13. Ten Friendlies

 

It has been a long and busy pre-season so far, which in amateur football land takes up almost half the calendar year. It seems strange to me that the best months for weather in the UK, April to September is actually the time when we are not playing any football and the Glen Road pitch is at its least muddy, which would make for better quality games. The evenings are also a lot lighter, meaning evening kick-offs especially from May to July would be a possibility and could attract more crowds. What better way to spend a sunny Wednesday evening in June than watching your local amateur football team? There would certainly be no reliance on a local farmer to clear snow off the pitch.. Just a thought..

Anyway I digress, There were more comings and goings during the summer months at Morley Town. I had arranged an extensive pre season friendly campaign, with some exciting games against local opposition who are higher up the footballing food chain to try and draw a crowd to Glen Road and bring some extra revenue into the club.

Players Out

Nosa Iyamu leaves Morley

Nosa Iyamu’s performances in the Yorkshire Amateur Premier League have been admired.. thousands of miles away in his native Nigeria. So much so that three Nigerian clubs offered him a contract. Turns out his uncle is the President of one of the interested clubs, Zamafra United and unfortunately for us he flew out to Abuja and signed on the dotted line....

The Wrecking Ball Leaves Morley Town

A sad day in the history of Morley Town, as cult hero John “The Wrecking Ball” Cyrus leaves Morley to join the mighty Godmanchester Rovers of the United Counties Premier League South. He didn’t tell me the reason for his sudden departure, but I have a feeling the missus may have had something to do with it..

Michael Singh

Director of football Michael Singh leaves Morley for Alvechurch

Board Expectations

The board have pulled no punches in their expectations and that is to gain promotion to Level 10, the North West Counties League Division 1 North! (Unfortunately we will not be playing in Yorkshire if I get promoted) but more on that later...

Friendly 1 – Morley Town 6-0 Morley U21s

Our pre-season finally kicks off with a kickabout against the kids of the U21s/U18s squad. We take the lead when Faris Pamment fizzes a free kick into the top corner. Payne hits the post when through on goal. Gabriel Ellis rounds the keeper to make it 2-0 after good work from Payne. Sam Wright added a third with a blockbuster from 25 yards into the top corner. Ellis cooly finishes Agbozo’s excellent through ball to make it 4-0. Into the second half and sub Louis Rowe scores number five with an excellent finish into the bottom corner with the outside of his foot. Goal number six comes when Arron Davies smacks a free kick against the bar and Dempsey coolly slots home the rebound from close range into the empty net. This was almost cruel.. Poor kids!

Friendly 2 – Morley Town v Brigg Town

Team: Reay, Smith, Dempsey, Clappison, Alasstal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Rowe, Pamment

We host North East Counties League outfit Brigg Town, who play several levels above us so will be a tough test, despite home advantage. I go with a full strength team. We give as good as we get from the higher ranked team. Rowe narrowly heads over from a Pamment centre, while McKenzie Smith ventures forward and hits a fierce shot which is well tipped over the crossbar. Then we get our just desserts. Wright feeds Pamment down the left. He plays it back infield to Sam Wright, whose first time through ball foxes the Brigg defence as Gabriel Ellis runs onto it. There’s only one result as The Angel slips the ball under the keeper with a typically cool finish. Then unbelievably we score again. Reay’s goal kick finds Pamment, whose cross is into the path of the onrushing Louis Rowe. The Irishman nonchalantly dinks the ball coolly into the corner to double our lead to astonish the watching ultras. Brigg come back into it again and when a punt into the box from their full back ends up with left winger Batty stooping to nod the ball past Reay at the far post for 2-1. Into the second half and Brigg assert dominance. Hornsby sends Hillerby away down the left and his little inside ball is seized upon by the dangerous Batty, who cleverly places a shot through a huge gap at the near post to equalise. I put some fresh legs on and the energy returns to the team. Leedham plays in Ellis but he fires wide. The final whistle goes but I’ll more than take a 2-2 against a side from higher up in the pyramid.

Final Score: Morley Town 2-2 Brigg Town

Ellis 30                                            Batty 44,54

Rowe 32

Friendly 3 – Morley Town v Hunslet Club

Team: McLachlan (trial) Jones, Sheppard, Brooksby, Rigby, Leedham, Davies, Woods, Ward, De Martin, Preston

This one is purely for the kids, a local kickabout against the good eggs from the Hunslet Club. We take the lead on six minutes when a pinpoint free kick from Arron Davies finds young Fletch Brooskby at the far post who guides a header home for 1-0. The rest of the game gets rather bogged down as the kids struggle to break down a determined Hunslet Club side, who were enjoying their big day out three miles away in Morley. Other than that, not much else happened and the game petered out into a 1-0 win.

Final Score Morley Town 1-0 Hunslet Club

        Brooksby 7

Morley Town Sign McLachlan

I have strengthened my goalkeeping department with the signing of the ex-Carlisle and Newcastle University stopper, Ben McLachlan.

Friendly 4 – Morley Town v Penistone Church

Ho Ho Ho Penistone are in town, something which got the U18s squad excited...  Anyway for the more mature among us this is yet another chance to impress me for a place in my thinking during the forthcoming season.

Team: Perry (trial),  Jones, Sheppard, Brooksby, Rigby, Hudson, Davies, Preston, Kittrick, O’Connor, Fox

After 5 minutes we won a penalty, but Kittrick’s effort was saved by the keeper. We don’t have everything our own way as Penistone attack with gusto. They are rewarded when a Lama free-kick is fired into the top corner to take a shock lead. We huff and puff but cannot blow the church down. Rowe heads over when he should have scored, while De Martin had an effort parried away at the near post. Then to compound our misery, they break away and score as Anthony Brown races clear and fires confidently past Reuben Perry, out trialist goalie. In 73 minute, sub De Martin floats in a near post corner which is glanced home by young sub Paul Thornton. In stoppage time another long punt downfield is chased down by Garton who beats the onrushing Perry to complete our annual dodgy pre-season result. De Martin has the final word, poking home an Alasstal cross at the far post, but God was certainly smiling on Penistone Church this evening!

Final Score: Morley Town 2-3 Penistone Church

Friendly 5: Morley Town v Guiseley

This is the big one! Yes it is only Guiseley, but compared to us they are a monolith of a club and play four levels higher up the pyramid in the Northern Premier League Premier, which is one below the Conference North at Level 7. Therefore a full strength side is required.

Reay, Smith, Clappison, Dempsey, Alasstall, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Payne, Pamment

We start brightly and don’t seem overawed. Payne has an early chance from a Wright angled pass, but the keeper is equal to it. At the other end a free kick is beaten away by Reay. Guiseley though show their superiority. A throw-in leads to a lobbed cross over to the far post where Grice volleys and smacks the crossbar. Whitham is there to tap home the rebound into an empty net. We respond well. Agbozo wins the ball in midfield and sprays the ball out to Kieran Graham. His floated ball sends Sanchez Payne racing clear and he lashes the ball home to equalise emphatically for Morley Town! Graham is playing like a man possessed and his lung-bursting run through midfield sets up Payne again, but he fires wide from the angle. Then Alastall gets down the left flank and his cross is met by the head of that man Graham to put Morley 2-1 up! We have been brilliant in the first half. Into the second half and it is all Guiseley. Reay pulls off a worldie of a save from a header and they also thwack the crossbar. At the other end Preston has a header saved. Finally though, the class tells. Reape’s cross is nodded home by Nkem to equalise. We rally and Alasttal almost forces a winner. This was an enterprising performance against a side far above us in the footballing food chain. Well done boys! The match was also played in front of a bumper crowd of 208, with 165 fans travelling from North Leeds to make this a super occasion and raise much needed money for the club.

Morley Town 2-2 Guiseley

Payne 30                      Whitham 23

Graham 33                  Nkem 87

Harrison Blakey Joins Morley

In a controversial move, Harrison Blakey has joined Morley. The central defender, who was once on Huddersfield Town’s books, has slid down the leagues, turning out for Wakefield, Yorkshire Amateur and Kidlington. He came to train with us at the start of my reign, but joined Kidlington instead. Neither the fans, or my backroom team wanted him to join, but I saw something in the lad. Let’s hope he repays my faith in him.

Friendly 6: Beverley Town v Morley Town

Team: Reay, Busfield, Clappison, Dempsey, Alasttal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Payne, Pamment

It’s a really even game and the standard for this level is actually quite fluid. Sam Wright has a free kick tipped over the bar. Wright sends Payne through on goal, but the keeper saves comfortably. At the other end, Livingstone nods narrowly wide from a corner. It was only a matter of time though before the deadlock was broken. Ellis makes a burst forward before slipping a lovely ball inside the full back for Kieran Graham. The winger doesn’t disappoint and blasts the ball home from close range. Morley lead at half time in a good game of football. Amazingly we double our lead when Preston’s flighted cross is seized upon by Ellis who finished with a bang. 2-0 away to a team from a higher division. But wait.. Beverley have not given up and their pressure tells when a long hoof downfield results in their striker being through on goal. 2-1 Then, a kick in the teeth as they score a late equaliser through young striker, Alaminy Williams, making it 2-2. Shame because this was another great performance against a higher ranked team.

Final Score: Beverley Town 2-2 Morley Town

Friendly 7: Durkar v Morley Town

Another week and another friendly, this time away at West Yorkshire Division 2 outfit, Durkar.

Team: Whing, Greenhough (trial) Blakey, Sheppard, Smith, Hudson, Hairyes-Lambton, Woods, Rowe, De Martin, Preston

It’s fairly even in the open exchanges but we look the most likely. A long diagonal ball from Rowe feeds his strike partner, De Martin who rolls the ball confidently past the keeper to open the scoring. On 25 minutes, Hudson’s ball into the box is directed home by Louis Rowe with a clever cushioned volley. 2-0. Hudson now feeds Preston on the left and he crosses delightfully into the path of the onrushing Hairyes-Lambton who fires home a clean half volley for number three. On 40 minutes the Durkar right back, Churchman is caught praying on the ball and Harryes-Lambton who is everywhere nicks the ball off him and feeds De Martin in the box who finds the bottom corner to make it four! Into the second half and sub O’Connor is tripped. Penalty, Rob Hudson scores low into the corner and to the keeper’s right. At the other end, Parkinson fires home the rebound after Whing claws away a free kick. 5-1. The same man reduces the deficit further when he is sent clear and beats Whing low at his near post. 5-2. Preston dribbles down the left and his pinpoint cross is nodded home by young O’Connor for 6-2. Then trialist, Greenhough slides in two footed from behind on their player as he is through on goal. Red Card! We are punished. Ibrahim’s cross finds Ben Smith at the far post who nods in their third goal. 6-3. Harrison Blakey, who has confounded his critics by having a good game plays a lovely flighted ball for Mario Ward to latch onto. He coolly finished to complete a 7-3 final scoreline.

Final Score: Durkar 3-7 Morley Town

Parkinson 57,58                 De Martin 12,41

Smith 71                              Rowe 26

                                        Hairyes-Lambton 33

                                        Hudson 53 (pen)

                                       O’Connor 60

                                        Ward 80

Friendly 8: Morley Town v Ossett United

We invite our friends from down t’A653 towards Wakey for a little kickabout at our place. The first teamers are back and ready to give the Level 8 Northern Premier League Division One East outfit, Ossett United a run for their money.

Team: Reay, Smith, Clappison, Dempsey, Alasttal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Rowe, Ellis, Pamment

We have been in the ascendency in this one, but Ossett have the better chances as their striker, Colquhoun skies a couple over the bar. Our dominance reaps its rewards when Louis Rowe latches onto a McKenzie Smith ball and slots the ball home on 26 minutes. We nearly make it two when Faris Pamment rattles the crossbar after a sweeping Morley move. Their equaliser is a scrappy affair, Colquhoun with a header from close range at the near post. Rowe has a brilliant acrobatic effort disallowed for offside and Ellis thumps the crossbar when through on goal. It’s one each at the break. We start well in the second half with Preston looking a threat on the left, but it is the visitors who take the lead. An innocuous looking free kick is flicked on to the far post where Coloquhoun is at the near post to half volley into a gaping net. 2-1. The game rather peters out. Leedham has a late shot just wide. An unlucky 2-1 defeat though as we had chances to beat a side much higher in the pyramid than us.

Final Score Morley Town 1-2 Ossett United

Rowe 27                                      Colquhoun 42,58

Season Ticket Sales

Word is spreading amongst Morleans of their football team and we now have 29 loyal Ultras with season tickets to stand around the edge of Glen Road in the freezing cold.. Up from just 6 last year!

 Friendly 8: Ripon City v Morley Town

A nice jolly trip up the A1 to the cathedral city of Ripon for our boys today, as we take on West Yorkshire Division 2 outfit, Ripon City. I go in with a reasonably strong side, including a couple of youngsters who are eager to impress as well and keep me in their thoughts for the big kick-off.

Team: McLachlan, Jones, Blakey, Clappison, Smith, Agbozo, Leedham, Graham, Ellis, Rowe, Pamment

After 14 minutes of domination we take the lead. Leedham lays it back to Clappison. He spreads play to the left for Pamment who cushion volleys a cross for Louis Rowe to head against the crossbar and tap home the rebound from close range. The same two combine again for the second goal. Pamment is released down the left by McKenzie Smith. He floats a worldie of a cross to the back post where Rowe nods home. Kieran Graham has been like a man possessed down the right wing and another surge to the byeline results in a deep cross which finds the head of Pamment on the back stick who loops a near impossible header into the top corner for a wonderful third goal. Into the second half and from a Hairyes-Lambton free kick, young Rob Hudson flicks the ball past the onrushing keeper for number four! Dempsey hit the crossbar late on, but a good solid friendly win against a poor Ripon City side.

Final Score: Ripon City 0-4 Morley Town

                                                   Rowe 14,34

                                                   Pamment 41

                                                    Hudson 48

Under 18s invited to play in the National U18s North East Division

In an exciting new development, Morley Town U18s have been invited to play in the National U18s North East Division next season, meaning they will be playing competitive fixtures, instead of just a string of friendlies. They will be rubbing shoulders with youth teams from much higher up the pyramid, such as York City, Harrogate Town and Scunthorpe, which will aid the development of young players at the club and help to raise our profile too.

They kicked off their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Kettering U18s.

New U18s Assistant Manager

A good time therefore to appoint our new U18s Assistant Manager then... Welcome to Morley Dave!

Morley Sign Josh Nyame

A real coup for the club, 18-year old central defender Josh Nyame has agreed to join Morley Town, after being released by Blackpool.

Kieran Graham Leaves Morley

My diminuitive right winger attacking midfield centre, Kieran Graham is normally a jovial character, but when he approached me about signing a new contract, he was deadly serious. His demands for a £50 appearance fee and £10 assist bonus could not be met by the club and so he was released.. 

New Director of Football – Craig Scott

We have appointed a new Director of football apparently.... the last one's greatest contribution was... "We need to put the ball in the back of the net.." Let's hope he turns out better than his predecessor..

Friendly 9: Ilkley Town v Morley Town

Before this fixture, the team went on a pre-season team bonding session which involved them abseiling down the Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor. My young 16 year old right winger, Barry Woods grazed his knee and will miss the game.. I play a slightly experimental team today as I seek to consider alternative options as the big kick off approaches. Nyame makes his non-competitive debut

McLachlan, Busfield, Nyame, Dempsey, Alastall, Blakey, Wright, Preston, Payne, De Martin, Pamment

Match Action

From a throw in Sam Wright drives into the box and lets fly, but is blocked. The rebound falls to young De Martin and with the goalkeeper committed, fires the ball into the empty net. On six minutes, Preston flies down the right and plays it infield to Wright, whose first time pass finds Sanchez Payne in the box. He fires the ball into the top corner to double our advantage. Ilkley though have shown some ambition of their own. From a corner, the ball is cleared, but only as far as Luke who drills the ball into the far corner to halve our lead. We score a third when their right back, chasing a misplaced pass by Blakey into the channel treads on the ball, allowing Pamment to cross for Payne for a simple tap in from 6 yards. We are 3-1 up at half time. Sub Ellis feeds Preston down the left whose cross finds the head of De Martin for 4-1. The young striker turns provider for our next goal, spinning and playing in Ellis, who powers home the finish for 5-1. The sixth goal resulted in Ellis sliding the ball home near post to complete the rout.

Final Score Ilkley 1- 6 Morley

Winsford Town Offer Interview

North West Counties League side, Winsford United have cast an envious eye over the Pennines and approached me to become their next manager. I politely turned them down, as I want to see the “project” through at Morley Town.

Morley U18s lose 5-1 to Darlington U18s

Friendly 10 Kirkstall Crusaders v Morley Town

When I booked this friendly I thought we would be making the short trip to Kirkstall Road in Leeds to take on this lot for our final pre-season friendly. Turns out they are in Nottingham, so we’ve had to hire a team coach for this one, much to the annoyance of the chairman. Anyway a full strength team today.

Reay, Smith, Clappison, Nyame, Alasttal, Agbozo, Wright, Preston, Ellis, Payne, Pamment

It doesn’t take long. Alasttal plays Pamment in down the left and his low cross is turned home emphatically by The Angel to open the scoring. But we don’t have it all our own way. The Crusaders create a few gilt edge chances, with Reay having to be on his game to deny them... When we do attack we look like scoring Sam Wright rattles the crossbar with a long range effort. The home side though have been brilliant and get a deserved equaliser when Ratlhugo rises unmarked to nod the ball into the bottom corner. One each at the break. Into the second half and we assert dominance. Pamment gets down the left and his cut back is turned home by young De Martin. We look like we could extend our lead, but it is the obdurate home side who open us up down the right and fire the ball powerfully past McLachlan for a surprise equaliser. Two-Two it stayed.

Final Score: Kirkstall Crusaders 2-2 Morley Town

So there ends our epic pre-season of ten friendlies. I think its safe to say we had a better pre-season campaign than last season.. Standing on the sidelines of Thirsk School fields being mocked mercilessly by a bunch of 12 year olds as my team slid to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Bagby & Balk is something I really did not want a repeat of. This season has seen us compete with teams from higher up the pyramid, especially Guiseley and local rivals Ossett, so we are in good shape for the big kick off in 5 days time against Lepton Highlanders.

The Big Yorkshire Amateur Supreme Division Kick off is just days way! Find out how we get on next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!

Read Part 14 Welcome T'Yorkshire Amateur Supreme League Here!