Match of the week: Spirit of Youth U13 0 South Shore U13 3
Blow me down! Shore conquer the wild winds
SOUTH Shore won through to the Hogan Cup semi-finals for the second successive season and hope their excellent progress towards Bloomfield Road will kickstart a difficult league campaign.
Both Shore and hosts Spirit are battling at the wrong end of the domino division but it was the visitors who gave themselves a massive boost for the run-in with this 3-0 cup success.
The key period was the final five minutes of the first half, when outstanding striker Eddie Burke scored twice.
With the strong wind at Common Edge in their favour before half-time, Shore were anxious to take a healthy lead into the interval, though Spirit kept them at bay until the closing moments of the half.
Spirit had defended solidly for half an hour but had ridden their luck, with Liam Kay rocketing a volley against the crossbar from outside the area.
Burke broke the deadlock with a fine finish. Conor Talbot had started the move, which resulted in Kay putting over a pinpoint cross for Burke to convert clinically. The second soon followed, Burke lobbing the keeper after taking a superb through ball by Keiron Knight in his stride.
Despite playing against the elements after the break, Shore did not simply concentrate on defending their lead, which delighted manager Adrian Talbot.
Shore continued to see plenty of possession after the break, much of it in the Spirit half. And they stuck to their passing principles despite the gusting wind.
Even so, they had to defend strongly, with Tyler Austin, Michael Connolly, Jack Jancey and Jordan Richies all keeping things tight, while Andrew Holton was full of energy in goal.
Spirit did have a couple of chances early in the second half, and the complexion of the game would have changed had one of those been converted.
Instead, Shore were able to close down the game and seal victory with their third goal 15 minutes from time. Conor Talbot was again instrumental in the goal, sending Ross Morgan clear to finish with gusto.
Liam Croley also had a strong game up front for the victors alongside the exceptional Burke.
Keeper Danny Vickers and central defender Ben Senior were Spirit’s outstanding duo.
Shore have had a tough season with injuries, including a couple of broken bones, and are in danger of dropping down to the pizza divison, though manager Talbot hopes their cup heroics will inspire a strong finish to the campaign.
He said: “Lytham beat us in the semis last year and we will be hoping to avoid them this time around. If we can do that we could go all the way in the cup.”
Spirit are finding the domino division tough too, while manager Mark Senior is handling another tricky transition.
The Spirit boss also manages West Lancashire League leaders Blackpool Wren Rovers.
“It’s quite a gap to bridge from adult football to the youth league,” he admits, “but the most important thing is that the kids are willing to learn. I took over in the summer, when we only had five or six players, but we are slowly building a team and hopefully we can stay up.”
Both teams congratulated their opponents for playing the match in a great spirit.
Wes passes on tips to the kids
Wes Hoolahan passed on some of his magic tricks to budding football wizards in Lytham at the weekend.
The Seasiders winger was the special guest coach at the Gavin McCann Academy at King Edward and Queen Mary School.
Blackpool-born Bolton midfielder McCann runs the weekly coaching school with Hoolahan’s Pool team-mate John Hills.
Their aim is to invite a guest football star along to teach the children each Sunday afternoon. The academy is open to 7-14 year olds for a fee of £10 per session.
Under-11
Squires Gate 3 Foxhall 10
THE unbeaten leaders stretched the gap at the top to nine points at blustery Common Edge, where M Beveridge scored four.
Man of the match Connor Robinson scored a hat-trick, with Matt Gardner adding a couple and Ryan Robinson completing the scoring.
Two own goals pulled Gate level after they trailed 2-0 after 15 minutes, though Foxhall were 5-2 up by half-time. The home side’s second half goal was a great free-kick by Capstick.
HOGAN CUP
Poulton 1 BJFF A 1
STEWART’S late strike for Poulton cancelled out Stephen Higgins’ goal early in the second half to force a nailbiting period of extra-time and eventually penalties.
Both keepers took spot-kicks and BJFF Whites won 4-2.
YMCA 14 Staining 1
YMCA proved far too strong for lower league opponents in this Hogan Cup quarter-final, leading 8-1 at half-time.
The outstanding Jack Craword scored twice after Shane Delaney had netted the opener, while Johnny Airey, Christian Hill, Carl Kennedy, Chester Duff and Jack Richardson also got on the scoresheet before half-time.
Crawford completed a hat-trick after the break, while Duff grabbed his second and Jordan Willder, Conah Bishop, Jordan Makepeace and James Rowley also scored.
Sean Jagger notched a well-struck consolation for spirited Staining.
St Annes 0 Fleetwood Town 3
Fleetwood capitalised on wind advantage and scored midway through the first half when Nathan Holehouse finished off a move begun by skipper Ben Reader.
St Annes counter-attacked, though the visitors doubled their lead two minutes before the break when a clearance rebounded off James Ellis, who finished well after James Lydon had played the ball over the top.
St Annes needed an early breakthrough in the second half but Josh Kelly was denied twice by the keeper and Ollie Brooks headed just over before Fleetwood clinched their place in the last four.
Jordan Woodbridge pounced on a loose ball and slid it into the corner.
Dylan Salmon was St Annes’ man of the match.
Thornton Cleveleys 3 South Shore 4
South Shore edged into the semi-finals in this cup thriller after coming back from behind three times against a very impressive Thornton side.
Thornton opened the scoring midway through the first half but Alex Mackenzie soon equalised.
Thornton regained the lead almost immediately and held it until half-time, despite Shore striking the bar and having two efforts cleared off the line.
Kieran Hindle equalised only for Thornton to go back in front once again with an excellent strike.
Josh Kay made it 3-3 and Jack Williams scored the winner five minutes from time.
The Thornton scorers were Sharples, Harrison and Hadgraft. For Shore, Thomas Porter and Riley Carlo impressed in defence, while Kieran Hamer and Joe Brown stood out in midfield.
Under-12
St Annes 2 Clifton Rangers 1
St Annes were pinned back in their own half in the early stages as Clifton made the most of the wind and took the lead through Moreau.
Potter equalised from St Annes man of the match Harry Spracklen’s free-kick to make it 1-1 at half-time.
St Annes struggled to capitalise on their chances and had to defend strongly, while Higson and debutant Benz impressed in midfield.
The home side won it with two minutes remaining, when Chapman scored after Clarkson’s shot had been well saved.
HOGAN CUP
Fleetwood 1 Foxhall 5
Mitchell McKeown opened scoring for Foxhall with a lethal left foot.
Both teams had chances but a fine save by Connor Ratcliffe kept Foxhall in front at half-time.
Captain Danny Warren stretched the lead with a penalty for handball and Kurt Willoughby made it 3-0 within minutes of coming on.
Josh Smith fired the fourth over the keeper but Fleetwood fought on and pulled one back through Keo with seven minutes let.
Willoughby’s second completed the scoring, while Michael Rietdyk and Jack Harrison shared the man of the match award for semi-bound Foxhall.
Spirit of Youth 1 YMCA 2
YMCA snatched a late victory in this quarter-final at a wind swept Common Edge.
YMCA started with the strong wind at their backs and took the lead when Jack Donovan struck a stunning shot from 20 yards.
But Spirit defended well and deservedly made it 1-1 at half-time through Crowe.
Spirit started strongly in the second half and applied sustained pressure. A fine save by Liam Munro kept YM in the game as chances were missed at both ends.
But then Donovan skipped past two defenders and rounded the goalkeeper before crossing for Linus Welsh to head home. Ben Cheston, Calvin Ross and Tyler Douthwaite all impressed for YMCA.
Under-13
Foxhall 1 Blackpool Rangers 3
RANGERS pulled within a point of second-placed Foxhall thanks to a Calland hat-trick in this hard-fought top of the table clash at Fishers Field.
Foxhall played plenty of good football and had their chances, though they did not really test the keeper enough despite outstanding displays by Josh Keen, Jack Wood, Jordan Payne and Ryan Long.
Rangers were quick on the break and Calland’s finishing was excellent, though Matt Mcillwham took his consolation goal well.
HOGAN CUP
Poulton Youth 6 Staining 0
ALEX Loudon opened the scoring from Sam Fielding’s corner after 15 minutes on a windswept pitch. Loudon soon became provider when Matty Stowell headed his free-kick into the roof of the net.
Staining goalkeeper Spencer Kilpatrick made some brave saves but was unable to stop Reece Fletchers making it three by half-time.
Fletcher ran through for Stowell to score his second five minutes after the restart and his hat-trick goal soon followed from Curtis Radcliffe’s through ball.
Fletcher and Stowell shared man of the match honours and Kilpatrick stood out for Staining, for whom Conner Addison held firm in midfield.
Lytham 10 BJFF 1
Lytham played some fantastic football to reach the Hogan Cup semi-finals.
It took 10 minutes to break the deadlock but then the scoring continued, with man of the match Charlie Goldie-Galloway outstanding in midfield.
Hat-trick hero Jack Ward and Scott Tanser also impressed, while Dan Whitham netted twice.
The other scorers were Mitch White, Danny Scarlett, Sam Lamb, Sam Webster and Goldie-Galloway. Wright replied for Bispham
Spirit of Youth 0 South Shore 3
see centre pages.
Under-14
HOGAN CUP
Squires Gate 3 BJFF 1
GATE had the better of the first half and had more shots than the rivals. They were rewarded with a half-time lead courtesy of Ben Jakes, who reacted quickly to Conner Eastwood’s pinpoint free-kick.
BJ came back strongly after the break but two goals in quick succession around the hour mark put Gate in control.
Jakes scored his second before Ryan Wilson put the game beyond Bispham, who pulled one back through Sanderson.
Under-15
Wyre Juniors 2 St Annes 7
St Annes couldn’t have got off to a better start with the wind in their favour, Kynan Dawes scoring in the first minute before James Guffogg, Luke Harris and Jack Atherton quickly made it 4-0.
Wyre got back into the game but Yiannis Verenakis made it five by half-time with an unstoppable 25-yard shot.
The visitors then defended resolutely against the wind, although Wyre’s efforts were rewarded with two goals from Entwistle.
Verenakis went on to complete a hat-trick in an outstanding team display.
YMCA 11 BJFF 0
A spirited BJFF could not withstand this onslaught from the league leaders, who played with confidence, pace and flair to stretch their lead to 10 points.
They were 4-0 up after 10 minutes after Josh Verenakis opened the scoring in the first minute.
Goals by Alex Grindrod and two in three minutes by Lloyd Paton soon followed before Harry Hobson then bagged a hat trick inside 15 minutes. Paton’s third made it 8-0 at half-time.
BJFF stuck bravely to their task in the second half, though Paton scored his fourth and Grindrod completed the game’s third hat-trick. Hobson and Adam Levin were outstanding for the victors.
Lytham 4 Spirit of Youth 4
LYTHAM went through to the Hogan Cup semi-finals after a 4-2 penalty shoot-out success, despite Duggan scoring a hat-trick for Spirit.
Lytham scored in the first minute through Josh Miller but Spirit quickly equalised.
It remained 1-1 at half-time but Spirit then went in front only for Miller to grab his second.
Lytham got on top and looked on course for a comfortable win when Jake Isaac and Jack Errington made it 4-2.
However, Spirit showed just why they will soon be contesting the Lancashire Cup final by storming back to force extra-time. Their other scorer was Binks.
Jake Smith dispatched the winning penalty for Lytham and Nat Houghton was their man of the match.
Under-16
HOGAN CUP
Clifton Rangers 4 YMCA 1
Rangers avenged last month’s heavy defeat by YMCA with victory by the same scoreline in the quarter-finals.
Two Smiths, Burke and Davis were the scorers for the victors.
The home side started brightly and went into a 2-0 lead but YMCA were given hope when the impressive Harry Foley made it 2-1 at half-time.
Rangers regained the initiative to seal a comfortably victory despite an outstanding display by YMCA’s Nathan Armstrong, who only flew in from the USA that morning.
The only league game in Under-10 division A saw Clifton Rangers move out of the bottom three with maximum points against Poulton.
Rangers won the A game 3-1 with goals from Jack Tomes (2) and Taylor Campbell, Mert Asiliskender notched the home reply, then strikes by Ben Fisher and James Wright gave Rangers a 2-0 B victory.
FC Rangers took all six points at Warton Typhoons to move within a point of leaders Wyre Juniors in division B. Two goals by Lee Turner and Charlie Carpenter gave Rangers a 4-2 A game success, Jonathan Sandham and Sam Walsh notching Warton’s replies. Rangers B won 7-0 thanks to Brian Denyson’s hat-trick and doubles by Ben Adams and Matthew Siddall.
Blackpool Rangers Whites stay fourth despite only taking a share of the points against Poulton Town. In the A game, James Ashton, Lewis Christy and Taylor Gradwell all bagged pairs as Whites coasted to a 6-0 victory but Town turned the tables in the B contest with a 2-1 win with strikes by Rhys Oates and William Donegoni, Ellis Jolly scoring for the Whites.
However, Blackpool Rangers Blues share fourth spot with the Whites after taking maximum points against luckless St Annes.
Ethan Cooper and Joseph Davis claimed hat-tricks in the 9-2 A win, Declan Shaw, Christy Donnelly and Samuel Hinds-Martin their other marksmen. Chris Pipe bagged both the replies.
In the B game, Liam Hughes (2), James Barkhuizen, Kieran Burke, Cory Gardner, Luke Pinder, Joe Powell and Ben Webster all on target in the 8-0 win.
Spirit Of Youth failed to collect any points at home to Layton Juniors. Jamayne Rodaway, Zak Gayton and Dominic Lavelle scored in Layton’s 3-1 A victory, Dean Widdowson notching Spirit’s goal. Layton’s won the B game 2-0, Andrew Kinsella bagging both.
In Coulton Cup quarter-final replays, B division Foxhall pulled off a superb 5-1 aggregate win over Fleetwood Town from the A division.
In a 3-0 A game, Callan Rae (2) and Joshua Cason netted for Foxhall, who edged the B game 2-1 with strikes by Cameron Perrins and Kieran Wilson, Liam Hargreaves on target for Town.
A division high-flyers Lytham Juniors beat B leaders Wyre Juniors 6-1. The A game finished 1-1, Matthew Tucker netting Wyre’s goal and Alex Thomas also on target. Lytham B proved too strong as a Sam Warburton hat-trick and goals by Richard Stringer and Sullivan Bishop sealed a 5-0 win.
Blackpool Under-11 2 Blackburn 5
A GAP of ten weeks since their last competitive fixture showed when Blackpool belatedly opened their Lancashire Primary Schools League campaign.
Brightest spot for Blackpool was a penalty save in the first minute by Lee Squires of Waterloo. The visitors dominated in midfield and it was no surprise when they took a 14th-minute lead.
They scored again before Steve Higgins (St John Vianney) stabbed home a cross from schoolmate Joe Brown in the 22nd minute.
Two visitors’ goals in as many minutes after half-time sealed the match and Blackburn extended their lead before Higgins headed in Brown’s fine cross.
n Christian Hill (St Annes College) scored a hat-trick for Fylde in their 4-2 win over Blackburn.
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