Sportspy Reports – Sunday October 18th 2009

At Moor Park, Bispham expecting to be watching Claremont Cons FC play Rossall Tavern FC in a league fixture.  However, due to a communication breakdown that fixture was off so instead it was across to Pitch 6 to watch new BFSFA sides Uncle Toms Cabin FC and FC Edge play each other in Division 3B.

 

 

 Both of these sides are new to Sunday football this season.  Poulton/Thornton based FC Edge are sponsored by the Edge nightspot.  The lads were playing at ‘Playfootball’ last season but fancied a crack at the ‘Men’s’ game this season.  After taking some time to acclimatise they’ve picked up some form having taken nine points from the last twelve.  They were seventh in the table this morning.  A first round bye in the Gledhill was followed by a second round exit to Division 1 outfit FC Loco.

This is the latest incarnation of Uncle Tom’s Cabin FC who have had a good number of sides in Sunday football over the last forty years.  The seafront hostelry appears to have a good set up with a big squad and well attired back room staff who are clearly well up for Sunday football despite the early season difficulties.  The team was in eleventh this morning having had two wins a draw in their first nine matches.  They too had a first Round bye in the Gledhill before upsetting Marshall Court Sandpiper in Round.  Highbuty Vets FC knocked them out 7-1 in Round 3.  Prior to today’s game they’d lost three league games in a row and were looking to get back on track.

At 7am it was yet another glorious Autumnal October morning across the Fylde Coast but by kick off time it was overcast, cold with rain in the air.  A difficult day for decent photo’s due due to he darkness.  Winter is on its way. The man in charge today was Mark bates and at 10:57am we were underway with Tom’s in the yellow strip kicking off.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin FC 2009/10

FC Edge 2009/10

Today’s two captains with young referee Mark Bates. Andy Sproston (right)

Uncle Tom’s in the yellow kick off

A quick squeeze for luck

Gillett is beaten and looks back to see the ball in the net.

 

On eight minutes and after a blistering start away side FC Edge took a deserved lead.  A throw from the left was only half cleared and Anthony Clapp hit an unstoppable drive from 20 yards past Jason Gillett. 0 – 1

Wrapped up against the cold but still frowning

Pacey Tom’s striker Luke

The sizeable Tom’s support

Mark Bates

Scott

Tom’s manager Neil Burgess

Good tackle – opponent upended

A nasty knock – He wouldn’t be on for much longer

FC Edge manager Dukey

Anthony Boardman

A bad tackle from behind and Mr Bates asks for a name

‘Coker’ – Yellow card

The first half belonged to FC Edge who started much the brighter and deservedly notched the early goal.  As the half went on Uncle Tom’s got back into the game in regard to possession but created few if any decent chances of note.

Half time score : Uncle Tom’s Cabin FC 0 – 1 FC Edge

‘We’re still in this lads’

Time for a drink and a good spit

FC Edge supporters and injured players

An FC Edge player had to come back when he sustained an eye injury.  It’s starting to swell up nicely and shouldbe extremely colourful for work/college/job centre by midweek.  It was an accident at football!  Yeah……..whatever.

FC Edge start the second half

Derek Ball (RIP), Uncle Tom’s coach and liner

‘It was my first foul referee’

Tom’s mascot ‘SAM’

The skies darken and the rain comes down – the camera starts to fail and has to be put away and kept dry.

The electricity pylon and wires directly above Pitch 6 start to fizz and crackle in the rain.

Tom’s sub Chaz

Beaten for pace

FC Edge players are down and dejected as Uncle Tom’s make it 1-1

With only minutes left on the clock Uncle Tom’s hard work in the second half finally produced an equaliser.  A fantastic throughball from Jack Oldroyd found Stuart Martin just onside (A good decision by an honest linesman).  Martin raced away and bravely won the battle with the onrushing Edge keeper Jamie Owen to flick it past him and into the net – A good finish.  1-1

Scorer Stuart Martin lies prone after his brave equaliser

Late pressure on the Tom’s goal as Edge threaten a late winner

…..and at the other end Tom’s had two good chances to snatch it. Firstly, a low drive flashed across the goal but nobody could connect.

Then the best save of the match as Jamie Owen gets a strong hand to a close range effort to turn it around the post.

Jamie Owen

Full time and the points are shared.

Full time score: Uncle Tom’s Cabin FC 1 -1 FC Edge

In summary, and unusually for Division 3B this was a game devoid of clear cut chances.  Each side huffed and puffed in the opposition half but both goal keepers were largely unemployed for most of the match.  FC Edge started very well whilst Tom’s were pretty poor for the opening twenty minutes.  This was the time for FC Edge to put the game beyond doubt and despite scoring a deserved opener they failed to capitalise and as the game went on their opponents gradually crawled their way back into the game.  One goal is rarely enough and despite having a very good shout for a second half penalty the cutting edge in the Tom’s box was lacking.  A great performance from FC Edge’s Anthony Boardman who’s creative flair made him my Man of the Match.

On this performance Uncle Tom’s are lacking a ‘Boardman like’ midfielder who can feed the strikers. They lack the link up play from back to front.  However, they showed some good spirit today and few would begrudge them an equaliser based on second half possession.  Unsurprisingly, for their first season both of these teams may struggle to finish in the top four but FC Edge are still in a decent run of form and could challenge late season.

There were a few unnecessary and meatly challenges in this fixture and we were fortunate to still have 22 players on at the end.  Well officaited by Referee Bates who tried to keep his cards in his pockets but two yellows were flourished and quite rightly so.

Sportspy 2009/10