Foxhall stand tall but FC bow out with heads high

FC Rangers Under-16s played their last ever game as a Youth League club at Fishers Field and were unfortunate to come up against a Foxhall side with plenty still to play for this season. Besides three more league games which could yield a top-three finish, Foxhall are also looking forward to a Hogan Cup semi-final against league leaders Clifton Rangers.

After a difficult season, there was little at stake for Rangers on Sunday but manager Steve Jackson was delighted by their commitment to the cause. A lot of the players on both sides are Palatine classmates, spicing up the occasion, though it was played in a first-class spirit. Although keeper Terry Conlon made outstanding saves throughout, Rangers defended solidly and did a good job of restricting their hosts to long-range shots for long spells.

Conlon has had a fine season in goal, having started it as an outfield player. Rangers boss Jackson admitted to adopting a defensive approach and it took the home side 15 minutes to break them down. Foxhall manager Brian Wealthall was impressed by FC’s resilence and admitted that both first-half goals were scrappy strikes from set plays as the ball was fired long into the box.

Defender Adam Potter headed home the first and Craig Robinson doubled the lead with a tap-in. But FC’s spirit was not broken and they got back into the game thanks to lone striker Danny Smith’s goal. It followed good work down the left by Jordan Brailsford, who caused plenty of problems after advancing from full-back into a more attacking role. In fact, his effort may have found the net but Smith applied a decisive touch. They went close again when Stephen Jackson went through but his toe-poke went wide.

At 2-1, Foxhall admitted they were a little worried and boss Wealthall felt changes were in order. However, the game remained in the melting point until two Foxhall strikes in the final five minutes sealed their victory. Ryan Aderley had been substituted but promised boss Wealthall a goal if he returned to the fray for the closing stages. And Aderley was as good as his work, reintroduced as a striker after playing right-back earlier he soon showed his finishing skills to restore his side’s two-goal cushion.

The margin became three when defender David Jakes crowned a man of the match display with the final goal. Rangers manager Jackson thought the scoreline was harsh on his side and felt they had signed off on a highly creditable note. “It could have been a flat performance in the final game but it was anything but,” he said. “All 16 played well and we battled in every area.” He thought the combination of Brailsford and Luke Bassett down the left was particularly effective.

Jackson faces a new challenge in charge of the club’s under-8s next season, though he feels it is unlikely that his under-16s will go on to form an open age team. “This was our last game together but they have been a great set of lads.” And he spared a thought for absent friends: dynamic midfielder Jordan Howe had broken an ankle in the previous match and everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.” Foxhall boss Wealthall’s season is far from over and he felt it was mission accomplished against Rangers. “We need to keep the momentum going for the cup semi and hopefully that will see us through the remaining league games, starting with YMCA on Sunday.”

INKMASTER POULTON & DISTRICT PRIMARY

THORNTON Cleveleys and Lytham Juniors will meet in the under-10 Coulton Cup final. After goals by James Dowling and Joshua Cason gave Foxhall A a 2-0 lead in the semi-final, Thornton squared the tie and won the penalty shoot-out 2-0.
Lytham Juniors overcame FC Rangers 3-2 on aggregate. The Plate Competition final will be contested between YMCA and Clifton Rangers.

YMCA beat Blackpool Rangers Blues 3-0 in the A semi-final through Josh Clayton, Jordan Milligan and Kit Gregory but the Blues’ hopes were boosted with an early goal in the B game by Christy Donnelly. However, YMCA responded to run out 5-1 winners through Chris Clinch (2), Mattie Jones, Kai Leyland and Lewis. Clifton Rangers joined them in the final as 7-3 aggregate winners over Layton Juniors.

The finals of the under-nine and under-10 Coulton Cup and Plate Competitions will be at Thornton Cleveleys on May 3.
In the under-nine Coulton final, Foxhall will meet FC Rangers after Foxhall beat South Shore 10-4 on aggregate, while Rangers edged an overall 2-1 victory over Thornton.

The under-nine Plate final is between Fleetwood Town and Kirkham. A last-minute goal sent Town through 2-1 against YMCA, while Kirk-ham won 5-1 on aggregate against Blackpool Rangers.

The sole league game was in division B, where Warton Typhoons and Spirit of Youth shared the points with a win apiece. Goals by George Graham, Jamie Britt and Matthew Maynard clinched the A game for Warton 3-0, but the tables were turned in the B game as Spirit triumphed by the same score through Lewis Gee (2) and Samuel Stemp.

Blackpool U-10 9 Bury 0
Blackpool did the double by securing the league title and stretching their unbeaten season to 15 games.
They got the perfect start through Emma Hickson before Rebecca Shaw scored twice. Hickson went on to complete a first half hat-trick, making it 5-0 at the break.
Stand-in keeper Megan Young was untroubled and Kathryn Lomas, Megan Whiteley and Jordan Dixon all went close before Georgia Lambe’s great pass put Caitlin Green through for number six.
Shaw’s hat-trick goal was followed by one for player of the match Lambe, who unselfishly set up a goal for Dixon. Charlie Henderson was solid at the back for Blackpool, who aim to complete an unbeaten season when they face Manchester United.

YMCA (Under-13) 6 Rossendale Mavericks 1
YMCA kept their championship hopes very much alive with this excellent performance.
YMCA started strongly and were unlucky to fall behind in the eighth minute. They continued to create chances and went ahead with two goals in two minutes from Lauren Gallagher and Evie Manning.
YMCA continued to dominate and further strikes from Gallagher, Manning, Stephanie Vickers and Sasha Wozniak sealed victory.

Manchester City 4 Blackpool (U-16) 2
Pool conceeded two early goals from corners in this game of two halves.
They were unable to break down a strong City defence in the first half and trailed 4-0 at half-time.
Blackpool looke more dangerous in the second half, when Chelsea Walker and Natasha Illingworth were denied by the keeper. Midfielders Tamara Fenton and Leah Hinchliffe were outstanding and Sally Parker scored with a superb long-range shot. With keeper Charlotte McDonald and defenders Jade Thornhill and Phillipa Robinson looking solid, captain Leah Hinchliffe further reduced the deficit with a 30-yard free-kick. City twice cleared off their goal-line as Rachel Warren and Anna Machowiecka also impressed for Blackpool.

Mossley Hill 4 Blackpool FC 1
Blackpool made a bright start and went ahead with an Emma Perrit goal. However, Mossley Hill were level 18 minutes later and went on to lead 2-1 at half-time.
Blackpool had chances in the second half but conceded twice more from corners, killing off their title challenge.

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