11. We Are Supreme!

 

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     With just four games left, Morley Town find themselves within touching distance of the Yorkshire Amateur Premier League Title and promotion to The Yorkshire Amateur Supreme Division. If I have learnt one thing this season, even Diana Ross is better at taking penalties than my right back, Edward Busfield, who is still getting hammered for that attempted Panenka against Leeds City Reserves... Anyway.. here's the run in for the final four games.

04/03/23 Ealandians (a)

18/03/23 Golcar United Reserves (h)

01/04/23  Shire Academics (a)

22/04/23 Nostell Miners Welfare Reserves (a)

We need a win against Ealandians and hope Beeston Juniors lose or draw against Leeds City Reserves to secure automatic promotion as champions.

Gabriel Ellis Known as "The Angel"

The Ultras have been at it again and have nicknamed our star striker, Gabriel Ellis, "The Angel," after the archangel Gabriel....

Match 18 Ealandians v Morley Town

We take the trip down the Elland Road in the other direction to this small Pennine town, which could be the scene of us clinching promotion to the Yorkshire Amateur Supreme League if second placed Beeston Juniors lose. I go in with the same XI that beat The Old Boys last time out. Our hosts meanwhile are scrapping for their lives against relegation to the Yorkshire Amateur Championship Division. Here goes..

Team: Reay, Clappison, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Payne, Ellis, Iyamu 

It doesn’t take us long, just 1 minute 45 seconds to be precise. Agbozo intercepts the ball in midfield, releases Graham down the right wing, who passes low to Sam Wright who touches the ball onto Payne inside the penalty area and the former Leeds man blasts it into the top corner from close range. A magnificent team goal. We attack again, this time Iyamu sweeps infield from the left flank into the centre circle. His pinpoint through ball finds Payne who checks back and feeds the onrushing Sam Wright. The midfielder cooly sidefoots the ball into the corner from the edge of the area and it is 2-0 in the blink of an eye. We are rampant now, constantly running at the Ealandians defence who simply cannot cope. Ellis heads narrowly over from one such move and then another results in our third goal. Graham sprints down the right and feeds Payne on the overlap. He has the freedom of Morley to play a clever ball into the onrushing Wright who this time blasts his finish powerfully into the top corner for another brilliant team goal. After another couple of half chances, we win a corner which Sam Wright floats in, where it is met by the solid head of The Wrecking Ball and the ball nearly breaks the back of the net! 4-0 and coasting. We are having so much joy down the right hand side it is almost embarrassing as Graham and Payne combine once again before thwacking the crossbar with a fierce effort, so powerful it rickashayed out for a throw in on the near side of the pitch! A ball forward from Agbozo causes panic once more in the Ealandians defence. They clear the ball to Iyamu on the left wing, who half volleys the ball first time into the mixer, such is his confidence, for Sanchez Payne to divert the ball home at the far post. 5-0 up and it’s not even half time. There is one name missing from the scoresheet in the shape of Gabriel Ellis. “The Angel, “ as he has become known by the Morley faithful races clear from a Payne through ball and he rounds the keeper before slotting home number six! Sam Wright is determined to get his hat-trick. One free-kick is clawed away by the keeper, while the next finds the top corner to complete the feat and goal number seven. We end Ealandian’s humiliation there. 7-0 (Seven), men against boys.

Final Score: Ealandians 0-7 (Seven) Morley Town

                                                     Payne 2,39

                                                     Wright 6,20,81

                                                     Cyrus 30

                                                     Ellis 45

Route One Reserves Relegated

Our snow buddies from Keighley have finally succumbed to the inevitable and fallen through the trapdoor into the Yorkshire Amateur Championship and Level 13.

Dan Harmison Leaves Morley

My head physio has left Morley to join Glossop of the Northern Premier League Division One West.

Match 19 Morley Town v Golcar United Reserves 18/03/23

Last time we played this team at their place we managed to put nine past them. How many can we get this time around? One must guard against complacency here, as a win will ensure the title and promotion to the Yorkshire Supreme League. Golcar are punching above their weight in 5^th. A bumper crowd of 21 people have turned out to cheer Morley to the title. The team picks itself. Let’s go and win the title lads!

Team: Reay, Clappison, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Payne, Ellis, Iyamu

Match Action

Golcar are determined to spoil the Morley party and dominate possession in the early stages. When we do get the ball, Graham and Iyamu look a threat down the flanks. Graham lays the ball back to Ben Clappison up from right back and his fierce shot is beaten away at the near post. We look dangerous going forward but that final killer pass is missing as Golcar dig in and then look to counter. Stay patient it’ll be OK..  Cyrus nods wide from a corner and Payne fizzes one over the bar. Then, on 29 minutes Reay has the ball who passes short to Cyrus, forward to Agbozo, down the left flank for Iyamu. Iyamu now, just inside his own half plays a delightful through ball with the outside of his foot for the onrushing Gabriel Ellis. Ellis, into the penalty area.. GOAL for MORLEY TOWN! 20 Goals in 20 games, the Angel Gabriel strikes again for Morley Town!

At the other end though Davies has a snap shot well saved by Reay. A reminder that we take this game for granted at our peril. Payne at the other end misses a good chance when he is sent through on goal, his effort is blocked by the keeper. A single goal separates the two sides at the break, we have created plenty but it has not been the rush of goals many expected. Into the second half and the Wrecking Ball wins an important header. The ball falls to Sanchez Payne. He turns instantly before releasing Ellis with a pinpoint through ball. 2-0, as The Angel coolly rolls the ball past the onrushing keeper to double our advantage and surely seal the Yorkshire Amateur Premier League Title for Morley Town. Sanchez Payne crashes an acrobatic effort against the underside of the bar to nearly put the gloss on the win. On 83 minutes though a deep cross is swung in from the right in a rare Golcar attack and Davies stoops to power a header past the sprawling Reay.. 2-1...noo the linesman has his flag up! Disallowed. A big sigh of relief is expressed around the ground. Two minutes later and the ball is desperately cleared, only as far as Ben Clappison. The former Hull man solidly strides forward and toe pokes the ball to Kieran Graham. The diminutive winger cuts inside to the edge of the box before unleashing a fizzing strike which their keeper can only palm into the top corner to seal promotion for Morley Town!

Final Score Morley Town 3-0 Golcar Reserves

Ellis 30,52

Graham 86

League Table (with 2 games left)

1^st Morley Town  50pts (c)

2^nd Collegians 38

3^rd Beeston Juniors 38

4^th Lepton Highlanders 35

5^th Woodkirk Valley 33

6^th Golcar Res 31

7^th Greetland 29

8^th Nostell Miners Welfare Res 29

9^th Leeds City Reserves 28

10^th Shire Academics 25

11^th Gildersome Spurs Old Boys 24

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12^th Ealandians 19

13^th Route One Reserves 8

 

Match 20 Shire Academics v Morley Town

We are just playing out the season and so it is time to blood some youngsters, although not any of the new intake because they have not signed their contracts yet. Shire Academics are down in 10^th but safe from relegation. So, without much further ado.

Whing, Jones, Rigby, Clappison, Sheppard, Leedham, Davies, Woods, De Martin, Kittrick, Pamment

Match Action

Not much happens in the opening 20. They have a couple of efforts on goal, comfortably saved by Colum Whing, while we have a free kick deflected over the bar. On 24 a good breakaway sees their striker hit the outside of the post. Davies at the other end has a free kick tipped over the bar. Barry Woods who is impressing on the right flank cuts infield and plays a delicious through ball for De Martin, but his effort was blocked by the keeper. Goaless at half time.

Into the second half and Davies gives the ball away in midfield. The ball is played up to Walker on the left wing, who skips past Jonny Jones’ flying challenge and beats Whing at the near post on the angle. I encourage, we rally. Sub Nosa Iyamu goes on one of his trademark runs down the left. His low cross finds fellow sub Mario Ward, who is tripped Penalty! Red card for the perpetrator, Freeman. Up steps young Sam Kittrick... who sends the keeper the wrong way to equalise! We finish the game strongly and a powerful Kittrick effort almost gave us the lead, but for the fingertips of their keeper. Clappison headed one over the bar from a corner. The game ends 1-1 but the kids did well. Kittrick, Woods and Davies did their reputations no harm at all.

Final Score Shire Academics 1-1 Morley Town

Walker 56                                   Kittrick 76 (pen)

Match 21 Nostell Miners Welfare Reserves v Morley Town 22/04/23

Finally we reach our last fixture of the season, which is annoyingly three weeks after our last game. Anyway it offers me another chance to look at some of the young players in the squad and importantly give them some first team experience. Nostell lie in 8^th and like us only have pride to play for.

Team: Whing, Jones, Cyrus, Sheppard, Rigby, Hudson, Tanner, Woods, De Martin, O’Connor, Preston

Match Action

 The kids, led by the Wrecking Ball make an impressive start and knock the ball around the pitch confidently. Winger Kevin Preston latches onto a Tanner through ball and strikes the foot of the post. At the other end Catton has a free kick well saved by Whing. Their striker Bardem then fizzes a shot shot over the bar when through on goal. On 37 minutes we win a corner which is swung in and amongst the melee the ball hit a Nostell hand. Penalty! Young Rob Hudson steps up and fires it straight down the middle as the keeper flings himself to his right. 1-0 Morley Town! On the stroke of half time the impressive Preston advances down the left flank. His teasing cross is headed away only as far as Hudson who strides forward to the edge of the area, before slipping the ball to Barry Woods who scuffs a first time shot under the keeper and trickles in off the post to double our lead. Into the second half and we once gain assert dominance, especially young Hudson who is pulling the strings in midfield. It is our right back Jonny Jones, however who provides the creative spark for our third goal. His beautifully weighted ball down the line falls into the path of young Martin O’Connor, who finishes with aplomb, dinking the ball cleverly into the corner over the onrushing keeper. But. Nostell keep going and when the loose ball falls to Tiehi after a rickashay from a blocked shot, his volley from the edge of the area beats the sprawling Whing as it fizzes into the bottom corner of the net. 3-1. I bring The Angel, Gabriel Ellis on more out of intimidation than anything else and he instantly links up with O’Connor but fires wide. Another sub Iyamu is released by Hudson and his cross is turned home by young Martin O’Connor for his second goal. What an impact this young 15-year old kid has made! 4-1 Morley. A great way to end the season and with the performances from the kids today, the future is very bright indeed! 

Final Score: Nostell Miners Welfare 1-4 Morley Town

Tiehi 58                                                       Hudson 38 (pen)                                            

                                                                     Woods 45

                                                                     O’Connor 52,83

Drama on the final day of the season

Lepton Highlanders secured automatic promotion to the Yorkshire Supreme League next season on a dramatic final day of the season. Beeston Juniors succumbed to a 3-1 reverse up in the Pennines at Greetland and Collegians lost 1-0 to Woodkirk Valley. Meanwhile, Lepton’s 3-1 victory over Route One Reserves allowed them to leapfrog both teams into second place to join Morley Town in Level 11 next season! Well done boys!

At the other end of the table, Ealandians and Route One Reserves will be playing Yorkshire Championship Amateur League football next season.

So that’s that! First season completed! Here’s the final league table.

1^st Morley Town  54 pts (C)

2^nd Lepton Highlanders 42 (P)

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3^rd Collegians 41

4^th Beeston Juniors 39

5^th Greetland 38

6^th Woodkirk Valley 37

7^th Golcar United Reserves 37

8^th Leeds City Reserves 30

9^th Nostell Miners Welfare Reserves 30

10^th Gildersome Spurs Old Boys 27

11^th Shire Academics 27

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12^th Ealandians 23 (R)

13^th Route One Reserves 11 (R)

One Promotion down, 10 more to go up the English Pyramid. Next Stop Level 11 and The Yorkshire Amateur Supreme Division..

Read Part 12 Pre-Season Comings & Goings