Young wizards of the dribble
MAYBE one of these children will be running down the wing in 20 years time helping Blackpool FC lift the FA Cup.
It would be fitting because this coaching session for pupils at Anchorsholme Primary School, Cleveleys is called the Stanley Matthews dribble and shoot.
Blackpool coach Derek Spence and player Simon Wiles put the youngsters through their paces during a visit to the school.
It was a visit organised by the Stanley Matthews Foundation, the charity set up after the legendary footballer died in 2000.
Sir Stan would have celebrated his 93rd birthday this Friday.
Maybe one of these children will be running down the wing in 20 years time helping Blackpool FC lift the FA Cup
Blackpool coach Derek Spence and player Simon Wiles put the youngsters through their paces during a visit to the school
Match of the week: St Annes (U-11) 4 Blackpool Rangers (U-14) 1
Pinpoint Pete helps St Annes to turn the corner
IT’S tough enough for the Youth League’s new under-11 teams to adapt to 11-a-side matches and bigger pitches ... but having to deal with full-sized goals as well makes life all the more difficult.
That was the prospect which confronted the under-11s of St Annes and Blackpool Rangers at Blackpool Road North on Sunday because the threequarter-size pitch they had expected to turn out on was unplayable.
Spare a thought particularly for the keepers, who would certainly have benefited from springs in their boots as they stood between their eight-foot high posts.
Two of St Annes’ goals found the roof of the net and Rangers manager Jamie Walker admitted: “I couldn’t have reached one of them myself.”
But he was quick to add that it was the same for both sides and St Annes were good value for their fourth win in the Domino division, though Rangers gave them a better game than the 4-1 scoreboard would suggest.
One key difference between the sides was Aaron Peet, whose corners produced of his side’s four goals. Two of them resulted in a 2-0 scoreline after only 10 minutes and put St Annes in the driving seat.
They took the lead after only three minutes, when the first of Peet’s deadly corners was met by centre-half William Nielson at the far post.
Peet did the set-piece trick again on 10 minutes, floating over another corner for striker Scott Holt to volley into the top corner.
St Annes effectively sealed their victory five minutes before half-time, when Holt blocked an attempted clearance by the Rangers keeper and Josh Kelly pounced on the loose ball to score.
Rangers refused to allow their heads to drop in their first match of the year, and they deserve credit for fighting back strongly and taking the game to the hosts in the second half. However, St Annes were determined to deny them a way back and defended stoutly, with goalscorer Nielson prominent at the back.
Also impressive for St Annes were the right flank combination of dead-ball demon Peet and Robbie Morris, while goalscorer Kelly’s pace posed problems for the Rangers defence.
The home side iced their cake with a fourth goal 10 minutes from time. The source was another Peet corner, which was cleared only as far as Danny Singleton, who struck a looping shot over the keeper from the edge of the area.
Rangers’ efforts were rewarded with a consolation goal in the closing moments, when Harry Sidley got the decisive touch following a chaotic scramble in the box.
Rangers’ central midfield duo of James Cholmondley and Thomas Rimmer were outstanding, with the former just in front in the man of the match stakes.
Both clubs admit they have struggled to adjust to life in the elite under-11 division but they are doing their utmost to find their feet.
St Annes manager Mike Shepherd said: “The players are working really hard and some of the games we have lost have been very close, but it has been quite a leap for them, especially as we came up from the B division at under-10s.”
Rangers counterpart Walker agreed: “We have found the gap between the under-10s and the Youth League quite difficult to bridge.
“We are learning but it’s a question of whether we are learning quickly enough.”
THE MANAGERS’ MATCH VERDICT
MIKE SHEPHERD AND BEN DUFFY (St Annes)
WE were good value for the win and we kept possession well, though the scoreline perhaps doesn’t do justice to Rangers’ efforts. They pushed us, particularly in the second half, but the early goals settled us down and a lot of our players did well, especially in midfield where we have struggled.
JAMIE WALKER (Blackpool Rangers)
We compete in most games but Sunday’s match was probably the story of our season, especially with conceding the early goal. You had to feel for both keepers in those full-sized goals and I thought ours had a good game.
MEN OF THE MATCH
WILLIAM NIELSON (St Annes)
AN exception display on only his second outing as a centre-half. Normally a central midfielder, Stuart was dominant throughout.
JAMES CHOLMONDLEY (Blackpool Rangers)
THE central midfielder gave an exemplary and hard-working display and wasn’t only his manager’s choice: “The referee said he was our man of the match,” said boss Walker.
GIRLS' FOOTBALL
Bury 0 Blackpool (Under-10) 6
Blackpool got back in the swing after their lay-off with a goal after a minute, when Emma Hickson slotted home a Georgia Lambe pass.
Alicia Yarwood and Caitlin Green went close but it remained 1-0 at half-time.
Lambe soon increased the lead before Hickson netted her second.
Rebecca Shaw took on the defence and made it 4-0, while player of the match Jordan Dixon’s fine shot was turned around the post.
Lambe went on to complete a hat-trick with two long-range strikes and Megan Young deputised well in goal.
Inter Mill Hill 6 YMCA (Under-10) 3
YMCA paid for missing early chances in this North Valley Cup preliminary round tie and soon found themselves 2-0 down.
Inter added a third but Laurel North pulled one back by half-time. YMCA kept their heads high despite further Inter goals as Olivia Hooper scored and North grabbed a second.
YMCA (Under-13) 6 Woodbank Warriors 0
YMCA progressed into the semi-finals of the North Valley Cup with a commanding display.
They took the lead midway through the first half through own goal and Millie Gallagher’s powerful drive made it 2-0 at half-time.
Evie Manning scored twice before fine goals by Jenny Hodson and Lauren Gallagher completed the tally.
Accrington 0 Fleetwood (Under-13) 4
Fleetwood breezed to victory after Em McCarthy tucked away the opener after Megan Brown’s shot was blocked.
A tactical switch brought three second-half goals, Brown calmly side-footing her second before Lauren Fail defied several defenders to score and Cath Robinson won a one-on-one with the keeper.
Blackpool (Under-14) 6 Man City 3
Blackpool made the early running and took the lead, but they could not make further chances count and City were level by half-time.
But two goals soon put Blackpool in control and they were able to cancel out to further City goals. Sian Dillon scored an excellent hat-trick, while Chloe Bracegirdle netted two and Rhiannon Davies completed the scoring.
Blackpool (Under-15) 6 Preston 1
Blackpool defended strongly and took control against 10-girl Preston, with Alice Jackson opening the scoring after 33 minutes.
Emma Perret scored a hat-trick after the break and Jackson added her second before Preston’s consolation goal. Beth Fisher completed the scoring with an excellent free-kick.
Blackpool (Under-16) 2 Man United 0
A fine strike by player of the match Chelsea Walker gave Blackpool an early lead and they held solid against a strong wind.
Leah Hinchliffe then released Natasha Illingworth, who outpaced the defence and rounded the keeper to score in the bottom corner.
Outstanding Blackpool were creative in midfield but were denied further goals by good goalkeeping.
Penwortham South 1 YMCA (Under-17) 7
YMCA remain top of the North Valley League but the much-improved hosts made them work hard before three goals in five minutes put the visitors in control.
Player of the match Siobhan Roach opened the scoring on 18 minutes with a fine solo strike, then set up the second for Robyn Taylor.
Captain Amanda Pendlebury scored the third from Taylor’s corner and Hannah Anyon made it 4-0 from Charlie Carr’s flick on.
Hannah Anyon pulled off a great save before right-back Ellie Cash started the move which led to Taylor firing her second into the top corner rom 20 yards.
Penwortham pulled a goal back but Ashleigh Wall slid in for the sixth from Emma Brady’s cross and Roach added her second with a penalty for handball.
Other Lancashire League scores:
Blackpool (U11) 0 Burnley 5
Blackpool (U12) 1 Man Utd 4
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