Match of the week: FC Rangers U-15s 8 Wyre Juniors U15s
A prize draw leads to a fine win for FC
RYAN Bradley was a hat-trick hero for FC Rangers in this impressive victory over their Preesall visitors, and the manager can claim a share of the credit ... by winning a raffle.
It wasn’t only Geoff Barnsley’s words of wisdom that inspired Bradley’s striking feat, but also the Manchester United pennant he had won the previous evening.
Geoff explained: “We’d had a fundraising social event for the club and I won the pennant in the raffle.
“I’m a Wolves supporter but Ryan is big United fan, so I said I’d give him the pennant if he scored a hat-trick.”
But this was no one-man show, rather a fine all-round display by an unbeaten FC under-15s side who are top of the Domino Division after a splendid start.
Lytham are the only side to have denied them maximum points so far, and FC are also through to the second round of the Lancashire Cup thanks to victory over Bolton County.
Wyre Juniors manager Gary Aldcroft wanted to make no excuses, though his side were up against it. An injury confined influential skipper James Fairhurst to the bench, though he was later forced to play in goal after Reece Baker took a knock. However, Baker was later fit to return ... playing up front after an injury to Jaime Gill left Wyre short of outfield players.
It was 4-0 at half-time after FC followed two early goals with a third midway through the half and a fourth shortly before the break.
The second half proved almost a carbon copy – with two more FC goals soon after the restart, with one in the middle and the final goal at the end of the half.
The key difference in the second half was that Wyre were rewarded for their battling spirit with a goal of their own before FC netted for the final time .
But Wyre had been up against it from the off as FC made a flying start, leading 2-0 within five minutes.
It was the outstanding Nathan Fairnie who got their show on the road, forcing the ball home from close range from Liam Beaumont’s cross.
Before Wyre had chance to recover from this early setback they found themselves two down. Fairnie was the provider this time, laying on the final pass for Bradley to fire home his first from the edge of the box.
The third by Cory Sellers was a spectacular solo strike.
From a corner taken by Sellers, the ball found its way back to him and he swerved around a defender before curling in an excellent 25-yarder.
Fairnie completed a first-class half for himself and his team by drilling in a shot from similar range to Sellers’ strike.
Wyre did have their moments in the first half, when Gill, Callum Aldcroft and Pat Finlay linked up well, but they lacked a cutting edge.
There was no chance of FC easing off at half-time as they brought on all their substitutes, and the introduction of fresh and hungry players resulted in two more quick goals.
After half-time it was the Bradley show for FC and within minutes he had scored his second from close range.
And his hat-trick goal, a far-post header from Danny Howarth’s cross, was not far behind.
Liam Beaumont deserved a goal and midway through the second half he got one, Fairnie again supplying the all-important through ball.
Striker John Entwistle, who had gone closest for Wyre in the first half with a shot over the top, was rewarded for his hard-working display when he volleyed home his side’s goal from a free-kick by Danny Riding.
But the final say was FC’s as Adam Roughsedge celebrated his first goal for the club with five minutes remaining.
Man of the match Fairnie and Mark Goodman were a hugely effective central midfield combination for FC but manager Barnsley was full of praise for all his players.
He added: “We have a bigger squad now and the players are all improving individually. It’s going to be a tough division but we’re confident we can continue our good start.”
Wyre boss Aldcroft added: “FC are a quality team and we really need to be at full-strength and in form to give them a game. Unfortunately we were neither on Sunday.”
THE MEN OF THE MATCH
NATHAN FAIRNIE (FC Rangers)
The central midfielder was Rangers’ creative linchpin, scoring twice himself and unselfishly setting up goals for team-mates.
He didn’t skimp on his defensive duties either, getting in many timely tackles to break up attacks when Wyre threatened.
JOHN ENTWISTLE (Wyre)
The striker never stopped working in adversity and always had words of encouragement for his team-mates.
He took his goal well – a fitting reward for a committed performance for his team.
THE MANAGERS’ MATCH VERDICT
GEOFF BARNSLEY (FC Rangers)
WE have preached to the players the importance of starting games well and they followed that instruction to the letter with two early goals.
Wyre are a strong team but I felt we were always on top.
Another thing we want the players to do is shoot from long-range, because a lot of them are capable of scoring from outside the area, and they did just that on Sunday.
GARY ALDCROFT and DAVE ENTWISTLE (assistant)
We were up against it but we don’t want to make this sound like a sob story.
FC always give us a hard game and they were too quick and strong on the day. The only thing we won was the toss.
Although there were a few injuries it was not an aggressive game and was played in an excellent spirit.
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