Match of the week: Foxhall (Under-11) 10 Spirit of Youth (U-11) 1
Foxhall’s perfect ten in dominant display
THE clash between the top two in the Under-11 pizza division was expected to produce a thrilling close encounter, but all the traffic went one-way as rampant Foxhall hit top gear from the start and never slowed down.
Spirit, the only side to have taken league points off the leaders with a 1-1 draw, seemed sure to put up stiff resistance again at Fishers Field on Sunday but they were blown away within minutes of the kick-off.
Foxhall were three up with barely 10 minutes played and went on to lead 5-0 at half-time, leaving no way back for Spirit.
Michael Beveridge and Matthew Garner both scored hat-tricks and and Alex Vowles netted two for merciless Foxhall, who stretched their lead at the top to eight points.
Stand-in skipper Zach Selaint and Connor Robinson completed the job as Foxhall reached double figures after Vowles opened the scoring with a spectacular volley.
However, a naturally delighted manager Illy Selaint would not single out any other goals, simply saying: “They were all crackers. You could see that we really wanted to win.”
Pefectly placed in the title stakes, the manager added: “I have every confidence in my lads. The passing and movement were exceptional.”
What made this outstanding performance all the better was the fact that skipper Richard Alves had taken ill on the eve of the game, leaving Foxhall with a goalkeeper as their only substitute.
However, central midfielder Zach Selaint took the armband and gave a dominant captain’s performance in an exceptional team effort.
To Spirit’s credit, they never allowed their heads to drop and a battling effort was rewarded when Jac Birch scored the Spirit consolation goal with aplomb – the no.10 deserved it too after a tireless display.
Manager Steve Vickers was able to take the defeat on the chin, knowing his side’s season is far from over.
He said: “At least we kept going and it’s only one result. We still have everything to play for and we will bounce back.”
THE MANAGERS’ MATCH VERDICT
ILLY SELANT(Foxhall)
I can’t believe it. We were absolutely fantastic and never let Spirit into the game. I thought it would be a lot closer. Spirit did have chances but the early goals settled us down.
STEVE VICKERS (Spirit of Youth)
Foxhall played very well but it was just one of those days when we didn’t play as we can. It was men against boys but we will dust ourselves down and look forward to the next game.
MEN OF THE MATCH
ZACH SELAINT (Foxhall)
THE manager was reluctant to single anyone out in a great team effort but Zach held the midfield together and deputised superbly as captain.
JAC BIRCH (Spirit)
The striker took his goal well and worked hard throughout on a day he received little service.
Super eight in Lancs squad
BOYS from Blackpool are helping Lancashire head towards the top of the class in under-16 schools football.
No fewerthan eight are in the Red Rose squad of 18 which has reached the national inter-counties competition and is also bidding to be the best in the north.
It’s testimony to last year’s achievement in reaching the last 16 of the under-15 English Schools FA Knockout Trophy that Blackpool has provided almost half the set-up. And four of those players are being monitored by the town’s professional club in the Seasiders’ youth team.
County manager is Collegiate teacher Ben Lavelle, who played for Fleetwood Town, Wren Rovers, Morecambe, Lancaster City, Bamber Bridge and Kirkham and Wesham. His assistant is Derek Yarwood from Hodgson HS, who stood down as under-15 town team boss at the end of last season after more than a dozen years.
Lancashire are unbeaten with eight wins out of ten competitive and friendly fixtures under Lavelle and Yarwood and qualifying for the Northern Counties automatically lists them among the 16 counties battling for the national prize.
They finished runners-up in their group to Cheshire and are now away in the semi-final to the other group winners South Yorkshire.
Verdict
Kieran D’Arcy ( Collegiate) and Curt Bradley (Palatine) have been regulars in the Blackpool youth team, for which Jake Forshaw (Montgomery) and Jamie Haydock (Highfield) were also picked.
The Fylde’s county contingent is completed by goalkeeper Danny McDonald (Collegiate), Jake Rooney (Highfield), Joey Newson (Fleetwood HS) and Ben Farley (St Mary’s).
Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle and South Ribble each supply two boys and Preston and Lancaster/Morecambe one apiece.
In Blackpool itself, town team football suffered a blip with the under-15s making an early exit from the English Schools Trophy and the under-14s disbanding.
However, the under-15s have regrouped under coach Mick Hartley, of Baines School, and are confident of qualifying for the Lancashire Cup knockout stages.
They swept to their second win in three games with a 5-1 verdict against Blackburn, with midfielder Josh Few (Fleetwood HS) netting a hat-trick.
Ryan Tanser (St Mary’s) and Kyle Bennett (Collegiate) were the other scorers and Hartley brought on under-14s Ryan Matthews (Cardinal Allen) and Ryan Hanlan (Kirkham Carr Hill) as substitutes.
Blackpool are away to Liverpool in the North-West Cup on February 28.
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