Marple Athletic 2 - 4 Hollingworth Juniors 9th September
A sunny morning in the beautiful Cheshire countryside was the setting for the 1st game of the season. Hollingworth started with a 4-4-2 formation with new signing from Stalybridge Celtic Liam Percy in goal. A scrappy start to the game saw ½ chances for both sides. It was the home side who drew 1st blood when a clearance fell at the marple forwards feet who scored with ease. The lead didn’t last long however as Elliot Draper lashed the ball home from the edge of the area after good work from Alex Ball and Ryan Murray. New manager John Baines had to make changes at half-time as keeper Percy and Sam Wellings were injured. Bradley Rawlinson went between the posts and was soon beaten when a shot he had covered was deflected to completely wrong foot him. Heads didn’t go down and Ryan Murray levelled with a left foot drive into the corner. It was now one way traffic and Elliot Draper with his 2nd goal put us in front for the first time, curling a lovely shot past the helpless keeper. Two minutes later it was four when Ryan Murray scored the goal of the game, chipping the keeper from 25 yards after a great ball from Frank Donald. Hollingworth then ran the clock down to secure a good win. Manager Baines said “we were good value for the win; most of the chances fell to us” Man of the match was Ryan Murray
Chapel
town 1 - 1 Hollingworth Juniors 12th September
Quite
how Hollingworth didn’t win this game will be a season long mystery!
Having dominated chapel and missing three 1on1s with the keeper the u11s
found themselves a goal behind after a scramble in the box. Just before
half-time Simon Hallam thought he’d put us level but his shot went
the wrong side of the post. The 2nd half was again one way traffic with
Frank Donald, Ryan Murray and Max White all having efforts cleared off
the line. Still Hollingworth piled forward and Frank Donald scored but
the goal was ruled out after the linesman flagged (like a demented train
guard!!) for offside. Wrong decision according to the man walking his
dog! With ten minutes left Ryan Murray went on a maisey run beating 3
defenders before squaring for Frank Donald to fire home. Frank had a chance
to win the game but his shot was superbly saved by the home keeper. Josh
Baines was man of the match. Bradley
Rawlinson was player of the week
Hollingworth
Juniors 0 - 2 Richmond Rovers 16th September
The
pre-season favourites were the visitors to longdendale. The U11 boosted
by the return of Daniel Ogden were unlucky not to score in the first minute
when a slick move ended in a defender nearly scoring an own goal. Richmond
then had a chance brilliantly cleared off the line by Alvar Paris. A needless
free kick was given away just outside the area, and from it Richmond took
the lead. Hollingworth went on the attack again with Sam Wellings and
Ryan Murray linking well down the right, the ball played in for Frank
Donald who hit a first time shot into the side netting. The second half
was much the same with chances at both ends. It was Richmond who scored
the all important 2nd goal when a corner from the left went through a
crowd of defenders for a tap-in from three yards. The u11s still ploughed
forward not getting any reward for matching a very good side. Daniel Ogden
was man of the match. Liam Percy was manager’s man of the match.
Woodley
Albion 1 - 4 Hollingworth Juniors 23rd September
The under 11s recorded an impressive victory against previously unbeaten
Woodley. It was the home side who struck first; the Hollingworth defence
stood and expected the referee to blow for an obvious handball.He didn’t
give it so we’re 1-0 down after a good finish from the sticker.
The good thing was nobody on the Hollingworth side had a go at the young
referee and we just got on with it. The equaliser came after good work
by Elliot Draper who’s shot was parried by the keeper, Bradley Rawlinson
hit the ball back goal wards and Max White rammed home.(deadly from a
yard!) With just seconds remaining till the break Max headed to Bradley
who struck a wonderful goal from 20yards lobbing the keeper. The second
half started very scrappy but the Hollingworth midfield took hold of the
game. Alex Ball went on a rampaging run until he was brought down for
a stonewall penalty. Up stepped Elliot Draper to score in the corner.
It was now all Hollingworth and max rounded off the scoring firing through
a crowded goalmouth. Manager Baines said he was pleased with the quality
of football we produced but a couple more goals would have been nice.
Man of the match was Sam Wellings . Player of the week was Max White.
Hollingworth Juniors 9 v 0 Chinley
Juniors 30th September
First of all credit to Chinley for turning up week in
week out with only 10 players. This cannot be right tho’ the league
need to sort this out. But you can only beat what’s put in front
of you and Hollingworth did just that. The writing was on the wall as
early as the fifth minute when Simon Hallam fired home from 6 yards. Ten
minutes later and Simon had the match ball with 2 clinical strikes for
his hat-trick. Alex ball then scored after good work from josh Baines.
At half-time the referee asked us to play with 10 men to even things up.
(Not every team will oblige but we at Hollingworth pride ourselves on
sportsmanship and fair play.) Elliot Draper soon scored the fifth with
a sweetly struck shot. The game was now being played in the Chinley penalty
area, it was that congested in the box that if Ken Livingstone was mayor
of Hollingworth he would have charged for entering it! Frank Donald and
Max White added to the score. Elliot again scored with a crisp left foot
shot after Connor Clarke had set him up. The under 11s saved the best
goal till last with a great team goal that involved no less than six players.
It ended with Ryan Murray volleying in from 12 yards. Special mention
to the Chinley keeper who made 5 fantastic saves to keep the score down.
Simon Hallam was man of the match. Elliot Draper was player of the week.
A stunning strike midway through the second half from Bradley Rawlinson gave Hollingworth the local bragging rights in this pulsating Longdendale derby. The striker gave the keeper no chance with a shot into the top corner after great build up work from Sam Welling and Ryan Murray. Bradley also got the ball rolling with a good finish after turning the defender inside out! Alvar Paris playing a delightful ball to the striker’s feet. Hattersley then had a spell of pressure that resulted in an equalizer for the home team. Stand in manager Pete Donald was not happy at half-time as the boys switched off for the goal. Hollingworth then started to play some lovely football and were dictating the game but chances went begging from Simon Hallam and Alex Ball. Just when we all thought we would never score again that boy Rawlinson came up with the goods. So the u11s headed back down mottram moor with the points! Stand in manager Donald said “I thought we deserved the win because we created the better chances and played the better football”. “I can now hand the reins over to John Baines with a 100% record”. If the under 13s keep on pinching our stuff we will have to start copyrighting! Unless we’ve pinched it first! Man of the match Danny Ogden. Player of the week Bradley Rawlinson.
Hollingworth Juniors 6 Hillgate Boys 2 14th October
Hillgate boys were no match for inform Hollingworth juniors, whose power and pace were there for all to see. A superb first goal got the u11s on there way. Elliot Draper fed Bradley Rawlinson whose delightful ball let in Alex Ball to smash past the advancing keeper. Five minutes later and captain Josh Baines scored his first goal in over 3 years, hitting a great goal from the edge of the box.(hope its not another 3 years before the next one Josh!!)His mum was gutted she missed it because she was talking! (Surprise, surprise!)The Hillgate goal was being bombarded with shots and it was no surprise when Elliot Draper helped himself to the third.Two minutes into the second half and Elliot scored again from an almost impossible angle after leaving 3 defenders in his wake!A great move involving Danny Ogden and Connor Clarke set Frank Donald up to rifle home for the fifth goal.With just five minutes remaining Hillgate got a dubious penalty that Liam Percy in goal couldn’t keep out. The u11s then had a Silvestre moment, standing and watching as the forward ran on to score.Hollingworth were not to be out done and Max White tapped home the final goal for a convincing win.Connor Clarke was man of the matchAlex Ball was player of the week Manager John Baines said “he was delighted with the win but more importantly the performance as that was the best we’ve played this season” He said he was so happy that he will buy the 1st round at the monthly meeting on Thursday!
Henbury & Broken Cross 0 Hollingworth Juniors 6 21st October
A lovely autumn morning in the Cheshire countryside (we didn’t know where we were playing either until we were told Henbury was in Macclesfield!!!) was the setting for the latest game for the u11s. A 45 mile round trip was worth while as we came back with a thumping 6-0 win. The u11s were superb from back to front to continue there quest for promotion. Bradley Rawlinson got us on our way with a tap in after Max White set him up.Rawlinson then got the second from the spot when he was brought down for a penalty hitting high into the net to give the goalie no chance. Just after half-time Ryan Murray played a 1-2 with frank Donald then beat 3 defenders to score in the corner to end the game as a contest. Murray was then brought down for a second penalty which keeper Percy scored with ease. (Manager Baines had promised him a spot kick this season if the game was finished!) This was that game! It was now one way traffic and the Henbury keeper was working overtime! (Hope he was on double time!) Goal number five came as Alvar Paris played an exquisite pass to Bradley Rawlinson whose power took him past the defender to rifle a shot against the bar but Alex Ball was following up to tap home from a yard! With just five minutes remaining Max White headed the sixth from a corner to finish matters off. Manager Baines said “He was pleased with the six goals but was made up for the clean sheet”. He added the defenders put in a good shift today. The Henbury management team said that Hollingworth were the best team they’ve played this season and were solid all over the park. Man of the match was Sam Wellings. Player of the week was Ryan Murray.
Reddish North End 2 Hollingworth Juniors 4 11th November
After a two week break (in which manager Baines signed 3 new players.) the under 11s looked a little rusty for the first ten minutes. A scrappy opening on Reddish’s huge pitch saw Frank Donald have the only chance which the keeper saved comfortably. The under 11s then had a spell of sustained pressure and played some good football which resulted in 2 goals. The first from Simon Hallam and the second from Max White both tap ins after the keeper had saved from Danny Ogden and Bradley Rawlinson. The second half started the same way as the first scrappy in midfield and not much football played by either side. Reddish then scored with there first shot of the game after the Hollingworth defence failed to clear a throw-in. Hollingworth then had another ten minute spell of pressure and scored two more goals. Another tap in from Max White after some nice play from Elliot Draper. Max then ran through unopposed after a stunning ball from captain Josh Baines that split the defence to score in the corner for a well deserved hat-trick. Elliot Draper then had a penalty brilliantly saved by the keeper tipping his effort onto the bar. Reddish then scored again in the third minute of injury time to make the score a little more respectable. Man of the match was Lucas Worsley. Player of the week was Josh Baines.
Hollingworth Juniors 2 Whaley bridge Juniors 3 18th November
The u11s were brought back down to earth after losing a game they ought to have won. They found themselves 3-0 down after only 15 minutes with some inept defending. All 3 goals could and should have been avoided. But credit to Whaley Bridge who took there chances. Frank Donald, Elliot Draper and Josh Jackson all had chances that went begging. With five minutes remaining in the first half Alex Ball went on a mazy run and was crudely brought down. Elliot Draper stepped up and scored with a superb shot high into the roof of the net to give the keeper no chance. In the second half Hollingworth were ploughing forward to try to get back in the game but came up against a resolute defence. We were back in the game when Frank Donald got a penalty after he was pulled back. Bradley Rawlinson saw his spot-kick saved but was on hand to score the rebound. It was now end to end with chances being missed by both sides. With seconds remaining Bradley Rawlinson crossed into a crowded goalmouth and Liam Percy was an inch away from equalising. And that was that! If the u15s lose to teams that they should really beat (and they’ve won the league 3 years on the run!) then there is hope for the u11s! They will be our inspiration!Conner Clarke was man of the match. Josh Hackson was player of the week.