Boys go top!

Saturday 26^th March

vs. Liverpool North 3-1

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

The boys went clear at the top of the table as they finally got to grips with a Liverpool North side determined to knock them off their stride, if not their feet.

Although they were quick into their opponents half and forced an early corner, Stephen had to be alert as their opponents came at them. It was the same old story of  a slow start with poor touches and passes not finding the man as they were pinned back into their own half, reliant time and again on interventions from Josh, aided by Elliot at right back.

They finally broke out in the 8^th minute as the hard-working Seamus found some space. From the resulting throw, Adam’s cross fed Seamus, only for his shot to be blocked. A minute later a trademark precise pass from Caleb set Danny in for another chance.

Guilty of not getting in their headers to clear the ball, it was ironic that Matty had to come off after a whack to the head from a high foot, giving Cormac more time on the pitch as Elliot swapped flanks. In the 17^th minute, disaster struck as the boys went a goal down. Awarded a free kick, apparently for a raised arm in the challenge, Liverpool North directly found the far corner of the net with Ciarán B left in a heap.

A goal down, the boys woke up and were level within a minute. Matty was back on and they quickly forced a corner. A scrambled clearance eventually fell to Adam out on the left and although Seamus’ shot was blocked, it fell to Jacob to coolly fire home the equaliser.

On the 23^rd minute Seamus made a chance for himself as he got away from the last defender, only to blast just over. Seconds later, though, he put the boys ahead as the poor goal kick fell to Jacob. His shot was too hot for the keeper and Kuyt, sorry Shay, was on hand to tuck away the loose ball.

The boys had worked hard to force themselves in front after a poor first half display. They held onto the advantage at the break after Ciarán B made two saves late in the half, the last taking two attempts to hold direct from another free kick. They could have extended the lead themselves, though, as a lofted shot from Ciarán S was fumbled again by the keeper who recovered to prevent the ever-alert Seamus from scoring.

After some stern words at half time, the boys took control of the game in the second period. An early push around the post from Ciarán B from a long range shot was the last real work of his half, apart from lengthy kicks deep into the opposition half on the wind.

Adam was to find more and more space down the left as the game wore on – as early as the 2^nd minute his cross was missed by both Seamus and Danny and Jacob sliced his shot wide.

Minutes later another barnstorming run fed Seamus but his deft flick was pounced on by the keeper.

It was one way traffic now as a tidy touch from Matty set the left winger flying again but the defender cut across Adam to concede a corner. A poor offside decision denied Seamus a chance as he came off the last man and then Adam fed Ciarán S, now becoming more involved, down the left and his cross-shot went wide.

Caleb then slipped another ball through the middle for Ciarán S and Seamus to trade passes only to be denied by a last ditch hoof off Seamus' foot. Adam had stretched them again twice down the left and then scuffed a shot from Caleb’s 20^th minute corner as the boys pushed to find the third goal. They thought it had come a minute later as the two man strike force broke again, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside from the last touch.

The Liverpool North defending was getting more desperate now and the boys were awarded an indirect free kick in the box from a back pass. From the touch back, Adam’s shot was blocked away. Danny was next away into free space, setting up another chance for Seamus but this week they weren’t going in.

After Adam had been left in a heap, a deep free kick from Josh was cleared only for another foul in a more central position. From this, Caleb’s ball came to Jacob to force yet another save. Adam had recovered to go haring down the wing yet again, shooting wide as the defender failed in an attempt to hack him down.

Finally in the 25^th minute the boys – and the even more frantic parents – could breathe easily. As Ciarán S found space on the left, his high ball back across fell to Danny who took his time, let it drop and then rifled it into the net with the keeper having no chance.

His reward wasn’t quite what he expected though – dumped to the ground off the ball as the boys went hunting for a fourth and carried off the pitch to be replaced again by Cormac for the last two minutes plus some rare injury time. They nearly got another, only for Ciarán S’ shot to go just wide.

Some teams will take a more physical approach and try to put the boys off their game. After a poor start – as bad as they have played at 11 a-side – they weathered the storm to come out on top. They must remember to get the ball under control quicker, get the pass away earlier and use the space, if they are not to be caught out by the better sides. With TMS coming up next, there is no time like the next time!

Josh had an excellent first half with the defence relying on his tackles and blocks, Jacob worked hard in midfield but Ciarán S was voted Man of the Match for his best display since joining the team with an effective second half performance.

Seventh Heaven!

Saturday 19^th March

vs. Ursuline 7-1

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

Another four goal haul for Seamus, a brace for Adam and a Josh free kick saw Ursuline easily beaten as the boys showed no mercy. 

They were at their opponents from the kick off, with Seamus straight in to force them back. Adam soon found space on the left and the keeper could only push the ball as far as Caleb, whose shot deflected for a corner.

Matty, Elliot and Danny were going forward down the flanks but, although they were camped in the Ursuline half, they were struggling to bring the ball down and hurt their opponents. It was Caleb, first with a shot from the edge of the box that the keeper could only palm out and then feeding Adam for a shot narrowly wide, who would make the difference.

The boys almost took the lead in the 9^th minute as Jacob and Adam took advantage of a poor goal kick, with Jacob’s shot just over the top. Ursuline pushed out and relieved the pressure in their defence but, after Ciarán S and Danny had linked well on the right, it was a ball over the top from Danny that produced the first goal as Seamus slid it home.

A minute later the same pair worked well to double the lead as Danny’s ball fed Seamus on the right of the box and his shot went in through the keeper’s hands. 

The boys were threatening to run riot as a free kick from Adam, after Danny was wrestled to the ground, was only pushed out to Seamus, whose snap shot hit the bar. Caleb then showed off some thrilling footwork that left the crowd gobsmacked, at first too good for his team mates and then to set Seamus in who missed the easiest of his chances so far.

The third goal was inevitable and it finally came in the 21^st minute as Adam shot high into the top corner after more good work on the right from Danny and Ciarán S. Their opponents were desperate for the half time whistle by now and after a great turn and shot from Seamus had gone just wide and Caleb had set Adam free again for a shot sliced wide, the boys got the fourth goal their dominance of the half deserved on the 26^th minute. A goal-bound free kick from Josh was deflected in off the defender’s head to leave Ursuline with a mountain to climb in the second half.

The boys’ control in the first half was so complete than Ciarán B had not kicked the ball once but Ursuline started the second half brighter. It was the boys, however, who created the first clear cut chance in the 3^rd minute. On the break from a corner, Ciarán S and Seamus linked well and it was Ciarán S’s shot that was just over the bar from out on the left.

Ursuline were hanging on now and in the 7^th minute, after a wicked Caleb corner, they were unable to clear the ball as it bounced around the area and Stephen’s shot was cleared off the line. From the resulting corner, Caleb shot high.

Jacob and Caleb then linked well in the 10^th minute and Adam’s shot was saved but it was sloppy defending two minutes later that allowed Ursuline to pull one back, with Ciarán B having little chance.

The goal finally woke the boys up after half time and, after Danny shot wide, the boys restored their four goal lead. Another free kick from Josh, this time for handball, was directed just under the bar and the keeper could only push it onto Seamus’ head for the striker to complete another hat-trick.

With a comfortable lead, Ian was able to change the team around, allowing the defenders a chance further up field. Elliot was up front now and, working with Adam for the restart, they forced a corner. The boys scored their second goal in as many minutes as Caleb laid the corner back to Adam to fire home his second.

Danny came off with seven minutes left to give Cormac his debut, and Adam and Matty swapped places on the left. Within a minute, a cracking ball from Matty set Seamus up for his fourth and the boys’ seventh.

Although they turned off towards the end, allowing Ciarán S to show some good defensive skills and giving Ursuline a late corner, they were good value for the big win. Still a little guilty of a scrappy start, they got into their stride but the early second half goal should remind them that preventing their opponents from scoring at one end is just as important as banging them in at the other. Seamus again was full of skill and determination for his four goals but, for driving the team forward from midfield and showing, at times, some amazing footwork, the Man of the Match award was given to the eternal smiler, Caleb.

Birkdale Blown Away!

Saturday 12th March
vs. Birkdale 5-1

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

After another slow start, the boys turned on the style in the second half and blew their opponents away.

With Joe out injured with another (different) broken arm, Josh dropped into defence alongside Stephen. Once again they all struggled to get into their rhythm and the first ten minutes were a scrappy affair in the middle of the park with both teams giving the ball away all too easily. With a little more patience on the ball – and the occasional header – they would have got control of the match a lot earlier. It wasn’t until an excellent 13^th minute free kick from Josh which just ran away from Seamus that they showed any menace.

A minute later, Adam finally found some space on the left but again the cross just eluded Seamus. As the game finally began to open up, Ciarán B did well to take a high ball under pressure.

Stephen took a whack on the foot and was replaced by Tom. He was straight into the action as Birkdale came forward, forcing another save out of Ciarán B. As the action see-sawed, his safe handling was on show again a few minutes later with another confident save.

The boys finished the half well as Adam’s cross was met by Seamus, only for his shot to run away across the goal. A minute later a shot from Ciarán S landed at Seamus’ feet but he couldn’t get a clean shot in and both Adam and Jacob were unable to follow in and force a save.

Although Ciarán S had a shot just taken off his foot, the final action was at the other end as Ciarán B pulled off a fine double save at the forward’s feet to ensure the half remained goalless.

Stephen had recovered and replaced Tom at the restart and they nearly took the lead within two minutes as Seamus forced a point blank save from the keeper, meeting Adam’s cross with a glancing header.

Just as in the first half, though, Birkdale broke through a high defensive line a minute later but Ciarán B made the blocking save, this time with his leg, from the onrushing forward. He was powerless in the 5^th minute, however, as Birkdale took the leader after a defensive mistake at the near post left Birkdale with a tap in at the far post.

A goal down, the boys responded well on the attack – a mazy run by Adam in the 8^th minute created a chance for Caleb but his lobbed shot was just over.  Danny was also powering down the right side, fed by Elliot, as the momentum built. Seamus was keeping the pressure on the keeper and it told for the equaliser in the 10^th minute. After a ball down the line from Matty and a neat touch from Caleb had set Adam away, the Birkdale defence thought they had survived as the ball went into touch. From the throw, Adam’s shot was fumbled by the keeper and Seamus was on hand to tap it in.

With Josh and Stephen keeping their concentration at the back, Josh was then pushed up front as Tom replaced Ciarán S. They took the lead with a superbly worked goal in the 14^th minute. Adam broke free on the left and his ball infield was taken with a perfect touch by Seamus. The two exchanged passes to create the chance for Seamus who slotted home his second goal of the match.

Four goals and I don't get to keep the ball either!

Seamus completed his hat-trick on the 20 minute mark. As the ball broke forward, the defender’s header went backwards and he pounced to lob the ball over the stranded keeper perfectly into the corner of the net. He hadn’t finished though and scored a fourth two minutes later after a punt forward from Caleb was misjudged by the hapless keeper, leaving him with the simplest of tap-ins.

Still the boys poured forward and Josh was brought down on the edge of the box. Adam’s free kick beat the wall and was headed clear but there was more to come. Jacob worked hard to keep the ball in play, Adam and Caleb kept it alive only for Adam’s shot to be pushed around the post. Nobody took advantage of a superb corner from Josh and, as Birkdale finally cleared their lines, the ball came to Caleb, whose curler hit the far post. Danny picked up the rebound, laid to back to Seamus and his square pass was rifled into the roof of the net by Adam - with his right foot - to make it 5-1.

This was a performance that turned on outstanding saves from Ciarán B and the reliable Stephen before the boys broke the deadlock. Adam’s touch and pace on the left relieved the pressure when necessary but nobody could vote against Seamus as Man of the Match, as much for the four goals as the battling manner in which he got into the position to get them.

Two out of two start to the season

Saturday 5th March
vs. Active Soccer 3-1

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

After a four week break due to waterlogged pitches, the boys got going again with another solid victory.

Almost inevitably after such a long break, the match started scrappily in midfield, although Elliot and Matty were feeding Danny and Adam with quality balls down the flanks: both wingers were giving the full backs plenty to think about. They almost took the lead in the fifth minute after good work from Josh in midfield set Adam free. From the resulting corner, the ball was missed by the keeper and fell to Josh who could only hook it over the crossbar.

The boys went close form another corner in the fourteenth minute, again after good work from Danny. Josh’s ball fell to Jacob who saw his shot saved. Three minutes later, good interplay between Adam and Seamus left the forward free, only for the keeper again to make the save.

With Jacob and Danny being replaced by Ciarán S and Tom, the boys finally got the lead their forward play deserved in the twentieth minute. A mix-up from a goal kick allowed Adam to pounce and his fierce shot high into the net was too good for the keeper.

Active Soccer had given few problems to the defence, but Ciarán B’s concentration was tested just after the goal as he was out quickly to take the ball off the forward’s foot. At the other end, Ciarán S was working hard, chasing the ball down and putting the keeper under pressure. Adam was still speeding past the full back to force another corner but Active Soccer broke out  - and there was Stephen to clear up at the back an ensure the boys went into the break a goal up.

Jacob and Danny came back at the start of the second half, giving Seamus and Elliot a break. Almost from the restart, the boys conceded a free kick on the edge of the area, but the wall blocked away the shot. As another attack was easily dealt with, Ciarán B’s clearance left Joe in acres of space down the right, forcing another corner. The ball arrived with Adam in the middle but his shot went wide.

The boys were finding plenty of space wide and the second goal came from a throw-in on the right after five minutes. As the ball pinballed around the box, Jacob scrambled it home to double the lead. A minute later they should have had the chance to go further ahead, but the referee denied what seemed to be a clear handball.

Marshalling a changed defence well, Stephen became more decisive as the game progressed, ensuring Active soccer didn’t get a sniff at goal. He was helped by the forwards now pinning their opponents into their own half as their keeper needed safe hands to keep them at bay.

Seamus and Elliot returned to the pitch, with Joe and Tom giving way and Josh taking his all-action display to the right. Straight away he was pressuring the left side of the defence and being upended for his efforts. From the free kick, the ball fell nicely to Caleb on the edge of the box and his shot into the roof of the net left the keeper wishing he was a foot taller.

Three goals up, there was plenty of space now in midfield and Caleb was taking full advantage, feeding the ball left and right to Adam and Josh. The pressure was on as Adam saw another shot go narrowly wide and a corner passed dangerously through the Active Soccer defence with nobody getting a touch.

Adam turned provider, as he spotted Seamus had strayed offside and so sent Josh free on the right, only for his shot to be turned away for yet another corner. Waiting again for the loose clearance on the edge of the box, Caleb saw his goal-bound shot ricochet off the defender’s back, fooling even the ref who gave a goal kick. They were straight back on the attack and a deft flick from Ciarán S just cleared the crossbar.

He's here, he's there...

A second clean sheet was on the cards, until the last minute as Active Soccer broke through the left side of the defence and, although Ciarán B came out to narrow the angle, the shot went in off the far post for the consolation goal.

The boys were trying to restore the three goal lead as the final whistle went with the keeper just managing to keep shots from Jacob and Seamus out of the net.

After a slow start, the boys got the reward of a victory against a side to which they lost heavily in October. With each game, they are taking greater advantage of the extra space wide and the defence is getting tighter and playing as a unit. Up front, there is still some work to be done to stay onside but playing as they did in the second half they will give anybody a game.  

The Man of the Match award was given to Josh for a bustling display in a busy midfield which he maintained when out on the right.