Weather has had an impact on the season.  Only 6 league games played so far; we have won four, drawn one and lost one.

Training sessions continue on Thursday evenings at the 3G pitch in Hadfield (6 - 7pm).
 

Next game Sunday 7th March 2010.  Away at Signal. 

Sunday 28th Feb 2010 (Away against Cheadle & Gatley "A").  Won 3 -1 (Jack Page, Jack Booth & Charlie Bown)

A tough game against a battling, competitve side.  It was a close first half.  We took the lead after a through ball from Tom Burns set Jack Page one on one against the keeper.  He was able to keep his head and slot the ball in the bottom corner.  Cheadle immediately rallyed and struck back.  Just before the break Jack Booth played a nice bounce pass with Danny Riddle and put the ball in the near corner.  2 -1 after 40 mins.

The next half flowed both ways.  We were able to take a short corner and bypassed the lone defender.  Tom Burns drilled the ball across the area and Charlie Bown took a nice first touch before striking the ball home.

Whilst we looked good at times, there were still spells in the game where we let ourselves down and there is certainly room for improvement.


Sunday 21st Feb 2010 (No game)


Sunday 14th Feb 2010.  Droylsden Jr (Home).  Won 2-0 (Tom Burns & Mark Fletcher)

Another competitive game.  The first half was a close fought affair with Hollingworth managing to take a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to a great through ball from Jack Page that Johnny & Tom were able to scramble home.

The second half saw chances at either end with both teams hitting the woodwork.  With 5 minutes to spare Mark Fletcher was the first to respond to a ball that Droylsden failed to clear striking his effort into the roof of the net.

I was pleased we were able to clean sheet, but disappointed with some of the lads concentration, which seemed more about verbal confrontations than actual football.  A situation that will be resolved. 
 

Sunday 7th Feb 2010.  Cheadle Heath Nomads (Away) 4th Rd SMJFL Cup.  Lost 4 - 3 (Nick Regan, Tom Burns & Johnny Higgins)

I was unable to attend this game so cannot provide a detailed report.  The feedback I have received tells me it was a competitive game with both sides battling hard for the victory.  Congratulations to Cheadle.

My thanks go to Jeff Burns for running the team in my absence.
 

Sunday 31st January 2010 (Away against Reddish North End)

Postponed due to frozen pitch/snow.
 

Sunday 24th January 2010 (3rd Rd SMJFL Cup v Stockport Vikings)
Won 6 - 2 Extra Time (Tom Burns 2, Nick Regan 2, Johnny Higgins 1, Charlie Bown 1)

A really tough game against strong opposition on a heavy pitch.  Despite both teams not having played a competitive game of football for several weeks, the intensity of the match was impressive.  A battling performance in the first half saw us take a 2-1 lead with goals from Charie Bown and Tom Burnes.  Stockport fought hard in the second half and equalised leaving the score 2-2 after 80 minutes. 

Everybody had to dig deep for the 20 minutes of extra time.  In a 5 minute spell we were able to take the lead with goals from Nick Regan, Johnny Higgins and a second from Tom Burnes.  Nick Regan took his second in the final 5 minutes realising a 6-2 victory.

A word of thanks to Danny Riddle for agreeing to take on the keeper's jersey at short notice.
 

Sunday 17th January 2010 (3rd Rd SMJFL Cup v Stockport Vikings)

Postponed due to snow.


Sunday 10th January 2010 (3rd Rd SMJFL Cup v Stockport Vikings)

Postponed due to snow.
 

Sunday 20th December 2009 (Away against Spurley Hey)

Postponed due to frozen pitch.
 

Sunday 13th December 2009 (2nd Rd SMJFL Cup v Hazel Grove)
Won 4 -1 (Johnny Higgins, Mike Pancaro, Jack Page & Nick Regan)

A tight first half saw few chances for both teams with the score 0 - 0 at the break.  The second half was a complete contrast with 5 goals scored.

Mike Pancaro scored the first rising to head the ball into the net from a corner.  A short time later we were awarded a penalty, which Johnny struck against the bar.  Hazel Grove continued to press and after a defensive lapse one of their lads collected the ball just outstide the area and cleverly rode tackles before placing the ball in the corner of the net.

The game was now in the balance.  Jack Page regained our one goal advantage after sticking the ball in the net with his left (that is correct!) foot.  Nick Regan then latched on to a great through ball from Johnny and drove it into the far corner (3 - 1).  With 15 minutes to go, Johhny closed down their defence and stole the ball.  Breaking through he successfully placed the ball past their keeper making it 4 - 1. 

A good all round performance by the lads against First Division opposition.

Sunday 6th December 2009 (2nd Rd SMJFL Cup v Hazel Grove)

Postponed due to water logged pitch.
 

Sunday 29th November 2009 (2nd Rd SMJFL Cup v Hazel Grove)

Postponed due to water logged pitch.

Sunday 22nd November 2009 (2nd Rd M/c Cup v Fletcher Moss Rangers)
Lost 2 - 1 (Jack Booth)

We were always going to struggle against such a technically very good team.  Fletcher Moss dominated the first half, although their attempts on goal were restricted to only a handful.  A defensive mistake allowed a relatively simple goal and we went in at half-time 1-0 down.  The second half followed the same pattern as the first with Hollingworth working really hard to try and recover the ball from the opposition.  Mid way through, Fletcher Moss' central midfield player broke through and scored an excellent goal.  Not dispirited, the lads picked themselves up and were determined to go down fighting. With 10 minutes to go a great ball from Nick Regan saw Jack Booth steal in behind the defence and calmly stick the ball in the botttom corner.  It was game on for the last 5 minutes, but we were unable to equalise.  Fletcher Moss were easily the better team, but once again, the attitude of the lads could not be faulted and I'm sure the opposition were expecting a much easier game.

Sunday 15th November 2009 (Home against Cheadle & Gatley)
Won 2 - 0 (Mike Pancaro & Johnny Higgins)

I was unable to attend this match due to illness so cannot provide a match report.  My thanks go to Jeff Burns for running the team and also to Cheadle & Gatley for agreeing to reverse the fixture at short notice.