Sucker Punch Sees Scarisbrick Home

Tuesday 26^th June

vs. Scarisbrick Stars 2-4

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

The boys almost fought their way back into this even contest – but couldn’t find the goal their second half performance deserved.

They started well and were straight at their opponents and were good value for their 4^th minute lead. Jacob won the ball in midfield and threaded a perfectly weighted ball into Seamus’ path who steadied himself and side footed it past the keeper from 8 yards out.Moments later, the lead could have been doubled as Ciarán S saw his shot go wide as the defender was tugging away at his shirt, unseen by the referee.

Scarisbrick got back into the game after 11 minutes in lucky circumstances as a cross slipped from Ciarán B’s grasp, with a forward on hand to poke it home with the defence like statues. If that was unfortunate, the good start was thrown away by the 21^st minute as, not for the first time, the defence went to sleep from a throw-in on the left and the Scarisbrick forward had plenty of time to steer it into the net.

Their opponents were now going from strength to strength and it took some fine block tackles from Matty and a perfectly executed slide tackle from Caleb to keep them at bay. They were still finding lots of space on their left, though, but this time Ciarán B was quickly out to close down the forward who could only shoot wide. So it was that, after 25 minutes, Scarisbrick extended their lead as the defence went to sleep from a free kick as three forwards beat the offside trap and the man first to the ball slid it home.

However, the boys came straight back at them and pulled one back a minute before the break. A long clearance from Josh fell to Ciarán S who held off the defender’s rugged challenge to push it back across the keeper and into the net.

For the beginning of the second half, Danny, Elliot and Joe replaced Jacob, Lewis and Ciarán S and although Scarisbrick started on the attack, the boys held strong and marked up well at a corner, the looping header going over.

It was proving a struggle to get out of their own half, though, until the 33^rd minute when a deep ball over the defence from Caleb gave Joe space on the left. Although the ball was cleared, Caleb was quick to pick it up again, this time finding Danny wide on the right but this time the keeper took it cleanly.

On the 37 minute mark, Josh was not put off as the referee missed another clattering and was able to set Joe away down the left again. He cut back onto his favoured right foot at the by-line and found Seamus and, as the ball was cleared, Caleb brought it down well but saw the ball kicked off his toe just as he set himself to shoot.

After he had worked some space deep on the right, Josh was fouled and this time the referee did award the free kick. Taking it himself, it was arrowing in at the near post, only for the keeper to paw it away, but there was nobody on hand to take advantage.

The boys were beginning to turn the screw now but were struggling to find the opening, and after Joe had found Danny wide Scarisbrick were able to clear, only for Danny to battle back and take a bang on the head for his trouble.

 

Elliot and Seamus were dropping back to combine with the midfield, particularly Joe, but still the equaliser would not come. After 47 minutes, Tom was sacrificed as Jacob came back on and the boys went to three at the back in search of a goal. With Seamus as mobile as ever up front, the Scarisbrick defence held firm, cutting out a neat drag back as Jacob made an immediate impact.

With only two minutes left, a Scarisbrick break proved decisive as they took advantage of the gaps at the back. Ciarán B got his hands to the shot but could not prevent Scarisbrick from securing the win that should ultimately decide the destiny of the Summer League title.

Ciarán S came on for a weary Adam for the dying minutes and after Seamus was blocked off, Joe’s low free kick was saved by the keeper as time ran out for the boys.

A positive second half approach nearly brought the boys a reward from this match but they were undone by some weak defending from throw-ins in the first half. For holding his position well and making his presence felt, both vocally and with his feet, Caleb took the man of the match award.

A Win For The Dads?

Sunday 19^th June

vs. Birkdale 1-0

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

Solid second half defending after a set-piece goal secured the points in a hard-fought victory.

Although they started tackling and intercepting in the usual midfield battle, weak passing meant that they weren’t able to build on their efforts. Poor challenges meant that it took a brave double save from Ciarán B to prevent them from going a goal down after only 2 minutes.

Up front, Ciarán S started brightly, a header on releasing Seamus to force a corner, from which Lewis misdirected a headed chance. Ciarán S was then on hand again to pressurise the defender and then his touch created the space for Adam to get away a long range shot that went wide. 

The pressure told in the 7^th minute as another corner gave the boys the lead. As Josh swung it in, Jacob ghosted in to head home unmarked.

Fouled just inside the Birkdale half, Josh quickly took the free kick short to feed Adam whose excellent cross found Seamus who had just strayed offside.

Tom was making some important tackles and interceptions as the defence still needed to be alert. Birkdale found some space down their left but Ciarán B raced out to put off the forward and the shot went harmlessly wide.

Birkdale were defending high up the pitch and the pace of Ciarán S and Seamus meant they could take advantage. A ball over the top from Josh was picked up on the run by Adam but the uneven bounce off a bumpy pitch – which was working against both defence and attack – took it away from him. A clearance from Lewis in the 15^th minute deceived everybody and Seamus’ goal-bound shot was cleared away with the keeper in a heap in the dust.

After Tom’s timely tackle in the box five minutes before half time, Jacob fought to retain the ball and set Ciarán S free but once again a bad bounce just as he pulled back the trigger saw the shot go wide.

Birkdale were looking to level the score before the break and it took strong defending  from Stephen shoulder-to-shoulder with the forward to snuff out the chance – only for the defence to almost let them back in again as they waited for the referee not to give a penalty!

Changes at half time saw Joe, Elliot and Danny replace Tom, Ciarán S and Jacob for the second half. Into the second half, Birkdale began to push forward, looking for an equaliser, and they were to play in the boys’ half of the pitch for long periods. However, they were to have little impact, thanks to some excellent defending from the back four – Ciarán B was not called upon to make a save.

Joe slotted into the back four straight away, with a couple of telling tackles, and began to link up well with Lewis.

Danny was using his pace wide right to relieve the pressure and his hard work created the space for Caleb, whose pass ran away from Seamus. The boys were struggling to escape from their own half – although Birkdale were more of a nuisance than a threat – but when Adam rode two tackles and was then fouled, they wasted the free kick.

A nicely weighted touch from Elliot allowed Josh to pass through the centre backs for Seamus to run onto and Danny was on hand to recycle the ball from the defender. His ball back into the area ran to the keeper, who did well under pressure from Seamus.

Stephen and Matty had quietly got on with their job, making a series of blocks and tackles, and Joe was on hand again with enough of a challenge on the forward as Ciarán B came out to collect and his header clear from a free kick in the 53^rd minute.

Ciarán S and Jacob came back on for the last two minutes, replacing Seamus and Caleb, but it was a couple of challenges from Stephen and a cushioned header back into Ciarán B’s hands from Joe that ensured the victory.

This was a battling show from the boys, with an excellent performance from both back fours, particularly in the second half, but the midfield was guilty of getting pulled out of position and ball watching. Greater composure with the ball at their feet would have given them the opportunity to make the game safe, rather than being on the back foot for most of the second half.

Although all the defenders could stake a claim, Joe’s excellent performance in the second half went a long way to ensuring a clean sheet and won him the Man of the Match award.

After The Lord Mayor's Show...

Tuesday 14th June
vs. Ormskirk WE Blue 2-3

The boys managed to throw away a two-goal lead, with goals either side of half time from Seamus and Adam, to go down to their first defeat of the Summer Season, and were grateful to Man of the Match Ciaran B to ensure the defeat was not by a greater margin.

Match report to follow.

We Are The Champions!

Sunday 12th June
Forefield Festival of Football

Squad: Ciarán B; Tom, Stephen, Matty, Josh, Lewis; Adam, Caleb, Joe, Danny; Elliot, Ciarán S, Seamus.

Standing in the rain, sheltering under the gazebo or huddled together in a tent, the boys weathered unseasonal cold and persistent rain to run out winners of the Under 10 tournament at Chesterfield High School.

Seven teams took part in a seven-a-side, 10 minute per match format. The boys were drawn in a group with Ursuline and Marina Sands Lions and so it was disappointing to only draw 1-1 against Ursuline. Despite dominating the match and going ahead direct from a corner by Josh, sloppy defending saw them concede a late equaliser with no time to recover.

After the Lions had beaten Ursuline, a lot was resting on the final game of the group against their long time rivals. However, they stepped up their game to keep their opponents penned back and Danny tapped in the winner after a long range shot from Josh was only pushed back out.

The win left them at the top of the group and facing Burford JFC, runners up in the other group in the semi-final. They started quickly against the visitors from Belle Vale, with Caleb looking to feed Adam and Danny out wide. All three boys were having a good tournament and it was stand-in captain Caleb who scored – another goal direct from the corner.

With a long, wet journey home their opponents weren’t going down without a fight and, despite some dogged defending from Matty, Ciarán was called upon to make two fine saves to keep them ahead and ensure the win.

Scarisbrick had edged out the Lions on penalties and faced the boys in the final. Caleb once again called correctly at the toss and the boys played with the wind at their backs and were worthy winners of the final. Danny had hit the post and seen another go narrowly wide before a long range Caleb shot found the corner of the net. Adam was a constant threat on the left, forcing the defenders into desperate challenges, and went close to increasing the lead, as did Seamus with a neat touch that landed on the roof of the net but the result was never in doubt.

Despite the terrible weather, there’s nothing like a trophy to warm everybody up. The boys were the best in all of their games – although the semi was tight – and deserved the win. Adam picked up the award as team player of the tournament, with mentions for Caleb, Ciarán S and Matty, and it was Caleb who was mobbed by his team-mates as he picked up the trophy!

Passing to the Fore in Tough Win

7th June
vs. Liverpool North 4-1

Quality finally won out against rugged play from their opponents as goals from Seamus (2), Man of the Match Jacob and Ciaran S secured the victory after the opponents had taken the lead.

Full report on the way!

A Game of Two Halves.

24th May
vs. Ainsdale Juniors 3-1

Goals from Seamus, Josh and Jacob gave the boys a three-goal advantage at the break but a poor second half performance allowed their opponents back into the game. Danny picked up the Man of the Match award.

Full report to follow.

Postive Start

17th May 
vs Hesketh Colts 5-2

The boys got off to a positive start to the Summer League with a win as goals from Seamus (2), Josh (2) and Elliot secured the victory. Ciarán S was named man of the match.

Full report to follow. 

Spring League - Final Table

	P	W	D	L	Pts
TMS	11	10	0	1	30
Scarisbrick Stars	11	10	0	1	30
Camlyn Rangers	11	7	1	3	22
Crosby Stuart	11	7	1	3	22
Birkdale	11	7	0	4	21
MS Lions	11	6	1	4	19
Silcox Villa	11	6	0	5	18
Active Soccer	11	4	2	5	14
Ormskirk WE	11	3	0	8	9
MS Tigers	11	1	1	9	4
Liverpool North	11	1	1	9	4
Ursuline	11	0	1	10	1

Congratulations, boys on finishing joint third this season. After a great unbeaten run, the final games came thick and fast and tired legs just ran out of steam. Defeats to TMS and Scarisbrick (especially in those goals!) are nothing to be ashamed of - just remember that we owe Active Soccer one!