage.

Adam scurried down the left wing to force a corner in the 24^th minute, which Josh swung in to good effect – good enough to beat everybody and sail into the corner of the net for a 5-0 lead at the break, although Jacob and Joe T still had time for half-chances before the whistle.

The boys never really linked up to the same effect in the second half, although Tom was on hand with a long range header saved by the keeper in the 33^rd minute after Joe T had released Josh into space on the right.

Changes after 36 minutes, as Lewis, Danny and Darren returned, replacing Caleb, Joe H and Ciarán S, livened up the performance but it was the Tigers who were to score the goal of the game in the 38^th minute.

Ciarán B and Matty got into a mix-up as the latter tried to shield the ball out. The defence never properly recovered – Ciarán B made a good save which Tom helped on its way but the keeper was left to grasp at air as a volley from the edge of the box flew over his head.

Elliot replaced Cormac at the restart and the lead was restored in the 41^st minute from the penalty spot as Darren, set up by another clinical pass from Jacob, was upended in the box. With Caleb on the sidelines, the striker took the penalty, blasting it past the keeper for his fourth goal of the game.

Lewis’ free kick forced a save from the keeper after Jacob was shoved in the back but the boys were not breaking down the Tigers as easily as in the first period. Caleb returned, as Adam took a breather, and he quickly got into his stride as his 46^th minute pass almost set up Darren. The forward was still hunting goals and a clever touch created space for a shot in the 49^th minute, only for it to crash back off the crossbar.

Joe H had replaced Tom with 10 minutes of the game left and he nutmegged the fullback to set Lewis on another barnstorming run, only for Caleb to slice his shot wide of the upright.

A seventh goal to finish off the match with a flourish just would not come: Darren ran offside after Josh and Joe T had again combined to set him up and Jacob should have been more selfish with Caleb’ pass in the last minute. Darren was cruelly denied a final chance, breaking through the Tigers’ line for a run on goal only to be halted by the full-time whistle.

The second half display lacked the incisive passing and measured confidence of the first; otherwise they may have run into double figures. That they failed again to take complete advantage of their opponents’ defensive frailties did not stop Darren from scoring four goals, a performance worthy of the Man of the Match medal.

Victory - at last!

Tuesday 29^th May

vs. Birkdale Hawks 8-1

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Lewis, Joe H, Adam; Danny, Caleb (capt.), Jacob, Joe T; Darren, Ciarán S. Subs: Cormac, Tom.

The boys finally got their first win of the Summer League, and a big one at that against limited opponents, although they should have made it into double figures.

Josh and Matty were enjoying the sun in Spain with the school, which meant another reshuffled defence but the Hawks barely troubled them in the first half. Instead they had to defend corner after corner as the boys came forward at will.

Adam miskicked from the first corner after only 90 seconds and Lewis shot high from the edge of the box five minutes (and five corners) later. A great header against the bar by Darren in the 7^th minute showed they were getting closer and they should have taken the lead a minute later, only for Jacob to be wrongly called offside.

Darren had another chance after a mazy run on the left from Adam and a pass from Ciarán S set him up but he shot over and then Jacob and Joe T opened up the other flank only for Joe’s shot to be blocked for yet another corner. As the corner swung in, Darren’s overhead shot just cleared the crossbar.

The opener finally came in the 10^th minute with a run straight through the middle onto Jacob’s slide-rule pass and clean finish from Darren. Two minutes later and Danny was on the end of a high ball into the box from Lewis to coolly shoot home and double the lead and the third should have followed in the 14^th minute as a scramble from a corner saw the ball cleared off the line at least twice before Jacob shot just wide of the right hand post.

Darren fizzed one across the face of the goal in the 15^th minute with teammates eager for a lay back and Jacob’s pass took out the defence but ran away from the strikers after 17 minutes as the Hawks continued to struggle to escape from their half.

Danny had a shot blocked away by the keeper as he got on the end of an accurate pass from Caleb and then turned provider, popping up on the left to cut back and cross for Ciarán S, who saw his shot scrambled clear.

The third goal seemed as if it would not come, as Jacob’s 24^th minute low header from another corner, this time after a good link-up between Darren and Ciarán S, went narrowly wide. Danny picked up the goal kick and set up Darren, only for the forward to shoot wide. Joe H, who had shot from distance earlier in the half, then set up Jacob and, from the resulting corner, Danny’s shot was blocked by the keeper’s knees

Finally, the defence gave way on the stroke of half time. Darren forced the umpteenth corner of the half and from the clearance, Caleb set up Lewis who fired home to make it 3-0 at the break.

Ciarán S gave way from Tom at half time as Adam pushed forward from an untroubled defence and Joe T joined Darren in attack.

Darren had time to shoot wide after a powerful run before a 31^st minute mix-up between Ciarán B and Joe H saw the Hawks awarded a free-kick. The Crosby keeper made a point-blank save to push the ball out but could only watch as his defence reacted far too slowly and the forward’s shot trickled over the line.

The lead was restored immediately, as the boys went down the other end and Lewis met Danny’s cross to score his second. Danny was finding lots of space on the right, linking well with Caleb inside him and Joe T in front, and his cross after 36 minutes was met with a low volley from Jacob to make it 5-1.

Lewis completed his hat-trick in the 39^th minute from Joe T’s pass after Darren’s barnstorming run down the left and Danny got his reward for an excellent second half display as he had all the time in the world to score his second and his team’s seventh after 41 minutes, set up by Cormac who had replaced Jacob after his goal.

A shot that skimmed the top of the bar, after Danny and Joe T had worked to great effect on the right, was Lewis’ final action as he and Caleb were replaced by Ciarán S and Jacob with a quarter of the match left.

The defence had been largely redundant, bur Elliot’s concentration was not at fault as he cut off a potential break and set up Joe T, only for the forward to see his shot fade wide of the post. It was proving to be Joe T’s unlucky day as another shot went wide after Cormac and Jacob had linked up in the 45^th minute and a minute later the keeper fumbled Joe H’s free kick after Darren was fouled just outside the box.

The changes in midfield and the desperation of the Hawks to keep the score line respectable meant that the game degenerated into a scrappy mess towards the end but there was still time for Adam to see his shot pushed around the post with three minutes left and for Jacob to complete the scoring with a near post header as the Hawks failed to deal with the corner.

This was a great win but the boys could easily have doubled the score and the Hawks would have had no complaint. The skilful use of the ball in midfield from Jacob and Danny’s splendid second half on the right were highlights but the Man of the Match medal, if not the match ball (for which he only has himself to blame, blazing his first half shot into the wilderness of the adjacent field) went to hat-trick hero Lewis.

Another draw in tough start to summer

Wednesday 23^th May

vs. Town Green 1-1

Team: Ciarán B; Lewis, Tom, Joe H, Matty; Jacob, Josh, Caleb (capt.), Adam; Darren, Ciarán S. Subs: Cormac (unused), Danny.

In a game of contrasting halves, the boys came close to securing their first win of the Summer League but a draw was, once again, a fair result.

The boys took some time to get into this game and were pinned back for long periods of the first half. The slow defensive start from the back four and midfield saw them go a goal behind after 8 minutes.

Lewisand Tom finally began to gain some control and a barnstorming run from Darren saw him shoot narrowly wide. Caleb saw two long range shots go narrowly wide but it took a one handed save from Ciarán B and the crossbar to ensure Town Green didn’t extend their lead.

They started the second half far more positively, with Lewis pushed into midfield, as Darren got onto the end of a five-man move to force a corner from which Matty headed wide. Ciarán S turned in a Man of the Match display in the second half as the Town Green defence struggled to contain him. He gave Darren and Danny chances to score, and went wide himself but the equaliser came from the penalty spot in the 48^th minute. Caleb was fouled in the area and stepped up to once again coolly put away the spot kick.

Two minutes before the end a spectacular save denied Ciarán S the winner but there was still time for Ciarán B to push a shot wide at the other end and the forward to miss the follow-up as the game finished with the points shared.

Honours even against West End

Wednesday 16^th May

vs. Ormskirk West End 3-3

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Tom, Joe H, Matty; Lewis, Caleb (capt.), Adam; Joe T, Darren, Ciarán S. Subs: Cormac, Danny, Jacob, Josh.

The boys struggled to come to terms with a speedy, determined display from the West End Under 10s team and were lucky to escape with a draw.

Joe T followed his excellent debut last week with a well taken goal from Man of the Match Caleb's ball in the 3^rd minute. West End had come close from a corner earlier but the boys did not heed the warning and the scores were level after they were again first to the corner in the 5^th minute.

Joe T, Ciarán S and debutant Darren formed a three-pronged attack but it was the pace of West End that gave the greatest threat. Darren had been forced wide on the run and Lewis had shot over before West End got yet another head to a corner to take the lead in the 21^st minute.

Darren and Jacob just failed to connect early in the second half as a reshuffle gave them more solidity. Jacob set up Darren for his first goal for the team in the 34^th minute, as the striker rifled past the keeper.

Joe T crated chances for Ciarán S and Jacob exerted greater attacking influence and the boys took the lead in the 46^th minute as Adam released Darren to shoot over the keeper for his second.

West End were level minutes later after a defensive mix-up and though they had chances late on, they were also were grateful to see headers from Jacob and Darren come to nothing as the boys pressed for the winner in a frenetic last five minutes.

Boys unable to shoot out the Stars

Tuesday 8^th May

vs. Scarisbrick Stars 2-4

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

The boys were unable to continue their recent good form as the Summer League started and went down against opponents who look as strong as when they last met 12 months ago – although the second half was full of positives.

With Joe T making his debut upfront, the boys started crisply but Scarisbrick were soon on the attack and Ciarán B punched away the early corner. It was a break down the right in the 5^th minute that gave them the lead, however. The defence were dragged out of shape and although Ciarán B pulled off the save, the ball fell at the feet of the unmarked forward to tap it home.

Joe T got in the action after 7 minutes, laying the ball back to Caleb whose shot was blocked. Danny worked hard on the right as the boys closed down on the clearance but they fell further behind after 10 minutes. Joe H had maintained his good run of displays but his fellow defenders were struggling: from a corner, Ciarán B made three saves on the trot – the third a reflex one handed block – but no blue and white shirts were getting to the ball and the fourth shot doubled the lead.

Jacob and Josh replaced Adam and Danny and the play got a bit brighter – Joe T chased down a wild shot from Jacob and the ball eventually came to Josh, only for his cross to be headed just wide by Ciarán S. In the 15^th minute, the speedy top goalscorer was almost in, as Caleb lifted it over the top, but the keeper was quickly off his line to snaffle the ball.

The boys had little control in midfield, however, and this caused the lack of discipline resulting in them going three down in the 17^th minute, as the Scarisbrick forward took full advantage of the gaps between the defenders to deceive Ciaran B.

Bearing in mind nearly all of his teammates were strangers, Joe T was playing a full part in attack, linking with Ciarán S who set up Jacob as they tried to fight back. Lewis and Caleb finally began to bring the ball down and pass it around, teeing up Ciarán S only for the Scarisbrick defence to quickly close him down, but the disastrous opening 20 minutes was complete as they conceded a fourth goal. A cross-cum-shot from an acute angle out by the left corner flag left Ciarán B grasping at air as it flew into the top corner.

To their credit, heads didn’t fall and they began the long fight back. Jacob saw his long range shot saved and Joe T again set up Ciarán S, who again was just beaten to the ball. As a corner flew through everyone to safety, the boys were increasing the pressure and Joe T almost had his first clear chance in the 25^th minute, as Jacob turned provider.

They got the goal their spirit deserved a minute before half time. After Ciarán S was shoved in the back, Caleb’s free kick was too fierce for the keeper and Ciarán S was on hand to set up Jacob for a tap-in.

Josh and Caleb were replaced by Adam and Danny as they looked to start the second period with greater pace. After a solid clearing header early on from Jacob, the boys continued where they had left off at the half time whistle. Danny was involved down the right, fighting to win the ball and linking up with Lewis in the 32^nd minute, only for his shot to go wide.

The boys were still not winning enough of the ball in midfield, even though Scarisbrick had stopped making them pay, but it was Danny again who shot wide in the 35^th minute, after Joe T and Adam had created the opening for him.

Tom got across to put the forward off and force the shot wide after 37 minutes as the rapid interplay from Scarisbrick nearly reaped dividends. The boys were trying to build from the back through Elliot and Matty, looking to pressurise their opponents in midfield more and Lewis was finally getting into his stride, as he and Jacob created space on the right only for the ball to just run away from Danny.

The midfielder with the crack shot finally scored his team’s second goal in the 42^nd minute. Danny and Joe T had harassed the Scarisbrick defence on the right and as the ball was laid back, Lewis was on hand to rifle it into the top corner.

Tom and Joe T were replaced by Josh and Caleb soon after and Josh almost set up another great chance in the 44^th minute as his ball beat the defence only for neither Jacob nor Ciarán S able to force a shot on the keeper. Joe T returned for the final five minutes, as Ciarán S came off, and the boys thought they had pulled another back a minute later as Danny’s cross was headed towards his goal by the defender. The keeper scrambled it out, with the help of the post but it was not adjudged to have crossed the line (although Danny thinks it’s about time they invested in goal line technology at Hightown).

The much improved second half performance was exemplified by the fact that Ciarán B finally made his first (and comfortable at that) save in the 53^rd minute. Cormac replaced Matty for the final two minutes but the action was still in their opponents half as the boys finished brightly. A break down the right from Jacob was cleared only for the ball to come to Danny. His cross fell invitingly for Joe T who just failed to connect and round off a excellent first game with a goal.

The boys paid the price for a really slow start to the match but were far more dangerous than their opponents in the second half and were never out of the game, despite the score line. They showed some grit to keep battling, trying to bring the ball down and pass to a teammate and playing as a team. Joe T blended in well, working hard in attack, and gave a performance that saw him take the Man of the Match award – welcome to the team!