The 1st team stayed top of the league with a point at home to second place Thirsk after a superb game at Plantation Road.

Both sides knew how big a game this was and for the first half hour Pannal played some fantastic high tempo football, as aggressive and competitive as I’ve seen for a long time against a strong Thirsk side. Rob Taylor started in the centre midfield and was excellent forcing their captain and midfield playmaker to mark him, ably assisted by John Wharton. Tom Bartle provided excellent width down the left and fully deserved his goal after a great move which saw Alex Tate’s shot parried with Bartle hammering home the rebound. 1-0 Sports.

However, such was the quality of Thirsk that they pounced on an error in the Pannal defence and made us pay 5 minutes before half time with a well taken finish.

Thirsk produced an excellent spell for 20 minutes just after the break and took the lead when the Thirsk striker chipped Lee Mitchell to make it 2-1. Undetered, Sports stuck to the game plan and began to create chances once again. Taylor put Tom Bartle through who squared the ball for Chris Lamb to crash the ball against the bar only for the ball to rebound into the keepers arms. David Hall, Mike Kell and James Taylor (aka Matt Cardle) came on for the last 20 minutes and gave us fresh legs at an important time. Sports continued to press and with Darcy going 3 at the back and 3 up front Pannal had the majority of the play in the last 20 minutes …. all of which lead to Tom Bartle lofting a left foot strike high into the roof of the net for a well deserved equaliser with 10 minutes to go.

Mitchell produced a superb save from point blank range before great work from David Hall and Chris Lamb down the flank provided Mike Kell with the last big chance of the game from 6 yards out, only for the striker to chip the ball wide when you would have put your house on him to score.

All in all a good quality game of football, with referee Geoff Morris commenting it was the best game he’d reffed this season.

Well done lads – still top but we need to make sure that we continue to pick up points this month as teams below us have games in hand.

Line Up: Mitchell, Clarke, Joy (Kell 70), Kindell, Fennell, Wharton (J.Taylor 70), R. Taylor, Bartle, Lamb, Tate, Reece (Hall 70).

We got thumped by a really good side who passed the ball well, finished well and caused us problems all afternoon. Hopefully we’ll be able to improve our game as a result. After a great start to the season, as happens every year, we then get 2 or 3 injuries and players away leading to inconsistent line ups and all of a sudden we’re back to the drawing board.

We have a few more players back this weekend so after 3 defeats, selection will be interesting this week.

It was an interesting day out. Uppermill is located off that turning from M62 Saddleworth Moor. Its quite easy to find. All you need to do is p!ss about taking every unlikley random turning from thereon and you’re there!

Highlights included:

• James Taylor missed his train from Sheffield to Leeds
• The train he did catch then broke down
• Henry Weemes and co-pilot Sam took the scenic route to Oldham (who needs changing rooms?)
• We changed at the cricket club then drove to a business park
• We then walk half a mile alongside a stream to get to the pitch
• We then find out its a 2pm and not a 2.30pm KO (thanks to the Harrogate League for that one!)
• We’ve got a bare 11 as John Wharton and James Taylor are stuck in Oldham town centre
• No warm up, we’re 1-0 down inside 5 minutes
• Wharton and Taylor then turn up after mammoth jouneys from Sheffield and Thirsk – seriously good commitment lads.
• Henry Weemes goes off injured after 20 mins
• Fennell limps through to half time before coming off
• We score a classic own goal – back pass to keeper – hammers it at their centre forward – rebounds into the net
• Quality 50:50 slide tackle in left back position from Dan Kindell turns into a pinpoint cross for their centre forward to score
• Conclusion: not really our day!

Fashion Highlights

• New boy David Hall’s Jarvis Cocker glasses - told by 1st team skipper Alex Tate to “get rid of them!”
• Dan Kindell’s Moon Boots – “are they in fashion Dan?”

Hopefully we can re-group at training on Tuesday and get back to league action this Sat with a win.

Despite the result, there was good commitment shown by the lads to get to the game 2 hours away, get stuck in and to keep going when 6 down. We never shirked any tackles and competed physically throughout. We need to improve the quality of our football however but am confident we can.

Cheers
Greg

Line Up: Gill, Fennell (Wharton 50), Joy, Kindell, Bartle, Weemes (Taylor 20), Bainbridge, Martin, Fox, Tate,

The first team got their season back on track with a great 5-1 win away at Westbrook in the league. Sometimes we get it right and we thoroughly deserved the 3 points which takes back up to 3^rd.

On inspection of a narrow but long pitch just before kick off, Darcy decided to change the formation from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 and push Anthony Fox from right back into midfield. This left a back 3 of Dan Kindell at centre half with Andy Joy and Sam Bainbridge providing cover to the right and left respectively. Although it takes a while to adjust to a new formation, it seemed to work offensively with Sports pushing forward in numbers and dominating the early exchanges. This lead to Anthony Fox (in his farewell appearance before a big money move to London) pouncing on a bouncing ball on the edge of the area to lash home the opener with his left foot. 1-0 Sports.

Sports doubled their lead ten minutes later when Tom Bartle and Alex Tate combined to put Kell through on goal for the in-form striker to cooly lob the advancing keeper to make it 2.

Westbook then had a ten minute spell at the end of the first half and really came at us at the start of the second but the back 3 who were superb all afternoon stood firm with the excellent Simon Gill making a couple of key saves.

Kell made way for 18 year old Will Reece with 25 minutes to go and the pacey striker made it 3 with 20 mins to go when he rounded the keeper following a through ball from Danny Martin and Tate. Tate made it 4 moments later when great work from 18 year old David Hall down the flank left him with a side foot finish from 8 yards out.

Westbrook grabbed a consolation but Sports weren’t finished and Tom Bartle, who was a constant threat down the left poked one home from the edge of the 6 yard box following a run from the half way line.

Just as last week at Otley, we really played as a team and showed grit and determination to weather the storm, played some good football, could have a hatful and showed patience and a bit of nous to adapt to a new system… and make it work.

A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. We’re back in contention again. Well done lads!

Line Up: Gill, Joy, Kindell, Bainbridge, Wharton (Taylor 70), Fox, Martin, Bartle, Hall, Tate, Kell (Reece 65).

A disappointing performance and a disappointing result is probably the best way of summing up the afternoon. Sports never got going against the Premier Division side who looked distinctly average. Confidence was high going into the game but Sports struggled to impose themselves on the game and created few chances in the first half despite some good possession for spells. From the touchlines, our play looked lethargic without the zip or sharpness displayed in recent weeks. Another feature was the amount of free kicks Sports gave away in the final third allowing Pateley to pressure the Sports defence by swinging deep crosses into our box, which lead to the first goal.

The best chances fell to Dan Kindell and James Taylor with second half headers. Pateley wrapped up the game with 20 minutes left.

A day to forget - a game that was there for the taking but we didn’t do enough to win. We all have our off days and this was one.

On the positive side, we’re still top of the league, we’ve got a good mix of young players and experienced ones and we’ve done well so far.

However, we need to learn the lessons of this game to ensure that we continue to improve this season. If we can do that we’ll have a great season.

Greg

Line Up: Gill, McGeechan (Fox 70), Taylor, Kindell, Fennell, Wharton (Billington 80), Bainbridge, Weemes, Hall, Kell, Reece (Lamb 55).

Sports stayed top of the league and continued their unbeaten start to the season with a hard fought victory over Kirk Deighton on Saturday.

17 year old striker Will Reece opened the scoring racing onto a through ball to cooly slot home after 10 minutes before Kirk Deighton equalised moments later with a header, following confusion in the Sports defence. However, when Reece was put through again from fellow U’18 David Hall he showed great compusure to round the keeper before squeezing the ball home from a tight angle to put Sports 2-1 up. Despite our lead, Sports looked a yard off the pace which Darcy was keen to hammer home at half time.

Sports responded superbly in the first 25 minutes of the second half with concerted pressure which lead to Mike Kell hammering home into the top corner when one on one. This rounded off a superb performance from the veteran striker who took his tally of Sports goals to 206.

Deighton dug in and a lapse in concentration at the back saw them claw a goal back with 10 to go. However, almost immediately Sports redressed the balance when John Wharton kept his cool to square for substitute Chris Lamb who made it 4.

The one downside was the injury to Mike Carter whose hamstring went again forcing him to limp off following his second half substitute appearance. That brought Brian Charlton on who played ten minutes ahead of his long awaited ankle operation on October 1st.

We’ve made a good start but the real test of our ability will come against Premier Division Pateley Bridge in the Whitworth Cup next Saturday. Having played in many battles against them, as someone once said “I’d love it if we beat them, love it!”

4-0 up and cruising after 40 minutes, Sports ended up hanging on after a great fightback by Killinghall in the 2nd half. If the 1st half was brilliant with Sports producing some absolutely fantastic freeflowing football, the second half was an absolute shambles. However, hang on we did and thanks to a first half hatrick from Chris Lamb and a goal from fellow strike partner Mike Carter, Sports took all 3 points giving us a decent start to the season.

Line Up: Gill, Fox, Bainbridge, Kindell, Hainsworth (Capell 65), Hardy (Bartle), Wharton, Hall, Weemes, Carter (Kell 70), Lamb.

The 1st team went back to the top of the league with a 3-1 win away at Clifford. The game should have been over by half time but Sports spurned numerous chances only to then concede on the stroke of half time. Mike Kell put the visitors in front after 20 minutes with a volley on the turn from just inside the area. However, with both sides trying to play a passing game, Clifford equalised to give them hope in the second half.

Sports continued to create chances in the second half but left it until 15 mins from time when Rob Taylor thundered a left foot shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle after a one two with Tom Bartle. Chris Lamb then provided a great cross for Bartle to make it 3-1 moments later. Lee Mitchell had one save to make in the match and whilst you wouldn’t say it was a comfortable match for Sports, we thoroughly deserved to win.

The real test of our ability comes this week at home to Thirsk.

Well done lads.
Greg

Line Up:Mitchell, Clarke, Kindell, Fennell (Joy 70), Bainbridge, Bartle, Wharton, Martin (Lamb 60), Taylor, Kell, Tate (Reece 60).

1st Team Match report
Pitch Inspection: Frozen base, top layer of mud and patches of grass here and there. 4/10
Referee: Age: (I think I heard he invented football) Style: (Centre-circle specialist) Performance: 3/10
Pre-match team talk: With numbers already distributed before the player/managers arrival, Will Reece found out in the wrong way that he wasn’t starting the game. Manager’s response to that; “It was a hard decision, Lamby was on fire in training, Greg said” . . . “Ah well when you come on, you can earn your place back and get yourself a hat-trick”
First Half
I think its fair to say the first 25-30 minutes was all one way traffic (maybe in part down to a poor warm up). From the off, Boston dominated in every area of the field. They looked quick up front, skilled across midfield, and we didn’t really test the back four or the keeper to know. Early pressure payed dividend for Boston, and capitalising on a slip from Fennell, the two strikers were on their way. Lee Mitchell left with a 2 on 1 situation. 1-0. At this point you would have thought we’d get our acts in to gear, but no such luck. Continued dominance from Boston, meant that Lee Mitchell had to come to the rescue with a string of good saves. Really putting everything on the line (Including his manhood; Lee Mitchell down, still down (to be fair it did look painful)). Normal play resumed and yet further back foot, rearguard, scrambling was required from Pannal. Mitchell still hunched over carrying his testicles, sprung to life to scramble across to make sure, as a long range effort went agonisingly wide of top corner.
That is the doom and gloom over. After about 25 minutes the tide started to go out. First real chance results in a goal. A sweeping move from left to right, back to front. Sam Bainbridge to Tom Bartle, lays it off to Danny Martin, who produces a stunning ball to send David Hall on his way. Hall beats the full back swings the ball in perfectly to meet the head of the oncoming Player/Manager Tate. 1-1. A few chances here and there for both sides but nothing special to add to an already long winded match report. Only to say substitution: Al Tate off; Will Reece on. Half-time.
Things were said, we shall leave it at that.
2nd Half
Kick-off for the second half brought the desired affect. Boston never really got going again and Pannal was the dangerous force. A few early exchanges by both teams were made until Tom Bartle broke loose of his man, and into acres of space. What ensued was not pretty, but its what is known in the business as getting the job done. A wayward cross – come shot looped closer and closer to the goal heading for top corner, keeper makes a bit of a meal of it, gets a hand to it, and it sits nicely for Reece at the back post to tap in. (Assist 1 for Bartle). 1-2. Further breaks of the line continued, using the half-time tactics to perfection. Rob Taylor and Danny Martin by now had the full measure of the opposition central midfield players. At this point point we looked strong at the back, skilled across midfield, and quick up front. Everything they were in the first half hour. Another goal came as Chris Lamb played it across to Tom Bartle who had roamed further in field. A little flick split the two centre-backs and met the on running Will Reece who ran at the keeper took it around him, and slotted home for his second (Assist 2 for Bartle). 1-3. The final Pannal goal was a ball through, from someone. I only forget their name, because the finish from Will Reece was what was to be remembered. I thought Will being Will he will try to take on the defender who was matching him for pace, then try and take it around the keeper. BUT NO. Not today, this was Reece’s hat-trick after all. Bang! A rocket past the keeper. 1-4. Substitute takes home the match ball.
The last 15 minutes was a case of foot off the gas. Waves of Boston attacks, met with quick Pannal counters. The best of which Lamb, from outside the area, smashed across the cross bar. Now this performance really did involve everyone, Kez, Fennell, Kindell (An extra story for Kindell), Bainbridge, and substitute Andy Joy (who replaced Fennell) were throwing in some tough challenges and making light work of everything come second half. The only blip in a perfect second half performance came from a 2nd goal for Boston. Most thought was offside. Somehow the striker came from behind the defence to meet a knock down from his strike partner, swivelled and shot to score. 2-4. Referee howler. But the game wasn’t over, John Wharton who had already replaced David Hall played really well on the right side, out of position, getting stuck in, and creating chances left right and centre. When the final whistle blew, the victory was well deserved.
Quote of the day:
Referee to Al Tate: “I think you are out of a place in the team”Al Tate to Referee: “Well if I’m out of a place. The manager is out of a job” . . . “I’m just glad I bagged one”