Archive for category: Football

For the third week in succession it was a fine autumnal morning across the Fylde Coast that provided ideal conditions for Sunday morning football.  After a week of wind and heavy rain and a lot more of the same forecast for Monday morning we were counting our blessings.Mythop Leisure FC were seventh in the Division 1 table this morning and overall they're doing very well in this tough league after winning promotion in the last campaign.  A top six finish would be an extremely creditable outcome but they're still a long way off achieving that target as we go into November.  After a first round bye in the Gledhill Cup they knocked out Premier Division side Northern Care FC in round 2 before accounting for Division 3 outfit Teamsport 90 FC in round 3.

Today's opponents were Real Burlingon FC.  They continue to make their charge up the BFSFA Divisions.  This morning they were well placed in second at the top of Division 2 Four points behind current leaders Number Four Rangers FC.  Division 2 looks like turning into an exciting close Division over the second half of the season with at least ten clubs still fancing their chances of promotion.  They too received a first round bye.  The hammered St Annes FC 8-1 in round 2 before accounting for Division 3 side Mere Park FC 5-1 in Round 3.

A money spinning tie against the winners of the Fleetwood Kings FC v Quilligans FC tie was at stake for the winners in the last eight.  This morning's official was Ian Rose. By a bizarre co-incidence he was initially listed for the Newton v Gym Cup tie but like me, ended up in Lytham.  The pitch was understandably sticky but playable.  Shortly after 11am we were underway.  Both managers were grumbling before kick off about being understrenghth.  Mythop were in the red and black stripes.

Mythop Leisure FC 2010/11

Real Burlington FC 2010/11

Ian Rose – the man in the middle today

Mythop go close at the far post

The Real Burlington FC looked a dishevelled rabble as they arrived in dribs and drabs as 11am approached.  A late night at the Belle Vue dog racing track had left it's toll on Kenny May's men with bleary eyed players struggling to co-ordinate placing net on posts.  This was reflected in the opening passage of play and after seven minutes, the defence was static as the Mythop 7 danced into the box, rounded the stand-in keeper Mark Kingsley and slotted it home. 1-0

Allah give me strength

On 12 minutes Mythop doubled their lead.  Shocking defending by Burlies.  Firstly, a long free kick to the far post wasn't dealt with and when the ball was hooked back across goal the defenders were frozen to the spot as the forward nipped in and scored.  2-0

Young Roxby points the way.

On 22 minutes Matt Rainbow was agriculturally tripped inside the area.  The most nailed on penalty witnessed this season – the decision did not provoke one murmur of disagreement from Burlies.  Matt Rainbow got up and took it himself firing into the top right corner.  3-0

The Burlingon looked down and out and were facing a cricket score but on 25 minutes they managed to pull one back as ex Seasider Neil Mitchell twisted and turned in the area to nudge it home.  3-1

Andy Willacy comes away with it

Half time score :  Mythop Leisure FC 3 – 1 Real Burlington

Real Burlington FC thankful to hear the half time whistle

Chris Nay

Andy Willacy

Burlies supporter Dill Slater on the Stella.  I don't think he'd been to bed.  He couldn't make his mind up about either being a friendly drunk or a surly drunk but the former just about won out.

Reluctant spectator dragged along today

The 'Purples' start the second half

Neil Mitchell

Matt Hindle

The Burlies had begun to come around and this combined with Mythop taking their foot off the accelorator allowed them to work their way back into the match.  On 70 minutes a long ball sent Neil Mitchell clear, he rounded the keeper and slotted it home.  3-2

A noble stretch from the Mythop defender but he just failed to make it.

Two minutes later and the Burlies support went wild as their side forced an equaliser.  Ryan Long headed it goalwards and it went in off the Mythop number 6.  Game on.  3-3

Jesus, the shirts off – get the card out Rosie

On 80 minutes a rather shell shocked Mythop had a chance to seal it but a fantastic flying save from Kingsley denied them.

The clock went over the 90 minutes and with the crowd whistling it looked as though we heading into extra time but up cropped hero Adam Scholes who cut inside a bent a delightful curling shot into the top corner.  A goal worthy of winning any match.  4-3

Flashpoint – The Burlies liner and Mythop substitute go head to head as frustrations boil over.  Fortunately, there was no resultant unpleasantness.

But there was still time for another penalty after a Mythop player was roughly brought to the ground.  Ewart converted and then Mr Rose blew the final whistle.  Game over.

Final score : Mythop Leisure FC 5 – 3 Real Burlington FC

A chance of playing in the last eight of the Gledhill Quarter finals doesn't come around too often and when it does you've got to be prepared, up for it and reasonably healthy with your best available squad on the pitch.  Burlies were still at the races (greyhound), literally, during the first 20 minutes and unsurprisingly were 3-0 down to a hard working Mythop side who were playing some great football going forward with Matt Rainbow dictating the play.  Mitchell pulled one back for the visitors but at the break there were few punters placing bets on any kind of fightback.

In the second period, Mythop were not as convinving and the heavy pitch was beginning to take its effect on the weary legs of the players.  The Burlington kept battling and with 20 minutes left they deservedly pulled level after good spells of possession.  Mythop again fought back but when Kingsley pulled off the save of the day it looked as though the game had swung against them but up popped Scholes to break Burlie's hearts and put the Mighty Mythop into the last eight. The penalty deep into injury time was merely the icing on the cake.  Credit to both sides for putting on an exciting Cup tie and good luck to Mythop in the next round.  An easy game for Mr Rose who refereed it well.

Prem leaders are sunk in the Gledhill Cup as Division 1 side Spindles win in extra time.  Bloomfield Vets return to form to inflict the same result on FC Eden.  FC Loco back up to third in the Prem after home win against Northern Care.  Shovels up to second in Division 1 after big win at home against Great Eccleston.  Bloomfield Hotel up to third in Division 2 after leaders Number Four Rangers are held by the Squirrel.  Boars Head and Blackpool Lane Ends both win to open up a gap at the top of Division 3.  The top five all win in Division 4 but it's the No 1 Club FC who stay top of the pile. 

Action from the YMCA at Lytham where home side Mythop Leisure FC (1) were hosting Division 2 side Real Burlington FC in Round 4 of this season's Gledhill Cup.  For more pictures plus a brief match summary be sure to check out this week's 'Sportspy Reports'.

BFSFA side Poulton SFC were at home this morning against Bolton side Farnworth Canary FC.  Despite a trawl through Google I was unable to locate any current information of note about the visitors but they were crowned Champions of the Bolton & District Sunday league last season.  This morning the Premier Division league table had Poulton in sixth position after gaining four wins and suffering two losses.  On a positive note they were only six points behind current leaders Gardeners Arms FC with two games in hand.  Following a first Round bye in this season's Gledhill Cup the holders are still to concede a goal after beating Division 4 side CBFC Choices Furniture FC 9-0 in Round 2 before impressively dumping out Premier Division rivals Blackpool Rangers FC 5-0 in Round 3.  Next week, they're looking to win a place in the last eight in their Round 4 tie away at Blackpool Catholic Club FC.

Optimum autumn conditions, calm and mild up at Cottam Hall, Poulton this morning.  Today's official was Dave Connor and at 11:05am the visitors kicked off in the white kit playing towards the changing block. It was disappointing to note that a veteran's match had taken priority on the West Lancs pitch so we the game was played on the postage stamp by the railway.

Poulton SFC 2010/11

'Heads or tails'…..Farnworth kick off

Stuart Armer back fit after breaking his ankle

Poulton SFC keeper Andy Speight

Referee Dave Connor

There was some dispute as to the awarding of a throw

Poulton SFC manager Alan Cocker has been called a lot worse than that

A good leap from home skipper Chris Morris

On 26 minutes Poulton took the lead following a quick counter attack.  Quick passes between Armer, Thompson N, Eastwood and Danny Morris led to the latter slotting it home at the far post.  1-0. Things had been pretty even up until that point with the visitors having a shade more possession in the centre of midfield.

Carl 'Shorn' Eastwood

On 36 minutes Farnworth were rightly awarded a penalty when Armour dived in and brought down Sammy but with the perfect opportunity to level things up the spot kick was blasted high, hit the top of the bar and ballooned away to safety.  A let off for Poulton

Farnworth Canary FC's stand-in keeper

Half time score :  Poulton SFC 1 – 0 Farnworth Canary FC

Half time refreshment for midfielder Curtis

Farnworth supporter Jay making the long Sunday morning trip to support the lads

Poulton start the second half

Danny Morris (Right)

Farnworth started the half much the brighter and should have levelled five minutes in.  The No9 looks set to bury it in the above picture but despite getting a decent contact, keeper Speight hurled himself across goal to deflect it away for a corner.  The corner kick bounced off the foot of the post and Poulton scrambled it away.

Lucky boy

But on the whole, Speighty was '1st class' today…….geddit?

Mitch

Farnworth manager and liner

On 63 minutes we had counter attack 2.  A long kick from Speight deceived the left back and in the above picture Danny Morris took it on and made no mistake for his second.  2-0

On 75 minutes it was 3-0.  The left back stayed arguing with Guy Sharrock, as he did so Sharrock took a throw-in over his head and the unmarked Eastwood ran through to bang it home.  3-0

'Bugger…three nowt down, time for another can and a fag'

81 minutes and it was 4-0.  Eastwood's strength took him through, he shrugged off a couple of tough challenges before taking the chance and finishing off the visitors. 

With only two minutes remaining substitutes Adam Kennerly and Lee Catlow interchanged well on the edge of the box and Kennerly swept it home from the right across the keeper.  5-0

Adam Kennerly (Left) and Guy Sharrock

The whistle goes and Poulton are through to Round 4

Final score :  Poulton SFC 5 – 0 Farnworth Canary FC

In summary this was a cracking Cup tie up until the second goal went in.  If anything, Farnworth were the better side in the first half creating lots of offensive possesion whilst restricting the home side to counter attacks.  Despite going a goal behind from a well worked Poulton move, Farnworth had two excelent chances to level things up and take the initiative but due to the missed penalty and the Speight save the chances went away.  When you reach Round 3 there are no easy games and you have to take your chances.  For the rest of the match, a solid defensive performance, especially from centre halves Morris C and Sharrock A combined with some shaky defending down the right hand side resulted in Poulton running out convincing winners.  Farnworth were certainly unlucky not to score but Poulton's clinical finishing in front of goal on the counter attack deservedly put them through.  Good luck to them in the next Round.  The best refereeing performance from Mr Connor that I've witnessed.  It would have been the easy option to get the cards out but he kept them in his pocket throughout.

Mike McHenry receives his award from BFSFA Vice-Chairman David Connor