Match of the week: Bispham JFF (U-14) 5 Fleetwood Town (U-14) 0
Title chasers have wind in their sails
BISPHAM JFF Under-14s know they need a storming second half to the season to realise their title dream – and Sunday’s five-goal win in a howling gale was the perfect way to set about the task.
They still have plenty of ground to make up in the domino division, but manager Peter Hebden believes a championship surge is not beyond his side.
The wind was so strong that this was always going to be the classic game of two halves, with the side battling the elements inevitably finding themselves under pressure.
Bispham had the conditions against them in the first half, and not only did they succeed in keeping Fleetwood out, they took an interval lead.
It was no surprise that manager Hebden felt this show of determination and resilience in the opening period was the key to BJ’s victory in a match switched from Bispham’s Gala Fields to Moor Park.
James Kay played his part in BJ’s gutsy rearguard action and got forward to fire home the all-important breakthrough goal. He scored clinically at the second attempt after the initial shot was blocked.
It was a frustrating half for Fleetwood, who were fully aware of the importance of establishing a half-time lead and certainly applied plenty of pressure.
The outstanding Steve Rankine and Zach Crosby posed problems down the right, with Dave Riley and Ash McGough having chances.
Manager Chris Garrett said: “I couldn’t have asked for any more from the players and we should have been two or three up at half-time.”
However, the Fleetwood boss admitted that the long clearances by BJ keeper Jack Hebden caused his side problems.
Having literally weathered the storm, it was no surprise that BJ went into the second half buoyant, with their visitors a little deflated, though Fleetwood battled bravely on against the elements.
However, they could not prevent Reece Russell, Michael Smith, Elliot Brown and Ross Wheatcroft adding further goals as BJ completed a comfortable win.
All were well-taken strikes but it was BJ’s second, a Smith thunderbolt, which was the pick of the five.
The left-sided midfielder switched to the right and proved no less effective, firing a splendid shot into the top corner with his right foot.
Manager Hebden was reluctant to praise individuals in a true team performance. “They all did themselves proud,” he said.
His side have some catching up to do but the boss maintains a title challenge is realistic. He said: “We need to win our games in hand but if we do so we can get to the top. But it’s a tough league in which all the teams are capable of beating each other.”
It’s a tough season for Fleetwood but manager Garrett believes they are building well for the future. We were lost players just before the start of the season and we were effectively starting again from scratch.
“We haven’t always go the results our performances have deserved, but we had a good run in the Lancashire Cup and have had good wins over Spirit of Youth and Kirkham.”
Eric Clayton caught the eye up front in the first half for Fleetwood, while Lee Gallagher and Alex Barnes defended bravely for Fleetwood, and Dominic Amos impressed in midfield.
THE MANAGERS’ MATCH VERDICT
PETER HEBDEN (BJFF)
All the lads did very well. We held on under pressure in the first half and the goal really kept the players’ heads up. They were in just the mood to go out and finish the job in the second half, when our keeper didn’t have a save to make.
CHRIS GARRETT (Fleetwood)
It just wasn’t our day. With a bit of luck with would have had a two or three-goal cushion at half-time, but with good saves, goal-line clearances and goalmouth scrambles the ball would not go in for us. We have found that we need that sort of cushion to win games and that was especially true on Sunday.
THE MEN OF THE MATCH
RYAN WILLETTS (BJFF)
IN an excellent team performance, the central midfielder never stopped working and kept the ball moving in the worst part of a heavy pitch.
STEVE RANKINE (Fleetwood)
A towering performance on the left, attacking powerfully to pose problems for the BJ defence in the first half, and defending solidly when his side were battling the elements.
Hat-trick of twins
TWINS have united to shoot Poulton and District Primary League club FC Rangers into soccer’s record books.
No less than THREE sets lined up alongside each other in Rangers’ latest match – and that’s a first in the history of the game so far as the FA is concerned.
And two of the families left the opposition seeing double in the seven-a-side competition because the brothers simply can’t be told apart.
Indentical duos Mark and Luke Selway and Niall and Kieran Clayton joined fellow nine-year-olds Alex and Jason Morton in helping boost Boundary Park-based Rangers’ push for promotion with a vital home victory over Wyre Juniors.
Mark grabbed the goal in a 1-0 win for the Rangers reds team, for whom goalkeeper Alex and Kieran also played key roles in switching from the yellows.
Niall and Kieran were the two defenders in front of Alex while Mark, Luke and Jason formed the midfield as manager Colin Cardwell admitted to a grave identity crisis.
“Niall and Kieran have played in the same team for two years and even now I can’t tell them apart! Even in the last game I was shouting ‘well done Mark’ and I’d got it wrong!
“The only way I can split them is if one’s wearing the captain’s armband.
“That problem multiplied with Mark and Luke coming into the side. The parents can tell who’s who – just about.”
The Clayton and Morton boys both attend Claremont Primary School and the Selways are at Marton Primary.
Added manager Cardwell, who is looking for cash backing for next season’s team: “Mark and Luke are fantastic tacklers. Niall and Kieron are good workhorses and fast and furious.
“Jason’s adaptable to a few positions and Alex started by being man of the match, so he gets to be captain this weekend.”
FA historian David Barber, who has been watching football for 47 years, said: “I’ve worked here since 1970 and three lots of twins in one team has never been heard of before at any level of the game.
“We do get informed about quirky things, but I’ve not even heard of two sets of twins. So FC Rangers are certainly justified in claiming a record.”
Teen's England chance
A CLEVELEYS teenager is partway towards making the grade with the English Colleges football team.
Sam Gorrie, of Blackpool Sixth Form College, is among 30 players selected for trials at Lilleshall on Saturday after impressing at the regional trial in Nottingham.
Sam, a former Blackpool FC trainee, plays for Blackpool Wren Rovers and captains the club’s under-18s.
Blackpool’s final triumph
BLACKPOOL and District Youth League picked up the Lancashire Under-14 Knockout trophy for the first time in 20 years by beating Blackburn, Darwen and Hyndburn 2-1 in the final at the county ground in Leyland.
The first ten minutes were scrappy with both teams weighing each other up in the pouring rain. Then twice in succession the ball flew across the Blackpool six-yard box with no Blackburn player on hand to convert. Blackpool started to get a little more joy when Mark Shaw dropped into midfield, pushing the extra pace of Jordan Wood up front.
Hard-working Jordan Casey opened the scoring when he picked up the ball just outside the box, went round a defender and coolly slotted home to continue his record of scoring in every round.
Blackburn came back strongly and some resolute defending kept them at bay until just before half-time when players switched off for a headed equaliser.
Blackburn had the early edge in the second half and after 15 minutes flashed a shot just wide. Goalkeeper Kyle Thomas was called into action to tip it round the post. He then blocked a shot but couldn’t hold on and about ten efforts ensued before Blackpool finally cleared the ball.
Blackpool made good use of substitutions, and with ten minutes left the ball fell to Jordan Wood on the edge of the penalty area and his shot dropped over the keeper into the net. Blackpool took hold of the game after this point and looked the more likely to score.
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