Sportspy Reports – April 3rd 2005

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After their fantastic 1-0 win over McDonald Property FC in midweek Harris & Co opened up a six point gap at the top of the table.  That win in midweek took Harris' unbeaten run to twelve games in all competitions.  An excellent run of form that has also taken them to the final of the Division 1 Cup leaving them unbeaten in 2005.  Today, they had yet another tough looking fixture against the Reform Health Club.  Last Wednesday I watched Reform comfortably despatch a depleted Highlands team 4-0.  Reform were in eighth at start of play, probably their highest league position so far.  They've been playing well in recent games and are clearly trying to finish as high up the table as possible. 

These two teams met on the opening day of the season up at Broadwaters.  After an impressive pre-season it proved to be a dramatic Division 1 'wake up call' for Dean Whitehouse and his team as they were beaten 5-2.  Could they take revenge today and end Harris' great run ?

Harris & Co FC

Harris & Co go close

Before moving on the score was deadlocked at 0-0 after twenty minutes with no clear cut chances for either side.  Harris & Co went on to win the game 2-0.  Favourable results in midweek in the McDonald and Argosy games could see Harris travelling to Singleton next Sunday needing three points for the title.

Across the road at Blackpool Mechanics Fluid Edge were entertaining the Philharmonic.  After last week's defeat to Reform Fluid returned to winning ways in midweek with a narrow win away at Singleton Village.  Fluid were in third place this morning whilst the Philharmonic were in tenth.  Back in late August Fluid won away 4-1.  The Philharmonic have been in fine form recently and in midweek thumped in-form Squirrel 5-1 on Boundary Park.  With games running out Fluid really needed a win today if they were to finish runners up, especially with a game against McDonald Property to look forward to on Wednesday evening.

The referee sorts out the threatening presence of the Fluid Centre half Martin 'Per' Percival

Percival outpaces Philly goalscorer Glen Worden

Ten minutes into the second half the Philharmonic were still leading 1-0 through a first half effort from Glen Worden.  Not much early goal mouth action in this one.  Both sets of players were struggling to contend with the bumpy sandy surface.  The Philharmonic went on to win the match 2-1.  They still have some important games against other top sides in the table and could have yet more say in the ultimate destiny of the Division 1 title.  Next season they'll be looking to be up there themselves.

One point from the last four league games had seen long time leaders the Sanctuary drop down to fourth place.  Today, they were at home to the Squirrel, a team they'd beaten 3-0 earlier in the season.  Promotion to the Prem was still a distinct possibility for Sanctuary but today's game was a 'must win' fixture.

Squirrel stalwart Paul Savage (in white)

The Sanctuary looked to have regained some form today as they ended up winning 5-1.  Can skipper Jordan Black (above) spur them on to produce a strong finish to the season ?

Little Fat Jacks and Real Cahoots have been at the top of Division 3A all season.  This morning they were locked together on 53 points with Jack's having three games in hand.  Both sides had games on Commonedge today.  Jacks were at home to lowly Mariners Bar who'd given them something of a scare earlier in the season when only losing to them 3-2.  Cahoots had the more difficult fixture against Athletico Plough who'd beaten them 1-0 in the reverse fixture.  A win for both was vital today in anticipation of next Sunday's potential title showdown between the pair on Commonedge.

Little Fat Jacks (Green shirts) against the Mariners Bar

Mariner's Ricky Roper (centre), a recent acquisition from D&T Waste.

The Little Fat Jacks players celebrate going 5-0 up.  They went on to win 7-0 guaranteeing themselves at least runners up spot.

I didn't get to see much of the Cahoot's game today but they were struggling early doors and went 1-0 behind.  However, they came good in the second half and in the above picture they celebrate going 3 -1 up through Craig Byrom.  The three points also mean that Cahoots can now finish no lower than second.

A rare trip to Commonedge Road this season for Division 2B's Red Rose Catering.  Last Wednesday night they went to Preesall and came away with a very important 2-0 win against Wyre Villa.  They face the same team on Wednesday evening at Boundary Park in a potential title showdown but today they were up against Fylde Coast Gates.  In the end they ran out 3-0 winners in a competitive match and now must surely be strong favourites to win one of the most difficult Divisions this season.

That's where the Bay Horse kit went to.

Supporter falls asleep in background.

 At the top of 2A Bloomfield Vets have been struggling recently mainly due to suspensions.  Last week's 5-1 defeat to Chequers was a very bad result.  They had eleven out today against Sands FC who are not having the best of seasons due to losing key players like Cook and Newton.  Sands are always good opposition and at half time the score was 0-0.  In the reverse fixture the Vets had come out on top 4-2.  Well into the second half the Vets took the lead through a scrappy goal that just sneaked in over the line and that's how it ended.  With the Dunes losing today there's still everything to play for at the top of 2A. 

Sands FC's Darren Clarke

 
What helicopter , where ?

Sands' Neil 'Hen' Ryecroft (Yellow) keeps his eye on the big fella – the infamous Jimmy Baker.

Last but by no means least Supreme FC took on Fluid Edge Reserves in front of the Granada Soccer Night cameras.  We'll let you know when it's on the telly.  Fluid Reserves had won the first fixture 4-1 earlier in the season.  At half time I bumped into referee Mr Dalton who told me it had been a largely uneventful first 45 minutes with only one goal in it.  Things certainly livened up in the second half as Fluid Edge Reserves finally strolled to a 6-2 victory

The cameras film the Fluid half time team talk

And the pitchside camera captures the action.

Sportspy 2004/05