Hollingworth Juniors 0 v 3 Great Moor County
What a beautiful sunny September morning, it felt like we should have been putting stumps in rather than putting nets up! Pre-season had not gone too well with the U13's, both arranged friendlies being cancelled - one because of bad weather and one for organising one against a bad club! The management thought that this may have a preverse effect and that the lads would come out like caged lions! They were certainly going to get a test against the team that had won the league title for the previous two years. The game started rather slowly with neither team showing too much attacking flair and Hollingworth were more than holdig their own against a very strong team.The home team's keeper was called into action a couple of times mid-way through the first half but it was the home side that came closest the first. Some good work down the left by Scott Williamson, who was having a fine game, resulted in him hitting the inside of the post with a shot from 15 yards. The away team responded with a terrific strike of their own that hit the cross-bar. H.T 0 - 0. Great Moor started the second half well and Hollingworth were finding it difficult to get possesion. The breakthrough came five minutes into the second half when Great Moor scored, the home defence were looking for an offside decision, nevertheless the goal stood 0 - 1. Hollingworth started to look a little ragged at this stage and the away side capitilised. Once again Hollingworth lost possesssion on the half-way line and some fine passing from Great Moor resulted in the second goal. A few of the Hollingworth players were feeling a little sorry for themselves at this stage but they dug in and created a couple of chances of their own. However, some sloppy Hollingworth defending in failing to clear the ball resulted in another goal making it 0 - 3. One thing that could be said about the home side's performance is that there was plenty of effort and with a little more composure and quality in the right areas it could have been a closer score-line.
23rd September Ladybridge County 0 v 2 Hollingworth Juniors
We arrived at the ground early to find the gates of the car park locked, so we waited for 30 minutes before realising that the gates were actually welded shut and we were at the wrong entrance! This didn't leave too long for the warm-up but I don’t think the lads cared! The weather was dreadful – it rained heavily for the entire first half but it certainly didn't effect the away team who showed terrific character and battled through. Both teams started well and there were early chances for both sides. Some fine work in midfield saw the ball find it’s way to Tom Burns on the edge of the area who unleashed a terrific shot to leave the Ladybridge keeper no chance 0-1. Both teams were giving it everything in the torrential rain and the midfield was becoming a real battle. Hollingworth were more than matching their much-stronger and bigger opponents and it wasn't too long before they created another goal-scoring opportunity for Tom Burns but this time the keeper made a brave save at the strikers feet. H.T 0–1. The second half started as brightly as the first, with both sides creating chances. About 10 minutes into the half the ball was played into the penalty box and met by Tom Burns who once again provided a cool finish to make it 0–2. The home team were rattled and obviously had to respond quickly and started to apply increasing pressure but the whole Hollingworth team performed superbly with some excellent defending. Tom Conway denied them with a brilliant save and then saw the rebound knocked over the bar. Another spurned chance saw a Ladybridge effort sail over the bar from close range. F.T 0–2. This was an excellent performance against a much bigger and much more physical team but the Hollingworth players showed what can be done with hard work combined with good football and determination. 9½/10. N.B A quick note to all our U13’s parents and any other parent who got absolutely drenched on Sunday morning. Hollingworth Juniors Umbrellas are now available at bargain price of £15! Order one with your manager today.
Sunday 1st October Hollingworth 4 v 1 New Mills Juniors
Hollingworth continued their fine form with a convincing win against their High Peak rivals. In particular the football they played in the first half was very easy on the eye. The first goal came from some excellent inter-play on the left from Gary Lowe, Scott Williamson and Tom Burns. The latter delivered a good cross which Jack Page met superbly to score his first goal of the season. Some more fine passing led to Page bagging his and the home side’s second goal 2 – 0. Hollingworth were now really starting to enjoy themselves and were putting the away team under constant pressure. At this stage the Millers were being made to look second best in every department and it was no surprise when Scott Williamson made the score 3-0 with a terrific strike from just inside the box. H.T 3 – 0. The play at the start of the second half was similar to how the first half ended with the Home team showing a lot of enterprise. From a corner on the right, the ball fell nicely to centre-back Tom Doyle who put the ball away like a 30 goal-a-season man to make it 4 – 0. As the game neared the end, the away team did start to create a few chances of their own. A New Mills free-kick on the right was met by one of their strikers who smashed an unstoppable header into the net, F.T 4 – 1. Jubilant Manager, Stuart McNee said “ That was a very good win for us today. In the past we’ve had some close fought games with New Mills, who themselves are a good team but today we were just different class. Now, we have to produce it consistently, because this is a very competitive division ”.
Sunday 15th October Hazel Grove Utd 1 v 3 Hollingworth Juniors
Hollingworth made it four wins on the bounce with a hard-fought win over a very dogged and physical Hazel Grove team. The away team started very well and were soon into their stride, creating a couple of early chances. The home team could not get to grips with the pace of the Hollingworth forwards, particularly Jack Page, who gave a magnificent display of pace, power and cool finishing ability to score an excellent first half Hat-trick. All three goals were very similar – he was put through on goal from some nice passes from both midfield and defence. His first goal was a one-on-one with the keeper, he shot early from 12 yards to give the keeper no chance 0 – 1. For his other two goals, on both occasions, he gave the defence ‘a cold’ as he ran through and coolly rounded the keeper to slot the ball home left-footed into an empty net. 0 – 3 . Hollingworth did not rest on their laurels and had further chances to increase their lead but the score at half-time remained 0 – 3