SUNDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2006
THE CENTRAL LANCASHIRE JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Under 13’s B DIVISION
FULWOOD JUNIORS VERSUS GREGSON LANE JUNIORS
After last week’s heavy defeat against the league leaders, Fulwood Juniors provided a good opportunity to put the season back on course. Fulwood had given a spirited display in The Lane’s first win of the season before going down 12-3, victims of some excellent finishingfrom Ashley Richardson, Jack James and Tom Walker.
On a bright Sunday morning, the kick-off was delayed, so that both sides could show their respects to those who have fallen in service to their country. The minutes silence was impeccably observed.
The team took the field minus Ben Riley, Dale Handley who was injured and Aaron Catterall who was unavailable. Jacob Walsh made a welcome return to the side, after missing the Myerscough game through injury. Jacob took to the field wearing gloves, but when I asked him if it was because of the cold, he said no, he was wearing them to protect his hands in order to continue to help his mum with the washing up. Laurence said he preferred marigolds, especially when he was struggling with those stubborn stains, whilst the Richardson twins said they said they washed up in bare hands but made sure they used a moisturiser afterwards. John Whittle agreed and recommended Oil of Ulay which caused uproar with Jack James and Lewis Nelson who much preferred an aloe vera moisturiser to protect their hands after washing up. Footballers, eh, always full of surprises.
Gregson Lane went straight on to the attack and immediately good work from Tom Emery and Tom Walker, released Jack James who fired a shot wide. Gregson Lane Juniors were well on top in the early minutes. A corner from Ashley Richardson fell to Jacob Walsh who headed goalwards, the clearance fell to Tom Emery whose fierce drive was stopped on the line.
In the fourth minute Tom Emery released Jason Dashti who raced in on goal, but his shot was turned on to the post and behind from a corner. From the corner kick taken by Ashley Richardson, The Lane took the lead when Tom Walker turned smartly in the box to fire home with his left foot. The lead was totally deserved, the football was excellent and the team looked stronger than their opponents.
SHIRT SPONSOR………. MR CHIPS
In the tenth minute Gregson Lane Juniors produced their best passing move of the season, Laurence Kellett to Lewis Nelson, Lewis to James Richardson, James on to Jason Dashti, Jason back to Lewis, Lewis in to Tom Walker, back to Jason Dashti, Moore to Hurst, there’s people on the pitch, they think its all over (sorry got carried away there), Jason Dashti to Tom Emery, who fired over.
Soon after Ashley Richardson produced some great wing play, which set Tom Walker away, whose pass to Jack James resulted in a good save from the Fulwood keeper.
John Whittle then replaced Laurence Kellet after twenty minutes, just in time to see Ashley Richardson on a couple of occasions, ghost past defenders and was unlucky to see his final pass fail to find a black shirt.
Up until this point Fulwood Juniors had offered little in attack, but on twenty-two minutes Josh Hodkinson, had to stand tall and saved well on the edge of his box. The Gregson Lane defences were determined to keep a clean sheet. Jacob Walsh was commanding in the middle and Ryan Jenkinson alongside him, was winning tackles and spraying passes into the mid field.
The value of Josh’s save was shown in the following minute when Gregson Lane doubled their lead. With nothing on Ashley Richardson looked up and picked his spot, a good thirty yards from the goal line and fired in wide of the Fulwood keeper for a brilliant goal.
Laurence Kellett then returned to the game, replacing Jack James. The Lane’s pressure was relentless and the half was ended when the keeper made a brave, superb one handed save at Jason’s Dashti’s feet.
Half time 2-0.
The half-time team talk from Sven-Goran Hodkinson, was in the main to congratulate the side on an excellent performance in the first half. His opposite number in the Fulwood side, would surely have asked his players to keep things tight at the beginning of the second half. However within five minutes of the restart Gregson Lane Juniors, had put the game way beyond the reach of the home team. Firstly Ashley released Tom Walker to skip into the box and fire past the keeper, then John Whittle provided an excellent through ball for Jason Dashti to do the same. Within a minute yet another Ashley Richardson corner produced a goal, this time it was his brother James Richardson who collected the cross and fired in from wide on the right to make the score 5-0.
SHIRT SPONSOR………. MR CHIPS
Unbelievably The Lane, as if struck by some hideous curse or victims of some fiendish sleeping beauty syndrome, then went to sleep for the next ten minutes. Fulwood Juniors pulled one back through Worthington. (Even though, he looked a yard off-side). The away teams were calling on Josh time and time again, to keep the lead they had established.
Left..Josh Hodkinson
The home side were well on top at this stage, but gradually Jacob, Ryan, James, and Laurence re-established their command of their own half. In front of them Lewis Nelson was enjoying his best game of the season typically harassing, tackling and chasing anything that moved in a red shirt.
On fifty-two minutes Tom Emery went on a brilliant run on the left forcing an excellent save from the keeper. Then a minute later his free kick fell to Ashley Richardson who set up Tom Walker for yet another hat trick, and a 6-1 lead.
Left: Hat trick hero Thomas Walker
The Lane were back on top, Ashley hit a post, then saw another shot saved well by the keeper. Jason and Jack were also unlucky not to have increased the lead, but it was left to Ashley ‘man of the match’ Richardson to finish the scoring when he ran through to grab his second goal.
Full-Time 7-1.
SHIRT SPONSOR………. MR CHIPS
Apart from the ten minute period when they fell asleep in the second half, this was an excellent performance filled with excellent passing, excellent movement, and some excellent finishing. A stream of wonderful dead ball crosses from Ashley, could have, and should have, provided more goals. This was a real pleasure to watch and should give the team confidence as they go in to today’s game.
N.B. I find Nivea cream the most effective moisturiser, and it leaves my nails looking bright and healthy too.
Gregson Lane Juniors line-up versus Fulwood Juniors.
1. Joshua Hodkinson, 2. James Richardson, 3. Laurence Kellett, 4. Jacob Walsh,5. Ryan Jenkinson, captain, 6. Thomas Emery, 7. Jack James, 8. Lewis Nelson, 9. Ashley Richardson, 10. Thomas Walker, 11. Jason Dashti.
Substitute. 12. John Whittle.
Manager’s Man of the match award. Ashley Richardson.
Parent’s Man of the match award. Thomas Walker.