5. Getting to Know You

 

It has been a mixed start to the season, but I suppose it is to be expected when trying to bed in a virtually new team and a squad who barely know eachother. Therefore I felt this was a good time for a bit of team bonding, so I decided to set my team a challenge. Starting at Morley Bottoms on the seats outside Ollie's Bar they had time after the Lepton Highlanders Match to get to know eachother with a few beers as they did a lap around Morley Queen Street at various hostelries, finishing at the Tipsy Mare bar at the other end of Queen's Street. They would have sufficient time to rest before they started work on the Monday morning, but the aim was for the team to bond in time honoured fashion and get to know eachother as people. This I felt would help with their cohesion on the field... 

42-year old Jeff Smith was well up for a sesh, but he is of a different generation, as were Joe Lamplough and John Cyrus.. but the rest? Well.. seems like going out on the lash is not the done thing any more for Generation Z...Most of them didn't make it past the Town Hall because they were happy to have milkshakes at Nigel's Cafe and hit the sack early... or go home to watch Netflix or something.. Well at least I tried. Lamplough, Smith and Cyrus became great friends by the end of the night and ended the evening in a local curry house together, before calling it a night. The rest by then had long since gone home, without really getting to know eachother, apart from what flavour milkshake they preferred which was a little disappointing..but I guess times are tough... 

Morley sign Ben Clappison (DC)

A real coup for the club, Ben is a central defender with both pace and ability. He has had experience at a much higher level, turning out for York City, North Ferriby and latterly Pickering Town.

Morley Town Sign Iyamu (M/AMRL)

Perhaps he is the final piece in the jigsaw. This pacy winger, who can play both left and right gives us another option in this position, especially as the other contender for his place is 42 years old.. The 23-year old started out on Birmingham City’s books and then turned out for Ramsbottom United twice before signing for us! Welcome to Morley Nosa!

Match 5 Greetland v Morley Town

That’s Greetland, not Greenland.. we may be in the North, but not that far north. Greetland is a very picturesque village situated in the hills surrounding Halifax and has the potential to be a tricky away trip, especially during the autumn and winter months. I am excited by the two new signings, with Iyamu starting on the right and Clappison on the bench. Our hosts have had a good start to the season and are in a lofty 3^rd in the Yorkshire Amateur League, while we languish in 9^th.

Team: Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasstal, Wright, Agbozo, Graham, Iyamu, Ellis, Smith

Match Action

We start brightly. Jeff Smith flashes a free kick just wide and Ellis hits the top of the bar with a fierce shot. We keep coming. Smith again is brilliantly played in by Alasttal, but can only hit the ball straight at the keeper. The veteran left winger then forces a world class save from the keeper from another free kick.. We then miss a string of chances. Graham after a long punt downfield from Reay finds the wrong side of the post, while Ellis nods just wide after a Smith centre. A frustrating 0-0 scoreline as we go in for half time. Into the second half and it’s a similar pattern. Then, from a Smith corner, there’s pushing in the box. Penalty! Surely it’s third time lucky. Up steps full back Edward Busfield to take... My heart is in my mouth, Busfield!!... Scores!! The keeper barely moves. Thank god for that! 1-0 Morley. Then, Smith and Alasstal combine beautifully on the left flank. The overlapping full back puts in a beast of a low cross which is swept home by Gabriel Ellis for 2-0. Finally we have found our mojo in front of goal. Greetland rally and win a penalty late on which Donley converts. We see it out for a hard earned three points up in t’Pennines.

Final Score Greetland 1-2 Morley Town

Donley 90 (pen)                    Busfield 53 (pen)

                                                 Ellis 55

Match 6 Morley Town v Woodkirk Valley

We begin this match in good spirits after the hard fought win over Greetland, which has propelled us up to 7^th. The visitors make the short trip down Rein Road from Tingley in second place after an excellent start to the season, so they will be no pushovers. Should be an interesting one..

Team: 4-4-2 Reay. Clappison, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttal, Wright, Azbogo, Graham, Rowe, Ellis, Iyamu

Woodkirk start brightly, but it is us who create the first chance. Graham gets down the right and Ellis heads just over. Then from a Woodkirk Valley free kick we clear and Rowe leads the charge on the counter attack. He feeds Iyamu on the left who jinks his way past the full back, before finding the head of Gabriel Ellis who nods the ball into the corner of the net. Brilliant breakaway goal. We look dominant and cheered on by the Glen Road faithful we get a second. Graham crosses from the right byeline, Iyamu heads the ball goalwards and Rowe flicks it past the keeper into the corner of the net. Woodkirk create a clear cut chance just before the break to sound a warning as the half time whistle blew. Into the second half and the visitors come close again when a looping header from a corner hits the inside of the post and bounces clear. We wrap up victory though after sub Arron Davies puts in a pinpoint free kick onto the head of big Jack Cowgill who powers home a header at the far post. 3-0 Morley Town. The most complete performance from the lads since I took charge. Up to third we go!

Final Score: Morley Town 3-0 Woodkirk Valley

Ellis

Rowe

Cowgill

Match 7: Morley Town v Leeds City Reserves

Hang on, I thought that Leeds City had folded in 1919 and then reformed as Leeds United? According to FM, City reformed as an amateur club in 2006 and are based in the leafy suburb of Adel, north of the A6120 ring road. Our opponents lie in 12^th and pundits suggest this should be an easy win. I send out an unchanged XI.

Team: Reay, Clappison, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasstal, Wright, Azbogo, Graham, Ellis, Rowe, Iyamu

Match Action

It doesn’t take us long to break the deadlock. Our corner is cleared, but only as far as Agbozo, who half volleys the ball out to the unlikely figure of central defender, Jack Cowgill. His instant cross is nodded home by Gabriel Ellis for his 6^th goal of the season. Leeds City Reserves attack and a seemingly innocuous ball into the box causes panic in the Morley penalty box. The referee stops play and points at the spot. Penalty! Eh? What for ref? Cyrus was pushing apparently.. Paul Fitzgerald steps up and slots it home. 1-1. We sweep forward. Clappison sprays the ball crossfield for Iyamu on the left wing. His pinpoint cross is met by Ellis! who glances a header just wide. Leeds City then force Reay into a smart save from a header. One each at the break in an even game. On 50 minutes I introduce the two “mavericks” off the bench, Sanchez Payne and Jeff Smith. From a deflected cross, the former rattles the crossbar with a header. Oh so close! Cyrus launches the ball forward and Payne chases after it before hitting a ferocious piledriver which is acrobatically tipped over the bar.. Brilliant play all round. I encourage.. We hunt for a winner... Then.. out of nowhere, Leeds City get a free kick., and another Roberto Carlos wannabe Ossai belts it into the top corner for an undeserved goal completely against the run of play.. We try to equalise, but there is a feeling of foreboding this is not our day. Undone by a dodgy penalty and a worldie free kick.. Unbelievable! We should be beating these sorts of teams though if we are serious about climbing the pyramid.

Final Score Morley Town 1-2 Leeds City Reserves

Ellis 2                                             Fitzgerald 22 (pen)

                                                       Ossai 79

A few steps forward and then one back.. Can Rudd maintain a sustained challenge for the title, or will it all go about as well as a team bonding session on a chilly Septmber evening in Morley? Next game is the big derby against Gildersome Spurs Old Boys, Who will draw first blood in this clash against these two South Leeds rivals? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game.

Read Part 6 Derby Day Fever Here!