Archive for category: BFSFA 2005-06

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Great weather for watching football this morning, maybe not for playing.  Four second round Gledhill ties on offer with a chance of one or two upsets.  Layton Institute, top of Division 1, were at home to Tec and Elec FC of Division 3B.   Layton had received a round 1 bye whilst I'd witnessed Tec and Elec comfortably dispose of TSC FC in the opening round.

Referee Kelvyn Dyson in charge of this one.  (Layton in the red shirts.)

Layton's Tony 'Tosh' Swallow on the scoresheet today.

Layton's Mark Meehan

I managed to see most of the second half of this one.  Tec and Elec had played well in the first half keeping their higher league opponents down to only 1-0 at the interval.  After seventy minutes the Tec boys began to tire and Layton's experience and added fitness began to tell.  On seventy minutes a free-kick was headed off the line but Fallows followed up to score.  It looked as though the free-kick may have gone directly in but Fallows made doubly sure.  Five minutes later and a good one-two in the box ended with Swallow dancing around the keeper to score another.Not to be outdone Meehan also took it on and beat the keeper to increase Layton's lead.  “The best goal of the game” (Meehan's words not mine).  Layton were now running riot but Tec and Elec deserved credit for never giving up and at 6-0 down Danny Corbishley scored a worthy late consolation.  Layton safely through to round 3 where they'll meet last season's losing finalists SFC Poulton.

Mark Meehan threatens but thankfully struggles to get his shirt off after scoring.  He's congratulated by Swallow.

Layton's hat-trick hero Tony Swallow (Left) alongside fellow goal scorer Marc 'Funky' Fallows.

On the adjacent pitch we had an 'All Division 3A affair' as the Blackpool Catholic Club entertained the Newton Arms.  Both teams have struggled early season.  Only a point separated Newton in eleventh from Catholic who were in twelfth.  The sides had already met in the league back in mid August when the Catholic Club ran out 5-0 winners.

Both sides turned up with white kits.  Newton Arms FC were left with little choice to swap their brand new kit with the blue one of Progress Properties FC.

A crowded penalty area awaits a Newton Arm's free-kick.

Miss Halpin gives a clear signal.

When I arrived at half time the Catholic Club were 4-1 up and the Newton players were receiving a constructive half time team talk.  Newton pulled a goal back and were pushing forward well.  As they got more offensive they began to leave big gaps at the back and on 75 minutes Catholic Club capitolised and went 5-2 ahead.  Five minutes later Steve Wright got on the end of a quick free kick and went on unopposed and slid it under the keeper.  The same player scored another from a similar position as the Newton defense again went Awol but still managed to claw another one back to make the final score 7-3 in Blackpool Catholic Club's favour.  They now go on to meet Division 2B's Fleetwood Kings in round 3.

The Squirrel are stuggling for players this season through injuries and absences.  The Division 1 outfit were still without a win down in twelfth in the table.  They'd received a bye in round 1.  Today's opponents were AFC Dunes of Division 3A.  Manager Danny Hugo and his team have got off to a decent start and are presently sixth in the Division.  They made it through to round 2 after a convincing 4-1 win over D & T Waste FC.

Squirrel FC in the red and white hoops today.

I'd noticed from recent results that Gary Adams had signed for AFC Dunes from last season's succesful and promoted Division 1 side the Sanctuary. He's been banging the goals in and looked dangerous in the early stages.  Fifteen minutes into the game AFC Dunes won a corner.  The Squirrel defenders were ball watching and left Adams completely unmarked at the far post.  He controlled the ball, flicked it over a defender and lashed it into the roof of the net.  How his old team missed him this morning.  Dunes were 1-0 up at half time and went on to win the match 2-0.  True, they were under a bit of pressure in the second half but marshalled by skipper Matthew Raybold at the back they held out well for a memorable win.  Definitely one of the upsets of the day.  AFC Dunes face a tough game at home to Premier Division side the Clarence FC in round 3.

Finally at Boundary Park we had one of the best looking ties of the day as Division 2B's Christ the King met in form Division 3B side Progress Properties.  CTK were riding high in second position.  They'd beaten the Links Hotel in round 1.  Opponents Progress were in third in Division 3B and going well.  In round 1 of this competition they put out Wrea Green in Round 1 following a 3-2 victory.

I saw the last twenty minutes of the first half in this one.  As expected it was close and entertaining.  On 37 minutes Progress took the lead.  Barney Woolcock, just off a night flight from Ibiza, unleashed a twenty five hard screamer that flew into the top corner, the CTK keeper never moved.  0-1.

The Progress players celebrate Barney Woolcock's memorable opener.

As the half time whistle approached the Progress defence lost concentration and gave the ball away to CTK's danger man Peter Clarkson.  The Mechanics starlet cut inside and hit a left foot shot.  It looked as though keeper Howell would deal with it comfortably but the ball hit a divot and viciously bounced over him.  Very lucky for Clarkson, unlucky for Progress.  Level at half time but in the second period Progress wilted in the heat and Christ the King strolled to a 4-1 victory.  in round 3 player manager Scott Buchanan and his side face a home match against the Burlington.

Sportspy 2005/06

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Little Fat Jacks have had an indifferent start since being promoted to Division 2A.  They were well beaten in their first league game by the Bispham Hotel and last week fell in the first round of the Gledhill after narrowly losing 3-2 to Clifton Rangers, a game in which they missed three penalties.  Today they were up against the Victory FC.  Their first two league games had been against the Old England. On the opening day of the season they were beaten 2-1 but last Wednesday evening they took revenge when winning 3-1.

This one looked close when I passed through and so it proved as the final score finished 2-2.  Jacks will be pleased to get that all important first point on the board in the higher Division.

In a late pitch change Highfield Social entertained the Reform Health Club in the Premier Division on Commonedge Pitch 1 rather than their usual home ground of Wren Rovers.  In the above picture the Highfield wall containing Chris Pickering (Centre) and Steve Baines (Left) prepares to do its job.

Highfield’s Gaz Hargreaves keeps a close watch on Reform striker Scott Waters.

There was little between these sides whilst I was watching with both teams going close at either end.  Reform had taken maximum points from the first three games whilst Highfield, with one win and a draw from their first three matches were on four points.   In the end Reform proved too strong for Highfield as they retained their 100% league record with a 3-1 win and go three points clear at the top tonight.

In Division 2B the Subway v Fleetwood Kings match started over twenty minutes late.  A colour clash of kits resulted in Kings having to wear the Subway’s change kit of yellow.  In the above picture King’s Alan Perkes is closely marked by the Subway defender.

After an early Subway goal Fleetwood Kings came back into the game strongly.  A neat pass over the top found Perkes on-side and he made no mistake from ten yards out.  Perkes’ equaliser earned him a big squeeze from one of his team mates whilst the keeper could only watch as the ball found the back of the net.  Kings had lost on the opening day in the league but last week bounced back with a 6-2 win over Autoweld in the Gledhill.  This was Subway’s first game of the season after they’d received a bye past Weeton in the Gledhill last week.  At the final whistle there was nothing betwen the teams as it finished all square at 2-2, a good result for both sides.

In Division 2A Talbot Sports (Pictured above) were at home to Claremont Cons.  On the same ground on Wednesday night a 1-0 win over the Bispham Hotel had moved them up to third place.  Opponents Claremont after having lost 3-2 to Sands up at Moor Park last week in a close game were looking to pick up their first points of the season.

Talbot score from the spot

Claremont Cons came out on top in this one with a 5-3 win.  Talbot will have been disappointed with that result but for Claremont it was just what was required to kick-start their season.

In Division 2B the Shovels FC (Yellow) were at home to the Links FC.  The Links had many players unavailable due to holiday commitments so they had no choice but to field only nine men.  The lack of numbers didn’t appear to do them much harm in the opening 45 minutes as they went into the half time interval 1-0 up.  The Links were playing great whilst the Shovels were poor to say the least.

Nigel Hough officiating in today’s Shovels v Links game.

After their opening day win against Brun Grove the Links were in fourth at start of play.  The Shovels were well beaten 5-0 by Christ the King in their first league match of the season and after a good win in the Gledhill last week they were trying to turn that good form into getting some league points.  In the end the numerical advantage paid dividends for the Shovels as they came back strongly in the second half to win 3-1.

Brannigan’s Jeff Blincow

One of the big games in Division 1 saw Brannigans FC (Maroon) host Bloomfield Vets.  Brannigan’s start in the league had been excellent following two impressive wins against the Philharmonic and Fleetwood Cricket Club.  Last week saw a disappointing Gledhill exit away at Wyre Villa.  The Vets’ start to the season has been average.  After a 0-0 draw against rivals Clifton Rangers on the opening day they were well beaten 8-3 by the Philharmonic in a midweek fixture.

Brannigan’s forward Simon Bowden is closely marked.

Vets’ Nick Carter uses Ian Nicholl’s nose to gain extra height

Carts glides in at the near post for one of Vets’ goals

This was the best game on offer for the neutral today.   Just in to the second half Brannigans were leading 2-1 but not playing well.  The Vets then had a great chance to equalise but Lee Miles header went wide when he really should have scored.  Brannigans took advantage and scored from the penalty spot to go 3-1 up.  The Vets looked down and out but they proved me wrong as they slowly clawed their way back into the match and eventually ran out 4-3 winners in a fabulous and spirited comeback.  Great entertainment for the neutral but Brannigan’s manager Daz Meehan won’t be happy man tonight.

Quilligan’s Robbie Boal.

On Prebonds Quilligans took on Bispham Juniors in the top Division.  After a disappointing 2-2 opening draw last weekend against McDonald Property Quilligans showed their quality in midweek with a 2-0 away win over much fancied the Clarence.  Bispham had opened their campaign with two score draws against Cahoots and the Golden Eagle.  Last season they were one of only two teams to beat Quilligans in the league.

Adam Pickering sporting a blue quiff for today’s encounter.

From early doors it was clear that it wasn’t going to be Bispham’s day.  Quilligans put in another very strong performance to end up winning by the comfortable margin of five goals to nil.

Last but not least we had the Burlington entertaining the Links Hotel Reserves (Red) in Division 3B.  The Burlington were out and about early for this one even troubling the moble caterer for bacon and sausage barmcakes before he’d even opened the shutters at 09:30.  The Burlington’s first two matches had been against the impressive Mythop Leisure who’d beaten them 8-0 and 4-2.  The Links Reserves had also been beaten by Mythop Leisure on the opening day and last week were well beaten in the Gledhill by the Bispham Hotel.  Both teams were out looking for their first win in the Alliance.

After a really close game the match epitomised the highs and lows of Sunday morning football when the Links grabbed an injury time winner from Martin Curry (Second left) who headed home in the dying moments.  The Link’s players and supporters went crazy whilst the Burlington slumped dejectedly.  Well done to the Links Reserves on getting their first ever Alliance win.

After 90 minutes for Reform, Micky Horsfall is still up for a bit of exercise, cycling home…

Sportspy 2005/06