33. Trouble at t'Mill

As the season reaches its latter stages we have reason to be pretty happy with how things are going. We have been more consistent this season and this form has propelled us into the playoffs, where we have been able to sustain 4th place in the league. We are also still in the First Division Cup, so we still have some chance of silverware this season. The team has been relatively settled and Ellis has managed to regain his best form.  There seems little reason for anybody to be unhappy...

Then, there was a knock at my door. It was my defensive midfielder, Jack Broadhead, somebody I had a lot of respect for.

"Boss.. I want to start more games. I'm wasted on the bench and think I could make a real difference in the team."

This was strange because I had actually started him in the last game. Maybe he was making sure he stayed in the team. This was nothing new and to be fair he was good enough to command a more regular first team place.. it's just that cult hero, Sam Wright was ahead of him in the pecking order and was absolutely smashing it as a ball winning DMC and an attacking threat with his bursts forward and passing range which was good for this level. Furthermore Wright was developing a brilliant understanding with our other central midfielder,Ben Henderson, so why break that up? I saw the 31-year old Broadhead as somebody to bring off the bench if we were winning narrowly to use his experience to see the game out, be solid and sensible especially if Wright was tiring. A kind of Jordan Henderson type figure if you like.. 

He had the ability to command a regular place in the team though but was not as good as his more energetic team mate.

"OK I can see where you are coming from. I'll start you in the next game against Squire's Gate."

"OK Boss. Thanks.

That should have been the end of it...

Match 28: Squire’s Gate v Morley Town

In three meetings we have never beaten Squire’s Gate and they have become a bit of a bogey team. We mustered an entertaining 2-2 draw at their place last season and then they have beaten us 2-1 on the two other occasions. They are always closely fought matches but somehow they always seem to come out better. Anyways I make a couple of changes from the fortunate win over Campion. Bentley replaces Sapanora in defence and Henderson replaces Wright in midfield with Broadhead retaining his place in the anchor role. Wood is given a start in place of Ellis. Our opponents lie in a middling 13^th, while we are in 4^th.

Team: Thompon, Clery, Bentley, Wilkinson, Morley, Broadhead, Henderson, Smith, Grantham, Wood, Preston

Subs: McLachlan, Sapanora, Wright, Gutzmore, Ellis

Squire’s Gate: Chamberlain, Hamza, Barnes, Butler, Fall, Birchall, Burnett, G.Johnson, Boyd, Stewart, C.Johnson

On seven minutes Jack Brodhead has the ball in space in the centre circle. He pings a beautiful ball out to the right wing to Courey Grantham. He gains half a yard before fizzing in a low cross which is swept home first time by Harry Wood. Brilliant goal. Grantham gets down the left again and pings in another cross which Wood heads just over the bar. We look surprisingly good. The home side have a couple of free kicks which result in headers wide, but apart from that very little as we have controlled the game 1-0 Morley at the break.

Into the second half and Squire’s Gate attack, resulting in a Boyd effort clawed away by Thompson. We win a corner and the keeper saves brilliantly from a Sam Bentley header. We win another corner which Morley swings in.. Penalty! Grantham was felled in the box! Up steps the right winger.. and he finds the bottom corner 2-0 Morley and Grantham’s 10^th goal of the season. Then little happens as we see it through quite comfortably. A great away performance and our hoodoo against Squire’s Gate is finally over.

Final Score; Squire’s Gate 0-2 Morley Town

                                                       Wood 8

                                                       Grantham 69 (pen)

Lennon Stead Leaves Morley

Lennon Stead has never really cemented his place in the size and after scoring just two goals in 16 appearances for us I decided to sell him on to Corby Town for a princely sum of £500 stuffed in a brown paper envelope..

Match 29: Morley Town v Lepton Highlanders 24/01/26

We host our friends from down t’road in Huddersfield in good spirits after two wins and a solid 4^th place in the league. The visitors have made a decent fist of life in the NW Counties Division 1 North and lie in 10^th position. I make three changes with Gutzmore replacing Preston on the left flank, Cotteril comes in for Clery at right back and Ellis in for Smith up front who controversially drops to the bench.

Team: 4-4-2 Thompson, Cotteril, Bentley, Wilkinson, Morley, Broadhead, Henderson, Grantham, Wood, Ellis, Gutzmore

Subs: McLachlan, Clery, Wright, Preston, Smith

Lepton Highlanders: Moumen, Wheater, Byers, Schultz, Bailey, Allison, Chapman, Brown, Scott, Pierre-Louis, Friar

Match Action

We barely have the ball and make a pigs ear of clearing it when we do. The Highlanders punish us instantly. A neat move down the left involving Chapman and Bailey sends young Pierre-Louis racing into the box and he smashes the ball home from close range.. We respond. Henderson has a shot brilliantly saved by Moumen. Gutzmore has to go of injured and replaced by Preston. Grantham has a long range effort clawed away by the keeper. The most annoying 1-0 deficit at half time. Into the second half and the Highlanders seem happy to sit back and defend the lead. I throw on Smith for Wood. Grantham goes on a mazy run down the right but his effort is once again saved by Moumen. The Highlanders look good on the break and after yet another poor goal kick from Thompson, Ian Chapman hits the inside of the post. We look disinterested with some hands on hips and general lack of effort. I am annoyed with the players which is rare for me. We are 4^th in the league and yet half of them can’t be arsed against a mid table newly promoted side at home we should be beating. What the hell is going on? The inevitable happens. Chapman and Friar combine to release Brown who finds the corner. It’s exactly what we deserve. The Ultras boo and they have every right to. We have been utter garbage today and I am fuming. Lepton should and could have added a third and even missed a penalty late on. We were pathetic in every department and I let the lads know exactly how I felt after the game..

Final Score: Morley Town 0-2 Lepton Highlanders

                                                      Pierre-Louis 2

                                                     Brown 76

Jack Broadhead Leaves Morley

The real reason for the bad performance against Lepton was because Jack Broadhead had been causing trouble in the dressing room. Despite me picking him for the last three games he is still disappointed with the playing time he is getting and was whingeing to any of his team mates who’d listen.. What gives? He even got some of the senior players to confront me about it during a tense meeting after the Lepton defeat, including Courey Grantham who screamed he did not want to play for a manager who treated his team mate like s****. I released Broadhead from his contract with immediate effect at no cost to the club (thank goodness) Good riddance! I have no time for people who upset team morale.. As for Grantham... we'll see...

Match 30 Charnock Richard v Morley Town

After a few team meetings, a team bonding session, where the team were taken on a hike up Ilkley Moor and the departure of Jack Broadhead, I am hopeful that the squad is back with a united front. I have promised Joe Wilkinson to play him as a no nonsense centre back and disappointingly Ben Henderson as a central attacking midfielder instead of the Mezzala role, of which he was absolutely smashing it by popping up late in the penalty area unmarked and underlapping on the right flank with Grantham or Preston to great effect..but anyways he knows best, not his stupid manager who is “paid” to come up with this kind of stuff...

To the football... We visit Charnock Richard clinging onto 4^th place with 42 points, 12 points behind our hosts, who are setting the pace and looking odds on to be promoted back to the NW Counties Premier at the first time of asking. They have the division’s top scorer, Luke Shorthouse in their ranks while we have The Angel.. Lets see who comes out on top?

Morley Town: Thompson, Clery, Wilkinson, Bentley, Morley, Wright, Henderson, Grantham, Smith, Ellis, Preston

Subs: McLachlan, Sapanora, Brooksby, Wood, Gutzmore

Charnock Richard: Woodford, Snook, Dean, Wood, Jibodu, Davies, Walker, Whymark, Rennie, Shorthouse, Darr

Match Action

A sweeping move from the league leaders sees Rennie sky the ball over the bar from three yards out for perhaps miss of the season. Smith puts a free kick just over the bar and Sam Wright’s fierce effort flashes just wide of the post. Encouraging. We look far more up for it and Smith drives forward before unleashing a fizzing shot which the keeper acrobatically tips round the post. We are the better side at the moment. Whymark has a shot wide of the mark, but other than that we dominate. Then Smith gets on the ball again and slips in Kevin Preston, but just as he was about to apply the finish he is upended by Snook. Up steps the Angel.. everyone of a Morley persuasion holds its breath... Finds the top corner.. 1-0 Morley.. Half time. Brilliant.

Into the second half as you would expect the league leaders press forward. Jibodu bombs down the left... but what’s this.. my right winger Courey Grantham runs after him, shrugs him off the ball and tackles him like Paolo Maldini in his pomp before pinging a 20 yard pass to Sam Wright in the centre of the park.. That alone got applause from the home fans who were starting to get on their team’s back. Aaron Smith has picked up a knock, so Fletch Brooksby replaces him in a defensive role with Henderson pushed into the more advanced number 10 role. A flowing move started by the young sub ends up with the new number 10 playing in Ellis one on one with the keeper. His shot beats the keeper.. but curls wide of the post when we all thought the net was about to bulge... Will that cost us?

Somehow we remain dominant. Brooksby has looked confident since he came on and strides forward Beckenbauer-esque from defensive midfield and smacks the ball goalwards which is tipped over the bar. We have been absolutely brilliant today, probably our best performance of the season. We deserve a second. Ellis is replaced by Wood. He picks the ball up on the half way line and begins to run with the ball. Wood now for Morley.. twisting and turning Giggsy style..He beats one defender as he veers to the left, before beating a second by cutting inside and firing low past Woodford for a brilliant individual effort. We were absolutely magnificent today and could have beaten the league leaders by four or five... That team bonding session on Ilkley Moor at the end of January seemed to do the trick... 

Final Score: Charnock Richard 0-2 Morley Town

                                                            Ellis 40 (pen)

                                                           Wood 89

 

Courey Grantham Leaves Morley

Courey Grantham’s Paolo Maldini impressions were one of his last acts in a Morley shirt as he leaves the club for 1.5K to Shrewsbury Juniors of the Shropshire Counties League Premier. Grantham has built a cult status among the Morley ultras and has turned in some impressive performances for us. However the 31 year old needed to be offloaded to help balance the books as his contract was too expensive and I did not like the way he confronted me in the meeting regarding Jack Broadhead’s playing time.

Appearances: 66

Goals: 22

Assists: 23

Ave Rating: 7.22

Match 31: Morley Town v Bacup Borough

It’s fourth against fifth as we host Bacup Borough, who are just behind us in the league. I give my squad a small rotate as we have a match on Wednesday, so Lee James makes his competitive debut on the right flank and Wood deputises for The Angel up front. Sapanora is also given a start in defence. Rookie forward, Lewis Kemp is on the bench. They have dangerman, Decarrey Sheriff in their ranks.

Morley Town: Thompson, Clery, Sapanora, Bentley, Morley, Wright, Henderson, Smith, James, Wood, Preston

Subs: McLachlan, Wilkinson, Ellis, Brooksby, Kemp

Bacup Borough: Williams, Ferguson, Potter, Heaton, Fallon, Geliher, Heald, Lovatt, Homson-Smith, Ridge, Sherriff

Match Action

We start the stronger side and carve out a few half chances and all seems well. But. Henderson’s pass to James on the wing is too short and cut out by Bacup. Fallon launches the ball down the left channel where Sheriff runs onto it. His cross is powerfully headed home by the onrushing Charlie Ridge 1-0 Bacup. We sweep forward and attack with width, especially Lee James down the right. Henderson has a shot clawed away and Luke Clery up from right back forces a fine tipover from Williams. We look likely to score. Enter Harry Wood. Henderson wins an important header in midfield and the ball is helped on by Smith to Wood who runs at the Bacup defence before unleashing a thunderbolt into the bottom corner from 25 yards. Get in! 1-1 and we deserved that. We win a free kick and Smith’s low strike forces another fine save from Williams. Henderson then gets Williams’ shirt dirty again. We are all over Bacup who are reliant on the break. Just before half time we attack again. Preston runs down the left and puts in a far post cross retrieved by Smith centred to Clery on the edge of the box, squared to Bentley who plays a first time through ball for Preston who lashes it into the top corner 2-1 Morley. Into the second half and we dominate again. On 51 minutes the inevitable happens and we bag a third. A superb move, starting with a Clery throw-in to Wood, back to Clery to Sam Wright in midfield. He instantly cushion volleys a pass over the top for the onrushing Wood on the right hand side. He cuts the ball back for Henderson to half volley the ball home for number three. But... Decarrey Sheriff is a genius at this level and when he is sent clear by Ridge there is only one outcome as he rifles the ball past Thompson. 3-2.. 75 minutes played.. The game mercifully ticks on.. but Bacup win a throw on the far side. The ball is played in to Sheriff, who spins and fires the ball low into the bottom corner..... ahhh but relief around Glen Road as the linesman raised his flag. Then Preston is played in and goes on a mazy run before forcing Williams into yet another save. Williams kicks the ball out... That’s it! Three brilliant points for Morley Town!

Final Score: Morley Town 3-2 Bacup Borough

Wood 36                                           Ridge 8

Preston 42                                          Sheriff 76

Henderson 52

Match 32: Eccleshall v Morley Town – First Division Cup Quarter Final

Well I’d almost forgotten we were still in this competition but here we are in the Quarter Finals as we take on NW Division 1 South, Eccleshall who lie in 11^th place. I go in with a strong team as I aim to go one step further than last season.

Morley Town: Thompson, Clery, Wilkinson, Bentley, Morley, Wright, Henderson, Smith, Gutzmore, Ellis, Preston

Subs: McLachlan, Bett-Wildsmith, Brooksby, Sapanora, Wood

Eccleshall: Kay, Mitchell, Mellish, Browen, Smith, Nicolson, Evans, Ratib, Grant, McAskill, Duffy-Weekes

Match Action

Eccleshall have the better of the opening exchanges and force two fine saves from Thompson. This is worrying. Gutzmore hits the outside of the post from a tight angle. Smith and Wright combine in midfield and float it out to the left for Kevin Preston, who retrieves the ball as it is headed away. He cuts in on his right before delivering a brilliant far post cross for Ellis to rise highest and best the keeper with a fierce downwards header. 1-0 Morley. We look dangerous especially on the break and had Gutzmore shown more composure from a Preston cutback we could have been two up, but instead his effort landed in the car park. Eccleshall have looked neat and tidy on the ball and a flowing move starting in their back four results in Grant being sent through on goal and plants the ball past a sprawling Thompson. On the stroke of half time we take the lead. Morley’s cross after a throw in is headed away by the defenders but only as far as Marlon Gutzmore who chests the ball down and thwacks the ball into the roof of the net on the half volley. 2-1 Morley at half time.

Into the second half and Gutzmore intercepts the ball as Eccleshall try to play out from the back. He squares it for Ellis who sets the ball back for Aaron Smith.. Over the bar... A great chance spurned. Eccleshall goes up the other end. The ball is played in short to McAskill, who is tackled by Nathan Morley... The referee blows his whistle.. Penalty.. Eh?? He won the ball.. clearly... Unbelievable decision! No VAR in the NW Counties Leagues so up steps Ratib.. who finds the corner. Two each. Then out the blue Eccleshall win a free kick. Up steps Ratib again,.. and finds the top corner.... unbelievable.. 3-2.. I throw on Wood for the ineffective Smith and Brooksby for the tiring Clery. Morley comes inside with the ball and passes to Henderson. His instant ball forward to Ellis is cleverly laid into the path of Harry Wood who strides into the area and finishes high into the roof of the net. 3-3. What a cup tie! Then Brooksby gets up from full back and his pinpoint cross is met by the head of Gutzmore!!.. Just over the bar. That was a chance. We search for winner and pile on the pressure. Another far post cross is headed over by Preston.. We keep attacking but some excellent Eccleshall defending keeps us out.. The game ends.. This Quarter Final will be decided by a penalty competition....

Penalty Shoot Out

Eccleshall will take the first penalty. Up steps Ratib

Ratib: Finds the top corner sending Thompson the wrong way, 1-0

Gabriel Ellis: The Angel fires the ball low into the bottom corner. 1-1

Nicolson... Low into the bottom right corner.. 2-1

Nathan Morley:.. Lashes it into the top corner.. 2-2

Stroomberg for Eccleshall... HITS THE POST! ..

Young Fletch Brooksby with a big responsibility... Straight down the middle but the keeper dives to his left so it crashes into the roof of the net! 3-2 Morley

Sampson Smith: Sends Thompson the wrong way and finds the top corner.. 3-3

Kevin Preston with a long run up.... Lashes the ball into the top right corner, keeper dives left.. 4-3 Morley

Duffy-Weekes to keep Eccleshall in the tie.... Finds the corner.  Cool as a cucumber.. Thompson goes the wrong way. 4-4

The deciding penalty will be taken by Harry Wood... Wood steps up and fires it high.. the keeper guesses the right way.. but can only palm the ball into the roof of the net.

MORLEY TOWN WIN 5-4 ON PENALTIES!!!!!

First Division Cup Semi Final Draw

Morley will travel to Bacup Borough for the First Division Cup Semi Final.

Sam Wright makes 100^th Morley Town Appearance

Midfield maestro, Sam Wright wore the Morley Town short for the 100^th time in the epic 3-2 win over Cheter Nomads. He has scored 19 goals with 32 assists and an Average Rating of 7.11. All time Morley legend.

Freddy Coubillay on loan

My young attacking midfielder has joined Westmorland Association Division Three outfit, Stavely United.

Match 34: Holker Old Boys v Morley Town

We take the long trip up to Cumbria to take on second-placed Holker Old Boys. We are still eternally in 4^th and with just six league games left will be looking to consolidate this position. I go in with a 4-2-3-1 with Cotteril coming in for the suspended Morley at right back with Clery switching to left back and Lee James replacing the also suspended Gutzmore on the right wing who, if you may remember, was sent off amongst the drama of the last game.

Team: Thompson, Cotteril, Sapanaora, Bentley, Clery, Wright, Henderson, Smith, James, Ellis, Preston

Subs: McLachlan, Brooskby, Wilkinson, Bett-Wildsmith, Wood

Holker Old Boys: Owens, Grant, Kamara, Morse, Alasttal, Bjork, Lisi, Lindley, Atkinson, Culshaw, Mason

Match Action

We make the early running in this one. Henderson has a snapshot beaten away by Owens. Preston buoyed by his late winner last time out is looking dangerous on the left wing. One such run takes him to the byeline and his cross is flapped away by Owens only as far as Henderson who half volleys the ball over the keeper and into the roof of the net Brilliant! The home side rally and suddenly take control. The ever dangerous Josh Lindley receives the ball and runs at the Morley defence, before firing in a low shot into the corner to equalise. Too much space afforded to him there. Holker then lay siege to our goal. We just cannot get the ball for more than 5 seconds. They pepper our goal with long range efforts, some of which Thompson has to keep batting away. It’s only a matter of time. On the stroke of half time we muster an attack which results in Henderson’s fierce drive saved by the goalkeeper. Better. One each at the break. We start the second half as we did the first and Ellis is unlucky to have a goal ruled out for offside when Henderson strayed offside in the build up.

It’s end to end as both sides look to find a winner. Sub Harry Wood heads over after good work from Lee James and they have a goal ruled out for offside. Then, Atkinson gets down the right wing and crosses the ball in... Thompson comes out and catches the ball with an air of authority. The referee blows his whistle.. Penalty.. eh? Nothing happened.... WTF? Unbelievable decision... Apparently sub Wilkinson backed into Livesey Mason... but he had no chance of getting the ball because Thompson caught it... Stupid... Up steps their sub, Jean Degabrielle.. just 19 years old...big pressure on the youngster... He fires it straight at Thompson.. brilliant save and justice done!!! Holker have not given up.. but Thompson is equal to everything.. . We win a corner right at the end which Lee James heads just over... The referee blows his whistle.. I’ll take a point after all of that..

Fletch Brooksby loan deal to Leaholm

After badgering me for weeks about getting a loan move (even though since Broadhead’s departure he has been getting into the match squad on a regular basis) I finally relented and let him join North Riding Division One outfit, Lealholm on loan before he staged a mutiny of his own.

Match 35: Morley Town v Prestwich Heys

Fourth plays fifth in this top-ish of the table clash. Sam Wright is suspended as is Morley. Gutzmore is back on the right wing, Sapanora is doing my head in but starts anyway because there’s nobody else and Bentley moves forward into a defensive midfield role.

Team: Thompson, Cotteril, Wilkinson, Sapanora, Clery, Bentley, Henderson, Smith, Gutzmore, Ellis, Preston

Subs: McLachlan, Bentham, James, Wood, Bett-Wildsmith

Prestwich Heys: Roberts, Blissett, Oshilaja, Carter-Byrne, Paling, Ingrey, Burrows, Roberts, Nicholas, Jones, Farrell

Match Action

It’s a very tight affair, no quarter asked no quarter given. Farrell has a goal chalked off for offside, while Henderson and Smith both blaze the ball over the bar from range when trying to play in The Angel would have been the better option. The game ticks towards half time and while we have had the better of possession have created little, with Ellis frustrating everyone by repeatedly being caught offside. On 43 minutes though we suddenly click into gear. Henderson plays in Ellis in the right channel, who for once stays onside. He cuts the ball back for Gutzmore inside the area who squares the ball for the incoming Kevin Preston who sidefoots the ball into the roof of the net for a brilliantly worked team goal. 1-0 at half time.

Into the second half and we dominate but cannot get that second goal. Preston looks dangerous on the left and Henderson is threatening going forward, but other than that we don’t create much. Prestwich are dangerous on the break and Burrows nearly equalises but his shot hits the side netting. Sub, Lee James has looked lively since he came on and his energy wins the ball back and then gives it to Henderson who sends other sub Harry Wood clear... Wood to seal it... Blazes over... In the form he is in I would have put my house on him scoring..Not to worry. We win a corner which Jayden Cotteril floats in. The ball is cleared to the irrepressible Preston who drops his shoulder and shimmies past his defender before whipping in a fine far post cross where Lee James rushes in round the back unmarked to half volley the ball into the top corner and score his first goal for Morley Town. Quite brilliant. There’s time to give another one of my young pups their debut,16-year old left back Lirak Bentham. A good solid home win, which crucially puts 5 points between us in 4^th and Prestwich in 5^th. Good job lads!

 

League Table After 30 Games

With just four games to go in the regular season, can Morley Town maintain their playoff place and set up a shot at promotion to the promised land of The North West Counties League Premier? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!