25. Getting Back On Our Feet

 

Match 23: Morley Town v Holker Old Boys

It is Holker’s turn to make the long trip to West Yorkshire, which just a few days after Christmas is a tough ask for both players and fans. Anyway we need a win and need one badly to get our season back on track. I make several changes to the team from the poor performance in the last game. One of the outcomes of the team meeting was that Ben Clappison and Sam Bentley did not play well together, so to solve this conundrum I’ve swapped Clappison and Croft so the latter partners Bentley in central defence and Ben moves to right back. Courey Grantham is dropped and Preston comes in on the right hand side.

Team: Hall, Clappison, Croft, Bentley, Lacey, Wright, Makiessi, Preston, Smith, Ellis, Gutzmore

Subs: McLachlan, Boradhead, Grantham,⁷

Match 23: Morley Town v Albion Sports

After our much needed win over Holker Old Boys we now need to push on again if we are going to make the playoffs this season. Amazingly despite being down in 10^th, we are still only 5 points off 5^th place, so it is tight and a good run of form will see us hopefully get up there. Albion Sports are struggling down near the bottom of the table in 17^th place. However we can take nothing for granted in this league and they did manage to turn us over at their place earlier in the season. I make one change with Rowe preferred to Ellis up front.

Team: Hall, Clappison, Croft, Bentley, Lacey, Wright, Makiessi, Preston, Smith, Rowe, Gutzmore

Subs: McLachlan, Broadhead, Ellis, Grantham, Schorah

Albion Sports: Chamberlain, Potts, James, Smith, Riley, Thomas, Reeve Birchall, Crouz, Thomas, Reid

We look confident and attack with purpose. Clappison forces a brilliant save from his snapshot after a cleared corner. Preston and Rowe then exchange passes and the youngster flies down the right wing. He finds a low cross which is hit first time by guess who,. Aaron Smith high into the top corner to open the scoring. After a spell of Albion Sports possession we intercept and attack. Wright finds Gutzmore who lays it infield to Aaron Smith. The defender, determined not to let our dangerman get on the ball slides in to intercept, but can only divert the ball into the path of Louis Rowe on the edge of the area. He dribbles forwards and places the ball with pinpoint accuracy into the corner, keeper no chance for a brilliantly taken second goal. Two nil at the break and looking comfortable. Into the second half and on 56 minutes Preston has a brilliant goal disallowed for offside after Louis Rowe’s superb reverse ball played him in. Another moment of creativity from the Irishman saw sub Courey Gantham race through but fire over from the angle. Albion offer little at the other end and we see the game out comfortably with, best of all a clean sheet for the first time in ages.

Final Score: Morley Town 2-0 Albion Sports

Smith 8

Rowe 39

Louis Rowe Hands In Transfer Request

It is fair to say that despite his performances on the pitch me and Louis Rowe have not always seen eye to eye. This started off in the middle of last season when the Irishman was upset about how I handled the team talk after a laboured 2-0 home win against bottom side Alwoodley in the Yorkshire Amateur Supreme League and now he has once again been whingeing about my failure to strengthen the goalkeeping department, so in a showdown I told him if he didn’t want to play for the club, then he can feck off.. Which is what he wants to do.. so goodbye! 

Match 24: South Liverpool v Morley Town

We take the long and tricky away trip to Jericho Lane, South Liverpool for our latest fixture. After two solid home wins, we need to start winning away from home to move up the league again towards the playoffs. Our hosts lie in 14^th place safe from relegation, while we are still in 10^th place despite those two wins, but just five points off 5^th place. Ellis replaces the wantaway Rowe up front but otherwise it’s as you were.

Team: Hall, Clappison, Croft, Bentley, Lacey, Wright, Makiessi, Preston, Smith, Ellis, Gutzmore

South Liverpool: Westcarr, Stone, Maguire, Swain, Storey, Wraighte, Ashraf, Tait, Richardson, Byrne, Boyce

For Level 10 football, both sides are knocking the ball about with confidence. One beautiful move sees Ellis sky the ball over the bar and in retaliation, South Liverpool smack the inside of the post after a shot from Tait. Then Makiessi has an effort which whistles just past the post from range. The game then just ticks on to half time. No goals at the break.

Into the second half and Makiessi has another effort which flies over the bar. Then, the home side have a spell of possession. Chris Wraighte gets down the left and his far post cross is headed home by Peter Davidson. We respond. Makiessi is unlucky when he is played in by the ever impressive Smith, but his shot is deflected wide. Then Smith forces a fine save from Westcarr after good work from sub Grantham. South Liverpool hit the bar late on but we slip to an annoying away defeat in a game that for large parts were the better team.

Final Score: South Liverpool 1-0 Morley Town

Davidson 63

Joe Lamplough announces retirement

My loyal player/assistant manager and all round good egg, Joe Lamplough has decided to retire as a player at the end of the season. He will carry on as my assistant manager.

Match 25: Morley Town v Squire’s Gate

It is increasingly likely to be a season of mid-table mediocrity for team Morley, but if we get on a good run there is still time to gatecrash the playoffs. The visitors lie in 15^th place while we occupy a solid but unspectacular 10^th. I stick with the same eleven who battled to an unlucky defeat over on Merseyside.

Team: Hall, Clappison, Croft, Bentley, Lacey, Wright, Makiessi, Preston, Smith, Ellis, Gutzmore

Subs: McLachlan, Grantham, Broadhead, O’Connor, Schorah

Squire’s Gate: Edgar, Burns, Doherty, King, Rudd, Fry, Burnett, Johnson

Match Action

We are the better team in the opening 20, but they have the better chances. Illia skies one over the bar when he latched onto a big hoof forward. Meanwhile we huff and puff with some decent approach play, but not enough to blow Squire’s Gate down. On 22 minutes we win a corner and after Edgar, their goalkeeper flaps at it, Gabriel Ellis loops a header onto the crossbar. But.. a slick move from Boyd who runs at the Morley defence before releasing Johnson who fires high into the top corner, a goal against the run of play. Into the second half and Clappison has a downwards header from a corner blocked on the line. Squire’s Gate breakaway with Illia leading the charge. The ball is transferred to Jordan Fry on the right who seem to have all the time in the world to blast the ball into the top corner... I fire the team up and bring on young Martin O’Connor for the disappointing Smith. Lacey swings in a free
kick which is cleared to the edge of the box to O’Connor who fires one towards goal... GOAL TO MORLEY TOWN!! 2-1 We push for an equaliser. Grantham heads narrowly over and the same player tries a Jude Bellingham style overhead kick which is saved by the keeper. The final whistle blows and a surprise home defeat.

 Louis Rowe leaves Morley Town

After our latest falling out and his transfer request I have sold Louis Rowe for £11,000 to Buckland Road from the backwaters of the Oxfordshire County Senior League..... I had a good mind to get my two goalkeepers, Ed Hall and Ben McLachlan to drive him down to Oxfordshire personally in complete awkward silence..... 

Lennon Stead joins Morley Town

Bye Bye Louis, Hello Lennon. This promising striker joins Morley as a direct replacement for the Irishman and hopefully we’ll get on a little better.. Stead started his career at Grimsby but failed to make the grade at Blundell Park, so he turned out for Cleethorpes and Skegness Town before joining us on a free. Welcome t’Morley Lennon.. 

Match 26: Chester Nomads v Morley Town

It’s our turn to wander down the M62 to take on the Nomads of Chester. I really want a win a good performance and something to cling onto this season. The season is taking its toll on us all, the greater number of fixtures, the long away days like to Chester, Blackpool, Liverpool and all the places in between. I hold another team meeting before the game just to make sure we are all singing from the same hymn sheet. Let’s see if it works.

Our hosts are still struggling near the bottom of the league in 17th, despite looking a decent team in the 3-3 draw earlier in the season at Glen Road.

I recall Grantham at the expense of young Gutzmore who has run out of steam a little in recent games. He is only 16 years old, but looks a real talent. He can still come off the bench and make an impact. Broadhead partners Wright in midfield to give us more steel away from home and new signing Lennon Stead starts up front with Smith.

Team: Hall, Clappison, Croft, Bentley, Lacey, Broadhead, Wright, Grantham, Stead, Smith, Preston

Subs: McLachlan, Pappril, Schorah, Gutzmore, Ellis

Chester Nomads: McGovern, Azam, Blackburn, Pugh, Kelly, Gott, Baker, Crook, Mwamba, Cain, Kone

Match Action

It starts badly. Wright lets the ball run past him and we are in trouble and as the ball is cut back, Bentley barges into Kone sending him flying just as he was about to score. Penalty and a warning for Bentley. Pugh steps up and sends Hall the wrong way. Chester look good for a second, but for the fingertips of Ed Hall, could have done so. Then suddenly we start to play. Aaron Smith gets on the ball, always a good sign and lays it to Broadhead. He finds Wright whose first time pass is seized upon by Smith who cooly dinks the ball over the keeper to equalise. We look the better side as the half ends with Courey Grantham shooting just wide across the face of goal. The same player is then involved in a nasty collision with Kelly and has to go off injured. Ellis comes on with new boy Stead playing on the right flank. One each at the break. Into the second half and we are much the better team and deserve to take the lead. Ellis shoots uncharacteristically wide. Then Crook has a great chance at the other end which brings out the very best from Ed Hall. Then Makiessi’s clever dummy to Ellis plays in Stead who forces a great save from McGovern. It could go either way this. Momentum shifts when Broadhead is caught dallying on the ball and Mwamba releases Kone whose shot smacks aginst the post. Then Harry Cain is sent streaking down the left wing, who cuts the ball back to Jack Crook who belts it into the top corner... Just sums us up at the moment.. We respond though. Ellis has a shot straight at the keeper after a fine passing move. Then Makiessi runs with the ball and releases a thunderbolt which smacks the crossbar... We have the bit between our teeth. We win a corner.. cleared only as far as Makiessi. He finds Pappril, back to Makiessi who lofts the ball forward headed away by the defender only to Stead, who hooks his foot around the ball to provide a brilliant cross for Preston at the far post, who finds the corner of the net with a brilliant downwards header for 2-2. The home side rally and another brilliant save late on from Mwamaba prevents yet another defeat on the road. The hardest earnt point of the season.

Final Score: Chester Nomads 2-2 Morley Town

Pugh 4 (pen)                                         Smith  22

Crook 66                                              Preston 74

Match 27: Morley Town v Longridge Town

We owe Longridge Town big time, after they inflicted our worst defeat of the season at their place on a soggy day in Lancashire earlier in the season. It’s fair to say morale is not good in the camp after our season has fallen off a cliff somewhat and Louis Rowe’s departure. The visitors are up in second place, while we languish in an eternal 10^th place.

Team: Hall, Clappison, Croft, Bentley, Lacey, Broadhead, Schorah, Stead, Ellis, Smith, Preston

Longridge Town: Aspinall, Savage, Osigwe, Snoddy, Williams,Moore, Rattray, Woodbine, Ellington, Hall

Match Action

Longridge look like a well-oiled machine as they attack and win several free kicks. Luckily for us their finishing is wayward and we hold on, trying desperately to gain a toe hold in the match. We do put together a good move with Ellis gaining ground down the right before laying the ball infield for Smith to sting the hands of the goalkeeper. However the inevitable happens. Moore’s free kick is parried away by Hall only to Rattray who crosses in for Martin Moore to sidefoot home. But we have Aaron Smith... Kevin Preston’s ball down the line finds him in the left channel and he skins his man before cross in low for Callum Schorah to fire into the roof of the Longridge net for an instant reply. Suddenly we look the business. A well worked free kick routine sees Ellis fire just wide and then after a glorious passing move Smith sees his fierce effort acrobatically tipped around the post by Aspinall. We attack again, this time Lennon Stead on the right. His brilliant low ball into the six yard box sees the ball fall to the Angel with the goal at his mercy. Half the ground were already celebrating...but no! His fierce effort pings off the inside of the post and bounces clear. How did he miss that?? Preston then has a late effort beaten away by the keeper as we finish the half the stronger team. One each at the break.

Into the second half and Longridge dominate possession but create little. Meanwhile we look useful on the break. A fine ball from Stead sends Ellis clear, but his attempts at redemption from his earlier miss sees his finished parried onto the woodwork by Aspinall. So unlucky and sums up his season.

Another breakaway after another long spell of Longridge possession sees Makiessi release Ellis down the right channel. He lays it back to big Ben Clappison who holds off his man, before finding Jean Claude on the edge of the area. He turns and unleashes a wonderful curling effort which sails into the top corner. A brilliant goal. 2-1 Morley. But recently we have had a capacity to self destruct and when a hopeful ball from Williams is launched into the box on 67 minutes, Hall flaps at it and the ball falls to Savage who rifles the ball low into the bottom corner of the net. 2-2. Both teams press for a winner. Hall’s cross is headed just over by the dangerous Ellington. Then on the counter attack Aaron Smith shoots just wide when he should have done better, Another home draw, but a decent result against a good Longridge side.

Final Score: Morley Town 2-2 Longridge Town

Schorah                                           Moore

Makiessi                                         Savage

Match 28 Ashton Town v Morley Town

Eleventh play tenth in this mid-table clash, which means little at this late-ish stage of the season. A win will see us comfortably establish ourselves in the top half, while a defeat may have us looking over our shoulders a bit, with our opponents four points behind us. We also have the Quarter Final of the cup in just three days time, so a wee bit of rotation may be required to guard against fatigue.

Hall, Clappison, Croft, Pappril, Lacey, Leedham, Schorah, Grantham, Stead,Ellis, Preston

Subs: McLachlan, Makiessi, Broadhead, Gutzmore, Smith

Ashton: Keskin, Martin, Grundy, Dempsey, Leyland, Nowakowski, Payne, Cromack, Judson, Waller, Shorthouse

Match Action

We start well. Ellis’ shot is blocked and it falls to Preston, whose shot is clawed round the post by Keskin. Then Lacey sends Preston scampering down the left and his first time low cross is smashed home from close range by The Angel. But. Ashton win a free kick and Judson swings it in straight onto the head of Adam Nowakowski, whose powerful downwards header evades Ed Hall, who rather does a Sydney Harbour Bridge over it as it sails into the bottom corner. Then the game just gets bogged down and the time ticks to half time. Into the second half and Ed Hall has the ball. He punts a long kick downfield which turns out to be brilliant because Ellis is running onto it and the former Accrington finishes with aplomb, hitting the ball high into the roof of the net to restore our lead. Non-league route one football at it’s finest. I make a couple of subs with the cup game in mind. Stead is replaced by Gutzmore and Makiessi is on for Schorah. A word here for Olly Leedham who has been quietly going about his business in defensive midfield with his intelligent passing and tackling. He picks up the ball in the centre circle and plays a lovely ball to Gutzmore on the right flank. He cuts inside on his left foot, taking him into the area and unleashes a beautiful curling shot which flies in off the crossbar for a brilliant third goal and further enhance his growing reputation. Leedham and Preston combine on the left and young KP, who has been like a wil o’ the wisp on the left skins his full back before crossing onto the head of Makiessi, who instead of going for goal himself intelligently guides the ball into the path of Gutzmore who rifles the ball into the top corner on the half volley to seal the win. What a performance from the youngster. Leedham is at it again as he releases the irresistible Preston down the left wing who puts a peach of a cross in for Ellis to nod home number five and complete a perfect hat-trick. I take him off and the whole ground give him a standing ovation for a brilliant striker’s performance and bring on Aaron Smith. Not to be outdone, he latches onto Lacey’s ball forward and lashes home number six, beating the keeper at his near post. 6-1 Morley! Where did that performance come from?

Final Score: Ashton Town 1-6 Morley Town

Nowakowski  10                              Ellis 9, 48, 70

                                                       Gutzmore 64, 67

                                                       Smith 80

Stat Attack!

Gabriel Ellis’ second goal against Ashton Town was his 50^th goal for Morley Town in 69 appearances.

With an upturn in form, finishing with a stunning 6-1 win away at Ashton Town Morley still have an outside chance of sneaking into the playoffs. Can Rudd's men pull it off? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!  

Read Part 26: Chasing Respectability Here!