Archive for category: Football

Recent history suggests that the top six sides in Division 4 will be promoted.  Although at this stage of the season the race for the Division 4 title is still very much alive it might be too much to expect for today's two teams to be climbing the steps at the Layton Institute in May having finished top or second.  Along with about six other clubs either of them are still in with a great chance of finishing in third which would be great achievement for two teams that are new to Sunday Football although there were a number of familar faces on show that had played for numerous other sides.

Blackpool Catholic Colts were fifth in the table this morning five points behind third placed Metrostars.  Their opponents Clifton were in seventh this morning three points behind the Colts having played the same number of games.  With thirteen matches still left to play there's still a long way to go.

The Colts have had a tough run of matches in recent weeks where they have had to face three of the top four sides above them.  They are only one of two clubs to beat leaders No1 Club FC and last week they trounced CBFC Choices Furniture 8-1.  Only a recent defeat to in-form Metrostars has put them out of their stride.  They had a decent run in the Gledhill Cup before being beaten by current semi-finalists Wrea Green.  They're out of the Division 4 Cup after a 'clerical error'.  Clifton are having a decent season and last week's narrow 3-2 defeat to second placed Stable Bar showed that they can mix it with the best of them when at the top of their game.  They were knocked out of the Gledhill by Premier Division side FC Eden but last week's 4-3 victory over Xceptional Kitchens FC has put them through to Round 2.

Good weather across the Fylde Coast for Sunday football this morning and thankfully, much brighter than last week.  Cold, but flat calm and dry with decent conditions underfoot on Pitch 6 at Moor Park.  Today's match official was once again Tony Cunliffe and at 11:05 we were underway with Clifton in their yellow kit kicking towards Fleetwood.

Blackpool Catholic Colts FC 2010/11

Clifton Arms FC 2010/11

The captains call the toss of the coin

Colts supremo – Owen Burns – there were to be no 'lie-ins' this morning in the Bispham area as his great booming foghorn Irish voice echoed around Moor Park.

Whether it was Clifton who were still half asleep or the Colts being fast out of the block the first ten minutes were all Blackpool Catholic.  On five minutes, Alan Steadman (green) was left with all the time in the world to control a Mark Campbell cross before slotting it past Clifton keeper Scott Christie. 1-0

Oh dear……………snoods

….and matching headbands.

On nine minutes the Colts deservedly doubled their lead.  Left on his own on the edge of the area, Nick Banton curled a delicious left footed curler into the top corner.  2-0

Wes

'That was one of the worst corners I've ever seen number 13'

' Ohhhh, it isn't, it can't be…it is…it's that lovely young Tony Cunliffe doing the refereeing'

Campbell crash lands

Mark Campbell – the face and body of 'Playfootball's' Health and fitness leisure centre.

'Oggy'

Good block

Clifton eventually woke up and settled down.  They play a risky game with the defenders playing high up the pitch and when they get it wrong it looks horrible but they started to defend better and play a bit of football.  On 23 minutes they pulled one back.  Leon Manuel's first shot fortunately rebounded back to him but he took advantage with a sweet finish of the outside of his right boot to beat Colt's keeper Lund. 2-1

Half time score :  Blackpool Catholic Colts FC 2 – 1 Clifton Arms FC

Clifton fans still smiling – they look like brothers to me

Matthew Grime – nothing went right for him in the first half

Clifton manager Tony Burke gives the half time team talk, 'Look lads, we were shocking in the first ten minutes but worked hard to get back in the game.  Let's keep up the momentum and keep our concentration in the second half'

The Colts get the second half underway

50 seconds in and Burke's team talk went out of the window.  The impressive Duffy (9), cut inside, beat two players and smashed it under the body of Christie.  3-1

A nasty injury after some over enthusiasm by Tony Burke Jnr

The game was a tough encounter played in a great spirit.  This was the only ten seconds of unpleasantness

'Drop and give me twenty!'  He couldn't manage the one.

The thing is about Clifton is that they never give up.  After the early set-back they again put together a great spell of possession and on 59 minutes they made it 3-2 after Paul Passmore (17) beat the offside trap and finished it clinically

Big John comes on as sub.  Man mountain is difficult to Man mark

Mr Cunliffe right on the spot

On 73 minutes Clifton equalised.  A Matty Grime corner beat everyone including Oggy at the far post, the ball wrapping itself in the netting and sticking halfway up the post.  3-3

Oggy can't believe it

But once again, Clifton switched off.  A throw over the top was crossed for Duckworth who gave the Colts the lead once again. 4-3.

The Colts hung on to see out the game and gain a valuable victory

Final score : Blackpool Catholic Colts FC 4 – 3 Clifton Arms FC

This turned out to be a hugely entertaining Division 4 fixture that flew by from start to finish.  After ten minutes I thought it was going to be a Catholic rout as they raced into a 2-0 lead but the away side fought back and were well on top for the last twenty minutes of the first half and deservedly pulled one back.  The Colts gave Clifton a mountain to climb after they made it 3-1 shortly after the break but Clifton climbed it and at 3-3 they had the momentum but the Colts took advantage of some shaky defending to score what turned out to be the winner.

It was one of those games where the managers will be left tearing their hair out.  One one hand, there were lots of positives for each of the teams but both managers will be unhappy at both the defending and the inability to make the best of the situation when they were well on top.  Perhaps a draw would have been a fair result.  There's still everthing to play for in Division 4 with that top three position still up for grabs.  Well refereed once again by Tony Cunliffe whose cards stayed firmly in his pocket thanks to a disciplined performance from both sets of players.

Premier/Division 1 Cup (Round 2 – February 6th 2011)

THE COUNTY v QUILLIGANS

GREAT ECCLESTON v DEVI ARMS

FLEETWOOD GYM  v FC EDEN

SHOVELS v GARDENERS ARMS

CHRIST THE KING v BLACKPOOL RANGERS

GOLDEN EAGLE v SPINDLES

FYLDE COAST GATES v ADDITIONS

NEWTON ARMS v MYTHOP LEISURE

Division 2/3 Cup – February 13th 2011

AFC Bloomfield – Fleetwood Kings

Boars Head – Bloomfield Hotel

Dockers – Hansom Cab

Teamsport 90 FC – Layton Institute

Tower Lounge – Northern Care Colts

Wrea Green – C&G Electrical

Blackpool Lane Ends – Real Burlington

FC Kingsfield – Lane Ends

Division 4 Cup – February 13th 2011

DH Gas – The Sun Inn

Metrostars – Fylde Coast Vets

No1 Club – Clifton Arms

Stable Bar – Lane Ends Reserves

A single point separated these two sides in the Division 1 league table this morning.  Home side, The County were in the tenth whilst opponents West Coast were in eighth having played a game less.  The teams had met just once in the league back in early November when the match finished at 1-1.  The County last won a game on Halloween when they beat leaders Bloomfield Vets 3-0 at home.  Since then, they've had two draws and two defeats.  Gledhill Cup interest ended in Round 3 after they were beaten in extra time by Blackpool Catholic Club

West Coast Tackle Postal have played just twice since Halloween so I expect they were more than ready for a run out.  Following the 1-1 draw with the County they beat the Golden Eagle.  They didn't feature in this season's Gledhill Cup for some unknown reason with opponents Bloomfield Hotel being awarded a home walk-over in the second round.

The weather had been fairly grim all through Saturday and into Sunday morning with heavy rain and strong winds.  By kick off time, the skies were still full of rain but the winds were beginning to ease and most importantly, the temperature was nudging ten degrees.  The referee in charge of this one was veteran Tony Cunliffe and he had no hesitation in passing one of the best pitches in the Fylde fit to play.  County in the white and red kicked off at 11am

West Coast manager Daryl Prance had a squad of eighteen to choose from but the club rule is that if you turn up later than the designated time then you don't start.  These four reprebates were late and collectively hang their heads in shame as Prance gave them the hairdryer treatment. 

The opening was relatively even but on eleven minutes West Coast keeper Sam did well to turn a shot from distance around his post.  A minute later and he wasn't so fortunate.  Ex Slovakian pro Daniel Grapko cut inside on the edge of the box and hot a low drive into the far corner.  1-0

On 23 minutes and with the County beginning to dominate a cross into the box was only half cleared to Michael Spencer (far right) who hit an unstoppable first time effort into the top corner.  Brilliant strike.  2-0

Ben Seear.  On 28 minutes he had an opportunity to bring his side back into the game.  A clear push in the back inside the County area on a West Coast player resulted in a penalty but young Seear blasted it wide of the post.

He was made to pay as five minutes later the home side made it three.  Michael Spencer swung in a great free kick to the far post where defender Adam Hogg, completely unmolested, volleyed home from six yards.  3-0

Half time score :  The County FC 3 – 0 West Coast Tackle Postal FC

The County FC re-fuel during the half time interval

West Coast Wags shelter from the drizzle

Scott Waters (Centre)

Only one really bad tackle in the match – Mr Cunliffe shows O'Mahoney the yellow card.

After the introduction of a couple of substitutes West Coast performed a lot better for the first thirty minutes of the second half.  In the above picture their best chance fell to Rick Seear who was denied by the sizeable frame of 'Tank' in the County goal when one on one.

On 75 minutes it was truly game over.  The ball fell to the edge of the box where Mahoney was lurking to hit a first time left footed curling effort right into the top corner.  Great goal.  4-0

O'Mahoney (16) is buried by his team-mates after scoring his first ever senior goal.

Five minutes later and it was a rout.  Scott Waters was sent clear down the right, he cut inside before unselfishly laying it off for Michael Shorrock to fire home.  5-0.

Mr Cunliffe blows the whistle and the County are through

Final score :  The County FC 5 – 0 West Coast Tackle Postal FC