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Match of the week: South Shore Under-11 3 YMCA Under-11 1
It's a Shore start in battle of the giants
THE new Blackpool and District Youth League season kicked off on Sunday - but South Shore and YMCA reckon the Under-11 title will be decided this week.
Both managers are convinced they have the strongest squads in the league for their first season of 11-a-side - and the fixture list has paired them together in the opening two matches of the campaign.
And so they reckon the six points on offer this week will go a long way towards determining who finishes top next May.
It was YMCA who took the first three points at Common Edge on Sunday, when they taught Shore a lesson in the importance of taking your chances.
YMCA (Back from left): Oscar Twitchett, Jordan Makepeace, Carl Kennedy, Ryan McCarthy, James Rowley, Bradley Garner, Cameron Stubbs. Front: Johnny Airey, Jack Crawford, Shane Delaney, Jordan Willder, Conah Bishop, Ryan Worthington,Jack Richardson
Shore also learned the value of making the most of the elements as well - YMCA had the strong wind in their favour in the first half and capitalised fully, scoring three times in the opening 25 minutes.
Despite pulling one back, Shore couldn't take the same advantage of the wind or slope after the interval.
With the wind at their backs, YMCA were well on top in the early stages and made their pressure count.
Indeed, when they went 1-0 up YMCA were convinced they'd scored twice - they felt Jack Crawford's shot had crossed the line before the Shore keeper clawed it out, but Jordan Willder's follow-up shot found the net to end any arguments.
Bradley Garner then doubled the lead after a smart exchange of passes between Conah Bishop and Jack Richardson.
Garner then beat the last defender and buried his shot into the bottom right corner.
SOUTH SHORE ( Back from left): Reece Evans, Joe Brown, Mark Drinnan, Lee Squires, Daniel Weller, Kieran Hindle, Kieran Hamer, Thomas Porter, Lewis Hodge. Front:, Alex MacKenzie, Josh Kay, Jack Williams, Josh Boyne, Riley Carlo, Ryan Darvill, Sam Appleton
Richardson then scored the third himself, firing home on the turn even though the keeper got hands to his shot.
Hard as they tried, Shore couldn't find a way back although they finally registered their first goal as a Youth League team midway through the second half, when a cross caused confusion in the area and Josh Kay pounced to reduce the deficit.
They forced YMCA keeper Ryan McCarthy into some fine stops but could not make another breakthrough.
Both managers singled out defenders for praise, with the central defensive duo of Carl Kennedy and James Rowley outstanding for YMCA.
In the same position, Mark Drinnan excelled for Shore but shared the man of their match award right-sided midfielder Kieran Hamer.
Cameron Stubbs and Garner pulled the midfield strings for the victors, who also had a dangerous wing duo in Bishop and Willder.
If these clubs' predictions of a two-horse title race sound a little over-confident, they do have good reasons for optimism.
Shore manager Alan Williams explained: "We played most of the teams in this division in two pre-season tournaments - at Staining and at Clifton Rangers - and we won them both."
As for YMCA, they have won the Poulton Primary League as under-9s and under-10s and are going for a title hat-trick.
YMCA manager Carl Pomfret said: "Realistically it is between us and them. Alan and I agreed that if either side takes six points from the first two games they will win the title."
Both squads have largely stuck together down the years and their managers see the players' familiarity as another factor in their favour.
Williams added: "I've been coaching this side since they were under-fives and most of the players have been with me since the start."
Pomfret has nurtured many of his squad since under-seven level but has boosted his side with new faces, including striker Richardson.
Much is made of the step up from seven to 11-a-side football at under-11 level but these sides have taken it in their stride.
"I don't think it's a big step at all," added Williams. "My lads have adapted just fine over the summer."
Joe Brown in control for South Shore
THE MANAGERS' MATCH VERDICT
Alan Williams (South Shore)
"YMCA went at us from the off and we didn't really fire on the day. I don't know if the players were daunted by the step up to the Youth League but take nothing away from YM.
"The wind was very strong and they made the most of it.
"We huffed and puffed but we didn't take our chances and they did. YMCA and us will be the top two."
Carl Pomfret (YMCA)
"We were dominant in the early stages and defended very well when they had the elements with them after half-time. Despite that, I still felt we were the better side in the second half.
"South Shore will be up there at the end of the season, though. I have no doubt about that but hopefully we will stay in front of them and these three points could be vital."
THE MEN OF THE MATCH
BOTH managers thought long and hard about their man of the match selections before both concluded that two players were inseparable.
Central defenders Carl Kennedy and James Rowley were described as equally "awesome" by manager Carl Pomfret, particularly in the second half as they battled the elements and everything that Shore could throw at them.
For Shore, the tie was between Mark Drinnan, another centre-half who marshalled his defence excellently, and Kieran Hamer, who looked their most dangerous player on the right of midfield.
Fleetwood kids enjoy neverending season
FLEETWOOD Town FC have made a promising start to the season and their Saturday morning club for the budding football stars of tomorrow is in full swing.
But for those bidding to bring more children into the game at Town's Highbury ground, the old season never really finished.
Saturday club organiser Chris Garrett also ran a series of coaching schools throughout the summer holidays, with over 200 football-crazy kids taking part.
Morecambe keeper Scott Davies and Fleetwood duo Ciaran Donnelly and Paul Haddow were among the players who gave the children a big boost by coming along for the end-of-course presentations.
The Saturday club is no less popular, with so many signed up they have had to be split into two groups.
Ryan Worthington
South Shore Managers Ian Kay (left) and Alan Williams
South Shore's Kieran Hindle clears the ball
Jordan Willder for YMCA
Josh Kay for South Shore
YMCA manager Carl Pomfret
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