22. Lighting up The League
After a bright start to the North West Counties League Division One we have shown that our team more than belongs at this level after three wins a draw and a defeat in our opening five games. Can we sustain it and set the early pace at the top of the league?
Match 6: Morley Town v Ashton United
We host the team from Ashton in Makerfield in reasonably good spirits. They lie in a
middling 11th, while we are in third and are unbeaten since the
opening day. I make two changes with Jake Croft replacing Eddie Busfield at
right back and Jean Claude Makiessi starts in midfield instead of Schorah.
Team: Hall, Croft, Clappison,
Bentley, Lacey, Wright, Makkiessi, Grantham, Rowe, Smith, Preston
North West Counties Division One
North League Table After 6 Games
1st Morley Town 13
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2nd Nelson 13
3rd AFC Blackpool 13
4th Holker Old Boys 11
5th Bacup Borough 11
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6th Prestwich Heys 10
7th Daisy Hill 10
8th Longridge Town 10
9th Chadderton 10
10th South Liverpool 10
11th Campion 8
12th Ryburn United 7
13th Ashton Town 7
14th Albion Sports 6
15th Pilkington 5
16th Squire’s Gate 3
17th Chester Nomads 2
18th Atherton Laburnum Rovers 2
Match 7: Morley Town v Chester Nomads
The nomads
from Chester make the long trip over to fortress Glen Road with trepidation.
While we sit proudly on top of the league, albeit on goal difference, Chester
sit in a lowly 17th place and have had a poor start, so they arrive
in West Yorkshire desperate for a win. We are unchanged from the win against
Ashton Town.
Team:
Hall, Croft, Clappison, Bentley, Lacey, Wright, Makkiessi, Grantham, Rowe,
Smith, Preston
It’s end to end! The Nomads in their Holland-esque Orange kit spring forward and a looping header from Dawson hits the frame of the goal. At the other end Rowe has his fierce shot beaten away by the keeper after a sweeping move involving Wright, Makiessi and Smith. Another such move involving Rowe who has come deep on the right flank picks up the ball and releases Grantham down the right wing. His pinpoint low cross is swept home first time by Aaron Smith. The Nomads have not travelled all this way to make up the numbers though. They win a corner and when we fail to clear it, the ball falls to Harry Cain,, yes the other Harry Cain, but with a different spelling who fires in from close range just like his more famous namesake. However we get a piece of luck. Aaron Smith drifts a free kick from the right and out the blue the referee blows his whistle. Penalty! Louis Rowe confidently steps up and buries it past the keeper into the side netting to restore our lead. We create a host of chances to further increase the lead. Kevin Preston hits the woodwork from range and Smith forces a brilliant fingertip save from the keeper early in the second half. The Nomads are no pushovers though and stream forward on the break. They transfer the ball to the right who passes infield to Stacey. His pass with the outside of his foot released Craig Johnson who rifles the ball into the back of the net for two each. The Nomads attack again down the left and a far post cross is met by the head of Callum Storey. 3-2 to the Nomads. We drive forward looking for the equaliser. Callum Scorah sets sub Ellis up, but his shot is brilliantly saved. Ellis then hits the upright from a Sam Wright centre. How unlucky! On 89 minutes we win a corner, which is cleared only as far as Gabriel Ellis. The Angel runs with it, but seems to be taking the ring road.. He gets into the area and then places a wonderful shot from nowhere in off the angle for 3 all! Glen Road is delirious! Then Kevin Preston sets Aaron Smith free down the left. He gets into the area and his dinked finish hits the post and is cleared. The final whistle blows. Great entertainment here at Glen Road, but one which we should have won. The nomads proved to be no mugs as they migrate back across the Pennines with a point.
Final Score Morley Town 3-3 Chester
Nomads
Smith 7
Cain 12
Rowe 16 (pen
Johnson 64
Ellis 90 Storey 73
First Division Cup 2nd
Round Draw
The First
Division Cup is a knockout tournament including all teams from the North West
Counties Division One North and South. This is the first cup competition we
have been involved with, so exciting times. For some reason we have been
awarded a bye through to the second round where we have drawn Division One
South outfit, Abbey Hey at home.
Match 8: Longridge Town v Morley Town
We travel to
West Lancashire in 6th place, while our opponents are just below us
in 7th. I make two changes, with Fraser Pappril coming in at centre
back for Bentley and Schorah replacing Makiessi in midfield, who drops to the
bench.
Team: Hall, Croft, Clappison,
Pappril, Lacey, Wright, Scrorah, Grantham, Smith, Rowe, Preston
Match Action
After 14
minutes we finally get the ball and almost score when Schorah sends Louis Rowe
free, but the keeper saves his effort and then again from Grantham on the
follow up. Moments later a burst forward from Sam Wright enables Schorah to
shoot and hit the post from just inside the penalty area. Rowe has the ball in
the back of the net after a wonderful ball from Clappison, but his big toe was
offside as he rifled the ball into the corner of the net. Then play goes up the
other end and Longridge win a corner. It’s swung in and Chris McDonald stoops
to head into the corner. 1-0 Longridge. We respond and Aaron Smith gets into
the left channel, but once again finds goalkeeper James Aspinall equal to it.
Half time. Into the second half and we look the better team. Rowe misses a
sitter but he was offside anyway. Then they go up the other end and from a left
wing cross which we fail to clear, the ball falls to Charlie Clark who rifles
the ball in from close range. We hit back. Sub Makiessi picks up the ball and
sprays it out to left where Callum Schrorah resides. His instant pass back to
Jean Claude results in the attacking midfielder sliding the ball into the corner
to halve the deficit. But just when you thought we would roar back Longridge score
again when a Savage cross is nodded home by Hall to kill off any hopes of a
comeback. We look deflated now and are punished again when yet another ball
into the box is headed in at the far post by Reece Ellington to compound our
misery. A bad day at the office for Team Morley...
Board Confidence
They have upgraded me to a “B” and are impressed with the Gegenpress style we have (apparently) been playing. They are disappointed by the 4-1 defeat to Longridge Town and so am I!
Match 9: Morley Town v Pilkington
I need a
response after the Longridge game. I have finally lost patience with my
goalkeeper Ed Hall, after conceding 17 goals in 8 games, meaning Ben McLachlan
comes in for his first start of the season. I also bring back Sam Bentley and
Busfield in the back four and pair Rowe and Ellis up front together with Smith
dropping into attacking midfield. Pilkington visit Glen Road in a middling 13th
and will be looking to join us in the top half of the table with a win. We
currently lie in seventh.
Team: McLachlan, Busfield, Clappison,
Bentley, Lacey, Wright, Smith, Grantham, Rowe, Ellis, Preston
It takes us
just 55 seconds. From the kick off we attack down the right with Grantham. His
cross is met by the head of Louis Rowe who loops a header over the keeper, who
back-pedals and swipes the ball out for a corner. Luis Lacey swings the ball
in, which is cleared, only as far as Preston. Who cushion volleys the ball
first time into the path of Aaron Smith who swings a leg and diverts it into
the corner of the net. But.... Pilkington attack and Tom Pickles’ far post cross
is headed home by Danny North. It’s an even game and both sides hit the
crossbar, for us a Rowe header from a Preston cross. One each at the break. Pilkington
attack and on 56 minutes Pickles feeds Danny North down the right flank. His
low cross is turned in by Bradbury for 2-1. We respond well and dominate
possession, although they miss a big chance to wrap up the game. Aaron Smith,
now playing as a striker strides down the right flank and fizzes a low cross to
Louis Rowe who smashes the ball into the roof of the net. 2-2. We have the bit
between our teeth now as we search for a winner. Smith is causing all sorts of
problems for the Pilkington defence with his running off the ball. A peach of a
pass splits the Pilkington defence and Smith manoeuvres the ball over the
keeper, but not the crossbar. It rebounds though to substitute Chris Longbottom
who shimmies to the byeline and fizzes in a low cross which Smith manages to
divert home for 3-2. The Ultras are delirious. We see it through to the end.
Three very hard earned points move us up to 5th place.
Takeover Rumours Resurface
Rumours have re-surfaced that a rich benefactor is preparing to buy Morley Town FC. This seems to be far more than just “pub talk” and has far more substance to it. Watch this space.
“Oh I do
like to be beside the seaside...”. It’s always fun going to Blackpool and it
was an excuse for a bit of team bonding, so we headed for the West Coast a
couple of days early to take advantage of one of the more sociable places in
the North of England. The lads even found some time to go to the top of
Blackpool Tower and enjoy the many delights of the “Vegas of the North.” AFC
Blackpool sit at the top of the table, while we are in 5th, so I
change the formation to a 4-2-3-1.
Team: McLachlan, Busfield, Clappison,
Bentley,Lacey, Wright, Makiessi, Grantham, Smith, Rowe, Preston
The home
side dominate and McLachlan has had to tip a couple of headers from Connor
Deards over the bar. Then a throw in on the far side. Moncur and Deards combine
and Proctor lashes home. One nil. We respond. Makiessi works the ball out to
Courey Grantham on the right touchline. His short pass finds Makiessi just
inside the box, who is brought down. Penalty? Given! Louis Rowe steps up.. and
blasts the ball straight at the keeper, but smashes home the rebound to
equalise. We end the first half the stronger team and nearly take the lead when
a beautiful move sees Kevin Preston set free on the left. His cut back is
skewed wide by Aaron Smith who should have scored, One each at the break. The
home side start the stronger and when Deards sets Proctor free in the area he
fires home for 2-1. We raise our game and take it to Blackpool. Sam Wright has
a fierce shot clawed round the post and sub Gabriel Ellis has one ruled out for
offside. Then, a wonderfully crafted move starts with Wright finding Rowe. The
ball is swept left to Kevin Preston who gallops Giggs-like to the byeline before putting
in a peach of a low cross which The Angel couldn’t miss! 2-2 We look the most
likely to grab a winner. Wright goes close from a free kick, while in the dying
seconds, Grantham has a snapshot which is tipped round the post. The final
whistle blows. It finishes Desmond, but not a bad result against the league
leaders away from home.
Final Score: AFC Blackpool 2-2 Morley
Town
Proctor 26 Rowe 28
Moncur
59
Ellis 81
Match 10: Morley Town v Daisy Hill
Funky fact
here, but Morley is built on seven hills, one of which is called Daisy Hill and
can be found down the bottom of New Bank Street in the town, leading towards
Churwell and with excellent views of the Leeds skyline... Anyway this lot are
from somewhere in Greater Manchester and have found their way to Glen Road lying in a respectable 8th
place. We are in 4th place, but have a bit of a fixture pile up
coming, so I have shuffled the pack a little for this one, making several
changes to the side which battled to a 2-2 draw in Blackpool..
Team: McLachlan, Croft, Clappison,
Pappril, Haylock, Leedham, Makiessi, Longbottom, Smith, Ellis, Bett-Wildsmith
Daisy Hill
have been the better side in the opening 20, as we struggle to keep possession,
let alone create a chance to score a goal. McLachlan is forced into a fine
fingertip save. We have been pretty dire so far and the visitors put us under a
lot of pressure. Finally we buckle. A flowing move results in Jordan Swain
hammering the ball into the roof of the net. Somehow we manage to win a corner,
which Smith swings in. The ball is cleared to Brett Wildsmith who loops a
header towards the top corner which goes over everybody, except for their
defender who tries to head off the line, but it ends up bouncing off him and
into the roof of the net for a lucky equaliser. One each at the break. Into the
second half and after a bit of a kick up the backside we look more up for
fight. Olly Leedham quickly passes to Makiessi who runs through midfield and
plays a sumptuous through ball for Aaron Smith, who needs no invitation to
smash the ball past the keeper for an unlikely 2-1 lead. We try and hang on but
Daisy Hill can play, especially their midfielder, Egan whose burst forward and
immaculate low cross sees Bell sweep home an equaliser. Somehow when we need to
we can find another gear. Sam Wright takes a corner which is cleared, only as
far as Brett-Wildsmith. He jinks inside, before producing a peach of a cross
which is hooked in from close range by The Angel for 3-2. It’s Daisy Hill’s turn
to respond and another splendid move through midfield results in Swain’s low
shot beating the sprawling McLachlan. 3-3. Then we go down the other end, when
Makiessi, who has pulled the strings in midfield releases Aaron Smith, who runs
into the box and is tripped. The Angel sends their keeper the wrong way to
restore our lead. 4-3. Then on 87 minutes Wright swings in another corner which
is met by young Karlos Bett Wildsmith, whose downwards header seals the game
for Morley Town and caps a brilliant competitive debut for the young man. The
score is now 5-3 for those who have lost count. In this crazy game though you just
never know what might happen. Egan gets down the right, twisting and turning,
cutting inside and rifling the ball past McLachlan. 5-4. Shame we are not East Fife and Forfar..
Needham Market & Truro City offer
job interviews
My work at Morley Town has not gone unnoticed throughout non-league circles the length and breadth of the UK so it seems as Southern Premier outfit, Truro City and Needham Market of the Isthmian Division One North have both offered job interviews. I have politely declined them because I want to take Morley Town a far as I can up the pyramid and for the integrity of this story I will stay with them.
Match 12: Morley Town v Bacup Borough
Third plays
fourth in this latest encounter in the North West Counties League Division One
North. What entertainments lie in store? We have been far from dull this season
and have as some observers of Level 10 football commented Morley have been “lighting up the league,” with their brand of attacking football. While we have been free scoring at one end, we have also conceded far too many
goals at the other. I shuffle the pack again, as this is just three days after
the epic match against Daisy Hill so squad rotation is important. Hall is recalled
between the sticks, while Lacey, Wright and Rowe come back into the team after
being rested. Young Marlon Gutzmore makes his competitive debut on the left to
give Preston a rest.
Hall, Croft, Clappison, Bentley,
Lacey, Wright, Schorah, Grantham, Rowe, Ellis, Gutzmore
For six minutes we hardly get a kick as Bacup clad in their pink shirts attack with gusto. Ther dangerman, Declan Sheriff races down the left and his low cross is swept home first time by Rige. Not the start Morley had in mind.. We try and get back in the game. Gutzmore looks lively down the left, but Rowe and Ellis are both off radar. Meanwhile Sheriff forces a fingertip save from Hall. Then on 32 minutes they get a corner which Powney takes. The ball is cleared back to him, but instead of firing the ball back into the penalty area he takes it upon himself to run infield with the ball an before we could stop him rifles the ball past Ed Hall from the edge of the area. Two nil to Bacup. Then finally, a moment of magic. Ellis chases an overhit cross and keeps it in play over on the right hand side. He turns cleverly and finds Schorah, who in turn finds young Fletch Brooksby, on for the injured Clappison. He then picks out Courey Grantham in the penalty area with a clever ball, which the right winger smacks into the top corner from close range. We start the second half brightly. Schorah is unlucky when his goalbound shot is blocked and Rowe has their keeper at full stretch with a spectacular volley from the edge of the area. But... from a Fallon long throw, the ball is flicked on and Sheriff nips in to nod the ball past Ed Hall at his near post. 3-1.. We ran out of steam a little but Sam Wright did miss by a whisker from a free kick. A bad day at the office and a rare home defeat. We slip to 6th.
The one away fan from Bacup was rightly ecstatic, but the ultras still bought him a pint down the Farriers before wishing him a safe journey back by train to mid Lancashire.
The North West Counties League Division One North Table After 12 games
Merry Christmas Everybody and a Happy 2025 wherever you are in the world!
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