29. Dolly Mixtures
Match 2: Bacup Borough v Morley Town
Board Expectations: Defeat
It’s time
for “Big” Dave to get his bus out and take us somewhere, this time on a tricky
trip to Bacup Borough, who almost went up last season. I back my boys though
and we have learnt a lot from last season. Therefore I go in with a 4-2-1-2
formation with Wright and Broadhead forming a solid base in midfield, with
Grantham in the super sub role. Bacup are in 5th after a 3-2 win
over South Liverpool on the opening day. We are in 3rd.
Team: Thompson, Clery, Sapanora,
Bentley, Morley, Broadhead, Wright, Gutzmore, Smith, Ellis, Preston
Subs:
McLachlan, Grantham, Wilkinson, Bett-Wildsmith, Greenwood
Bacup: Foreman,
Collins Potter, Dobie, Fallon Gelliher. Heald, Lovatt, Homson-Smith, Ridge,
Sheriff
Match Action
Bacup create
the first chance, but Charlie Ridge’s header is just wide. From the goal kick
we enjoy our first spell of possession. Wright finds Gutzmore who cuts infield
dangerously and sprays the ball out to Preston on the right flank. He glides
forward and finds a low cross towards Smith, who is caught from behind just as
he was to strike the ball. Penalty! Given!. Up steps the experienced Jack
Broadhead.. who cooly slots the ball into the corner for a great start to the
game. Broadhead lays
it off to Sam Wright. He takes a touch of the ball and looks forward, before
belting the ball low towards the goal and under the sprawling Foreman in off
the post... What a strike Sam Wright! 2-0 Morley. But.. a well worked free kick
catches us napping and Geliher fires in from close range. 2-1. We look good
though and Ellis flashes a shot just wide. 2-1 at half time.
Into the
second half we pick up where we left off with Aaron Smith having a fierce shot
deflected wide. Bacup come back into it though and Thompson is twice called
into action. We are weathering a storm here, so I throw on some fresh legs.
Courey Grantham gets a rapturous reception from the travelling support as he is
brought on for Preston and Jack Greenwood up front for Ellis. Suddenly we click
into gear and Grantham and Greenwood bring out fine saves from Foreman. Bacup
pile on the pressure and spurn a couple of chances to equalise, with Lovatt the
main culprit.. it was our day, a magnificent performance. Two wins out of two
and we travel back to West Yorkshire a very happy camp indeed!
Final Score: Bacup Borough 1-2 Morley
Town
Geliher 38 Broadhead 11 (pen)
Wright 17
Match 3: Morley Town v Silsden
Reserves
It’s always
difficult to gauge the ability of reserve teams, especially early in the
season, but our opponents lie in 11th place after the first two
games, while we are flying high in third. I name an unchanged team, with the
only difference being Smith is pushed up alongside Ellis in an Advanced forward
role.
Team: Thompson, Clery, Sapanora,
Bentley, Morley, Broadhead, Wright, Gutzmore, Smith, Ellis, Preston
Subs:
McLachlan, Grantham, Wilkinson, Bett-Wildsmith, Greenwood
Silsden
Reserves: Crousden, Wood, Brosnan, Magwere, Scarborough, Laight, Hull,
Iggluden, Martin, Beacher, Hagan
Match Action
We dominate
the opening exchanges and create a couple of chances, Gutzmore’s near post
effort blocked by Crousden and then the keeper tips over a Broadhead header
from a corner. Clery is unlucky when his looping header hits the bar and Wright
has a deflected shot which Crousden scrambles around the post. Then Aaron Smith
hits the post from a stunning free kick. What do we have to do to score? Marlon
Gutzmore that’s what.... The talented teenager dances down the left wing,
before putting in a teasing cross which the defender, Magwere tries to clear
but it loops up off the top of his head and to Aaron Smith at the far post to
nod home from close range and to open his account for the season. Silsden respond
and start to attack. Beacher has a low shot brilliantly saved by Thompson. 1-0
Half Time.
Into the second half and we just can’t get going as Silsden seem to be first to every ball. Thompson is once again called into action. Then, Ellis and Wright can’t keep hold of the ball and Hull half volleys a perfect through ball on to the onrushing Hagen who fires confidently past Thompson. 1-1. I throw Grantham and Greenwood on and attack. We briefly re-assert dominance, but my other sub Bett Wildsmith pulls up with an injury, leaving us with just ten men, as I have used all my substitutes. To make matters worse, their sub Luca Adam wins a free kick and from 30 yards belts the ball into the top corner. Just not our day today. 2-1 Silsden. We push for an equaliser but this leaves too many gaps at the other end which Silsden exploit to devastating effect when Davison fires in a third on the break. Aaron Smith rattled the crossbar late on. It just wasn’t our day and the game hinged on an injury unfortunately...
Smith
35
Hagen 67
Adam 84
Davison
89
Match 4: Coton Green v Morley Town:
Isuzu FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
Cup fever
has hit Morley.. well at least among the manager, players, backroom staff and the 31
registered Ultras and season ticket holders.. The townsfolk of Morley are not
quite painting their houses in the white club colours just yet, but there is a
tinge of excitement among those in the small but loyal Morley Town family as
the club takes part in its first national cup competition. No, its not the big
one, not just yet that is to come if we win promotion to Level 9, but for now
the FA Vase, the "FA Cup for non-league teams" is upon us and we are proud to be
part of it.
We face the
longest trip of the season and this one is a bit out of Big Dave’s comfort zone
as we head down the M1 to Coton Green of the Midland League Division One. They
are located just north of Tamworth and lie in 16th place in their
league, while we are in 4th, but given their home advantage I am not
quite sure what to expect. I field the strongest team available to me.
Wilkinson makes his full debut at right back, while Grantham starts instead of
Gutzmore on the right flank and Ben Henderson is on the bench after missing the
start of the season through injury.
Team: Thompson, Wilkinson, Sapanora,
Bentley, Morley, Broadhead, Wright, Grantham, Smith, Ellis, Preston
Subs:
McLachlan, Brooksby, Stead, Grantham, Clery, Greenwood, Henderson
Coton Green:
Searle, Caldwell, Wynne, Benjamin,
Tibbetts, Pinas, Turner, Critchley, Yates, Azzouzi, Bruton
Match Action
It’s an even
20 minutes with both sides sussing eachother out. They have one clear chance
when Bruton fires wide from the edge of the area, while Kevin Preston has a
couple of long range efforts over the bar. We assert a reasonable amount of
control but without troubling their keeper. Ellis has a header comfortably
saved by Searle and Smith skies one over the bar from range. This is pretty
turgid stuff 0-0 at the break. Most of the ground are asleep.
Into the
second half and we look the better side but seem to lack creativitiy when it
matters and fail to create a noteworthy chance. They are dangerous on the break
and from set plays. I introduce Gutzmore and Henderson to try and liven things
up a bit. On 61 minutes a chance, Bentley heads just over from a corner. Still 0-0.
The game ticks on. Courey Grantham turns his man brilliantly on the right wing
and puts in a peach of a cross to the far post where Smith heads just over. The
game ticks on. Nothing much happens. This is looking like a dour 0-0 draw. The
clock ticks past 90 minutes. Ben Henderson has been neat and tidy on the ball
since he came on and he lays the ball right for Grantham. Ellis who has been
quiet so far today suddenly springs into action and makes a run into the right
channel where he is found by Grantham’s well weighted through ball. The Angel
gets to the byeline and puts in a low cross for SMITH!!!! GOAL FOR MORLEY
TOWN!!! He taps home from six yards out. The first move of genuine quality
results in a brilliant team goal! Just three minutes of stoppage time remain.
We win a corner. It’s cleared by Coton and they can break.. Yates is screaming
down the right wing and he squares it for Briscoe who is unmarked and with the
goal at his mercy. I wait for the ball to thump into the roof of the net....
but he fires it high and wide!! A massive sigh of relief! It’s our day and we
just about deserved that. Into the Second Qualifying Round we go. We receive
the princely sum of £550 for our efforts. Well done boys!
A big up to the two Ultras who made the trip down to the Midlands..
Match 5: Prestwich Heys v Morley Town
A trip to
Manchester now to take on Prestwich Heys. Our hosts lie in 10th
place while we are in 6th after the first three games. I make one
change with Lennon Stead coming in on the right flank for Grantham who is
rested.
Team: Thompson, Wilkinson, Sapanora,
Bentley, Morley, Broadhead, Wright, Grantham, Smith, Ellis, Preston
Subs:
McLachlan, Clery, Henderson, Gutzmore, Greenwood
Prestwich
Heys: Roberts, Blissett, Fletcher,Carter-Byrne, Spearing, Ingrey, Burrows,
Roberts, Nicholas,Jones, Farrell
Match Action
We start
brightly and after just 18 seconds Lennon Stead lets fly and forces a brilliant
save from Roberts. From the resulting corner Ellis has a brilliant volley
tipped over. At the other end dangerman, Burrows has a shot tipped over by
Thompson and Spearing fires one wide from the edge of the box. On 34 minutes we
win a free kick and Aaron Smith smack the post from 30 yards. 0-0 at the break.
Into the second half and it is the home side who take the initiative and we are penned in our own half. They hit the post and the bar within minutes of eachother. Then the game just ticks on as it gets bogged down. Like the Coton Green game it will take one moment. Unfortunately for us it’s Prestwich. And when Jones’ header hits the bar, it falls kindly to Adam Farrell who half volleys emphatically into the empty net. We try and respond but save for a late Aaron Smith header over the bar we create little, which is unusual for us. A tired performance after our cup exploits at the weekend
Final Score: Prestwich Heys 1-0
Morley Town
Farrell 84
Match 6: Morley Town v Charnock
Richard
The games
are coming thick and fast as we entertain Charnock Richard, recently relegated
from the NW Counties Premier and have hit the ground running this season and
lie in second place. We lie in a disappointing 11th, but as they say
it is a marathon not a sprint and it is still early days. I restore a Mike
Bassett style 4-4-2 with Ben Henderson making his full debut in midfield.
Team: Thompson, Clery, Sapanora,
Bentley, Morley, Wright, Henderson, Grantham, Smith, Ellis, Preston
Subs:
McLachlan, Wilkinson, Broadhead, Stead, Gutzmore
Charnock
Richard: Woodford, Snook, Dean, Dickov, Jibodu, Williams, Porritt-Beaston,
Whymark, Rennie, Shorthouse, Darr
Match Action
It is us who
make the early running, but come a cropper to the offside trap just as we look
like we are about to score on two occasions. Then Kevin Preston has to come off
injured and is replaced by Marlon Gutzmore. Ellis picks up the ball and
unleashes a piledriver which smacks the underside of the crossbar and bounces
out. How unlucky! We drive forward and dominate the game, playing some lovely
attacking football in the process, but we just cannot score. Ellis forces a
fine point blank save from the keeper, while Aaron Smith heads just over from
six yards when he should have done better. Then to cap it all off Luke Clery
nuts in a Sam Wright corner only for it to be chalked off for pushing...
Charnock go up the other end and I was convinced they were going to score, but
thankfully due to the bravery of Sam Wright he deflects Whymark’s shot over the
bar. Charnock have been lucky so far but they are the architects of their own
downfall as they suddenly think they are Barcelona and try to play the ball out
from the back, which on the slightly uneven surface at Glen Road is never a
good idea. Dickov tries to find Williams, but Ben Henderson intercepts and
slots the ball confidently home for a more than deserved lead on the stroke of
half time.
Into the
second half and it is more of the same. We have dominated the midfield and have
been sharp in the tackle, before breaking forward dangerously in numbers.
Henderson has been superb and his threaded through ball sets Ellis free, but
his shot pings the inside of the post, but falls to Grantham following up who
can practically walk the ball into the empty net to double our lead. Brilliant!
Charnock attack and create a few chances, which on another day could have
punished us, but with a combination of poor finishing and brilliant goalkeeping
from Thompson and some good defending from we prevent them from scoring. A
really good performance today, but we need to do this on a consistent basis if
we are to have any chance of promotion this season.
Final Score: Morley Town 2-0 Charnock
Richard
Henderson 45
Grantham 61
Match 7: Morley Town v Squire’s Gate
We need to
back up the Charnock Richard game with another good home performance against
Squire’s Gate. The visitors have not had a great start to the season and lie
down in 15th, with just one win all season. If we can beat
high-flying Charnock Richard then surely we can put this lot away.. I make one
change with Gutzmore starting instead of Preston who drops to the bench after
picking up a knock in the last game.
Team: Thompson, Clery, Sapanora,
Bentley, Morley, Wright, Henderson, Grantham, Ellis, Smith, Gutzmore
Subs: McLachlan, Greenwood,
Broadhead, Preston, Wilkinson
Squire’s
Gate: Chamberlain, Hamza, Barnes, Butler, O’Brien, Fry Burnett, G.Johnson,
Boyd, Stewart, C.Johnson
Match Action
It takes us
ten minutes to get going but we dominate. Smith has a low shot well saved. Then
we shilly shally around too much and Squire’s Gate are on the break with Stewart
down the left. His pinpoint cross finds the onrushing Gabriel Johnson who
finishes high into the roof of the net. A classic breakaway goal. The game
ticks on annoyingly I try and gee the team up. Smith finds Ellis and he strides
forward and pings a brilliant strike.. against the angle of post and crossbar.
When will his luck change? Gutzore skies the follow up into the tree behind the
goal... 1-0 down at the break from their sole attack in 45 minutes, So
annoying. Gabriel Ellis pulls up with an injury and is replaced by Jack
Greenwood. We dominate the game as the visitors seem happy to sit on their
lead. Gutzmore has looked our best player and he gets the ball on the left
wing. He teases his full back before whipping in a fine cross which is met by
the head of Henderson!! 1-1 as he buries it into the corner! Yes!! Both sides
try to seek a winner. A good move by us ends up with Gutzmore blazing over the
crossbar at the crucial moment, but the visitors apply the pressure and look
most likely. Bentley decides to head the ball clear when he could have left it
to go out for a goal kick. The ball is seized upon by Casey Stewart who
dribbles to the edge of the box and unleashes a firecracker which curls
deviously into the corner of the net. 2-1 Squire’s Gate, a sucker punch. We throw
everything forward to try and get an equaliser, but it wasnae to be. A very
disappointing home defeat to a team we should be beating if we want to be in
the hunt for promotion.
Final Score: Morley Town 1-2 Squire’s
Gate
Henderson 58
G.Johnson 24
Stewart 90
League Table after 6 Games
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