13/10/2007 - 14/10/2007
Under 11s
Match report by Kevin Lofthouse.
This week the Under 11s had a chance to bounce straight back from last weeks defeat too championship favourites Hyde United.
With Marcus once again keeping his place for the fourth week in the starting eleven and Joe Mawhood earning his first start of the season, pushing Alex G to the bench, High lane were up to the task from the kick off. Within ten minutes Milo bagged two great goals after good passing in midfield sent him in on goal on both occasions. Next was the brilliant George Noon, breaking from midfield and smashing his shot into the roof of the net for 3-0 half time lead.
In the second-half with Mathew on for Milo and Alex G on for Jamie (his first rest of the season), Alex answered the questions and played with confidence and purpose, as he had done all last season at 7-a-side. Within minutes he kicked the ball into Marcus two meters out, and Marcus was on the score sheet again (two in two games). Next was Matt's chance one on one, 5-0, time to make more changes. Out of nets came birthday boy Joe for a nice change, and when the chance came he got his well-deserved present! 6-0. Blue Star to their credit continued to look for an opportunity and with some slack defending on the edge of the High Lane box, they scored a deserved goal looping over, deputy keeper Joe Mawhood's head, at this High Lane went looking for another, this came in the shape of the best player on the park George cutting in from the left and smashing a shot which took a deflection and nestled in the corner 7-1. Everyone was trying to get in on the act and with central defenders Dan B and Joe Marshall off the pitch their deputies showed why these players normally play full games, when the Blue Star striker out ran Richie Jamie and Marcus to coolly slot home, back on came Myles for the last seven minutes and he showed why he starts every game! By collecting the ball on the touch line giving himself some room and smashing a shot into the far corner from a tight angle, final score 8-2.
At the ground no Man of the Match award was selected because this really was an excellent team (16 players) performance but on reflection the award of Man of the Match goes to George for some fantastic individual work alongside his appetite to help his team. Most pleasing Joe Mawhood's improving passing ability, our substitutes great attitude this week, some excellent finishing keep it up! Oh and Joe Chorlton's GOAL! Happy birthday!
Under 12s
Match report by David Hanson.
Far be it for me to grumble, but, if you insist where's the team that thrilled us jaded parents with its swashbuckling style last season? The closest we get to any piratical themes so far is walking the plank and I don't mean what Mrs Dyson does when out strolling with Dicky. For too long in this muddled game we swapped kick and rush tactics with Rose Hill and failed to make our quality count. You only have to look at how many times special mentions and MOMs go to defenders to realise we heap the pressure on our beleaguered defence.
This match was no different. I lost count of the times the ball, when cleared from defence, came back comically as if they were hitting their passes at a wall. Inevitably Rose Hill capitalised when Mattie Hanson's clearing header was batted down, basketball style and the forward raced clear. Mattie's attempt to rescue the situation only ended in a desperate tackle from behind. Penalty, howled the opposition and some of our parents! The ref blew and pointed to the spot. Mattie complained only for the ref to say he hadn't seen it but was giving it anyway. How can you do that? Asked a mystified Mattie. "Shut it you" came the cultured and considered response - and they moan about lack of respect. 1-0 down and we capitulated what dominance we had for them to batter at us for the next 10 minutes - all looked lost. Subs fluttered on and off like confetti and suddenly we began to pass the ball and support each other. Matt Rogers went up front to allow Joel Miller on at centre back and Jake Miller switched to left back where he continued to battle superbly. Josh Smith-Webb began to play in their half and we began to hurt them with the kind of penetration we should have shown from the start. Josh dribbled into space on the left and squared for Matt Rogers to slam home. Relief! Minutes later Matt Rogers and Jake Miller fought so hard on the left again that they hassled the ball off the defence and played it simple inside to Josh. A quick shimmy put him in a shooting position and he scored crisply from the edge of the area. Everything else stuck like glue to their impressive keeper, indeed he had kept us out early doors with fine saves from Matty Lyons and Jake Miller.
So for 15 minutes or so we were back on the open seas, cutlasses and eye patches intact, parrots squawking in the rigging, salt in our hair (apart from Dicky obviously).
Man of the Match went to the industrious Jake Miller who had a real captain's game of piratical endeavour and special mentions to Andy Hart who had a proper go at buckling swashes on the right when he came on and to Mattie Hanson who is consistently excellent at the heart of the defence. What can we expect next week? Who knows? One minute it's Johnny Depp and some bloke with an octopus for a face, the next we're in a leaky row boat on the local park, frantically plugging the holes and baling for all we're worth. If only we could bottle those final minutes and swig from them before every game yo ho ho.