34. End of season 4 Run In

It's officially squeaky bum time. Just four league matches remain as we cling grimly onto fourth place in the league. Whatsmore we are still in the First Division Cup, having reached the semi final, so are in with a shout for some silverware this season. Firstly though we must qualify for both the First Division Cup Final and the league playoffs. 

Match 36: Bacup Borough v Morley Town – First Division Cup Semi Final

So this is it.. after our dramatic penalty shoot out win over Eccleshall in the Quarter Final we face the long trip over to Bacup for the semi final. Exciting times! This to me is a bit of a Brucey bonus, as my real aim has been to get Morley promoted probably via the playoffs. This game is on a Wednesday which doesn’t help either.. but never mind.. here we are..

Bacup are 6^th in our league while we are 4^th. They have Decarrey Sherriff but we have Gabriel Ellis... Who will book a place in the final against Campion, who beat Old Blackburnians 3-1 in the other semi final?

I have finally lost patience with Aaron Smith, who has not scored for ages and his general attitude and performances have been poor unfortunately.. The Aaron Smith of last season would have won us the title this year.. Harry Wood is in my view far more deserving of a place, so he partners Ellis in attack Nathan Morley returns to left back. Sam Wright is still mysteriously suspended so Bentley fills the anchor midfield role.

Team: Thompson, Clery, Wilkinson, Cotteril, Morley, Bentley, Henderson, Gutzmore, Ellis, Wood, Preston

Subs: McLachlan, Bentham, Smith, Greenwood, Bett-Wildsmith

Bacup Borough: Willams, Ferguson, Potter, Heaton, Fallon, Geliher, Heald, Lovatt, Homson-Smith, Ridge, Sheriff

On a gusty March evening in West Lancashire, Bacup kick off. We are clad in our changed strip of blue shirts and white shorts, while Bacup are in their traditional white shirts and black trim. It’s even in the opening 10, Heald blazes a shot over after being put through on goal by Sheriffs clever through ball. On 11 minutes Morley throws the ball in to Preston on the byeline. He cuts the ball back to Henderson who is free in the penalty area. He shoots goalwards and Harry Wood sticks out a boot to divert the ball past the keeper. A dream start for Morley Town! Bacup respond. Fallon bursts forward and his low shot is saved by Thompson. Then, Homson-Smith gets down the left and his wicked low cross is met by the foot of Cahrlie Ridge... but saved by Thompson. Clery throws the ball in on the near side to Henderson who gets to the byeline and cuts the ball back for Ellis, who swings his boot... His shot takes a wicked deflection off a defender and into the roof of the net! 2-0 Morley! Decarrey Sheriff has had enough and drives forward to unleash a fierce shot which Thompson tips over the bar. 2-0 Morley at the break.

Into the second half and we are playing some lovely stuff. Preston gets down the right and plays in Henderson who forces a smart save from Williams at the near post. However Bacup are inching their way back into the game. Dangerman Sheriff gets down the left and his pinpoint cross is met by the head of Ridge.. just over. Should have scored.. Then, Homson-Smith cuts inside and skips past Clery. He releases Jack Heald who fires low past Thompson to halve the deficit. We respond. Sam Bentley wins the ball back superbly in midfield and finds Nathan Morley. He releases Gutzmore down the left, who has been quiet so far.. He jinks his way past two defenders before whipping in a low near post cross which is turned home by Harry Wood for his second of the game. Brilliant! We are all over Bacup now, running at them from all angles, like a pack of wolves chasing a gazelle. Gutzmore to Henderson, swept across field to Preston on the right. He crosses in low to Henderson, who is tripped. Penalty! Up steps Ellis who drills the ball low into the corner. Bacup 1 Morley 4! Bacup won’t give up and that man Sheriff forces a fine save from Thompson. Gutzmore almost makes it five after another brilliant mazy run, but his shot was straight at the keeper. What a result and performance.. We are through to our first ever cup final! Brilliant job lads!

Final Score: Bacup Borough 1-4 Morley Town

Heald 58                                           Wood 11,60

                                                           Ellis 30, 69 (pen)

Sapanora Leaves Morley Town

Sapanora has been unhappy of late, because allegedly I have not been starting him enough in games.. Funny that because he has been injured for two months and while on the sidelines, Wilkinson and Bentley have been smashing it so why should I change a successful partnership? He has been playing more to give my first choice pairing a rest but no that won’t do, so he threw his toys out the pram and joined United Counties South side, Hinckley Leicester Road... He made 16 appearance with no goals and an average rating of 6.70, so he hardly pulled up any trees. It does leave me a bit short of numbers at the back for the important games coming up.

The League Run In

 There are just four games to go in the league and things are hotting up in the title race. We are just about in the hunt still for top spot and automatic promotion to the NW Counties Premier, but a playoff place is more realistic as we will need the teams above us to implode. Our run in below. All we can do is beat what is put in front of us and hope for the best. (scroll/swipe left for Morley)

Match  37   Silsden Reserves v Morley Town

This game has banana skin written all over it and it is all about having the right attitude today. These are my thoughts as we travel to the picturesque town of Silsden. Their reserves are already relegated with just 13 points, of which three of those were surprisingly gained at Glen Road very early in the season. Looking at their squad screen they only have five players, so it’s little wonder they have struggled since. I just hope the FM Gods are not in one of those odd moods... Wright finally returns in midfield with Bentley restored to his more familiar central defensive role, but otherwise its as you were.

Team: Thompson, Clery, Bentley, Wilkinson, Morley, Wright, Henderson, Preston, Ellis, Wood, Gutzmore

Subs: McLachlan, Cotteril,  James, Smith, Greenwood

Silsden Reserves: Crousden, Richardson, Lund, Jowsey, Scarborough, McNab, Lund, Yakubu, Lopia, Angeli, Boateng

This has all the hallmarks of an England qualifier against lower ranked opposition, such as Andorra or San Marino, ten men behind the ball and us having plenty of possession with the odd threat of a dangerous breakaway or dodgy set piece. I hate this sort of game. We need an early goal. This nearly comes when Preston dribbles down the right and cuts the ball back to Henderson who blasts the ball goalwards, but Crousden pulls off a worldie of a save. This looks ominous. Preston has looked a threat on the right and he sets the ball back to Clery, whose deep cross finds Harry Wood running in but he blazes it over the bar on the half volley. Those FM Gods are in an odd mood. Henderson half volleys one just over near the end of the half. 0-0 at half time.. I am worried.

Into the second half and Gutzmore gets down the left and his low cross is diverted goalwards by Ellis.. it beats the keeper... but off the inside of the post and cleared.. Unbelievable! But. Silsden lose the ball in midfield. Wood plays the ball up to Ellis who lays off instantly to Henderson. He makes a return pass to Ellis.. into the area.. smashes it into the top corner!!! Relief!! Nathan Morley throws the ball in to Gutzmore in a central position. His simple pass into the area finds Henderson in acres of space and he has time to look up and power the ball into the top corner to give us a more comfortable 2-0 lead. Silsden though have not given up. Suddenly they are on the break and Boateng is clean through. He chips the ball magnificently over Thompson... Fiddlesticks! Silsden Reserves have nothing to lose and fly forward again and after a couple of crazy deflections the ball falls to Daffyd.. who skies the ball into Row Z., 3 points to Jonny Wilkinson thank goodness. I breathe a sigh of relief. Jack Greenwood picks up the ball in midfield and runs at the Silsden defence before releasing Preston down the left whose simple low cross is tapped home at the far post from 2 yards out by The Angel to surely wrap up victory. Brilliant! But on 79 minutes Silsden win a free kick.. It’s floated in.. Ellis misses the header and Boom Angeli volleys home from close range... I feel a bad moon rising... but I needn’t have worried because the Angel is in one of those unplayable moods. He picks up Aaron Smith’s pass, gallops to the right corner of the penalty box and unleashes a firecracker which hits the back of the net like a tracer bullet.. 4-2 Morley.. Silsden try to attack but give the ball away and that is fatal with our forward line. Greenwood runs at the heart of the Silsden defence again, transfers the ball right to Gutzmore who moves the ball swiftly inside for Kevin Preston to sweep the ball low into the bottom corner for 5-2. Job done.

Final Score: Silsden Reserves 2-5 Morley Town

Boateng 75                                       Ellis 58, 78, 80

Angell 83                                         Henderson 68

                                                         Preston 84

 

 Top of the table with 3 games left

Henderson hands in Transfer Request

In a shock move, midfield maestro Ben Henderson has announced his desire to leave Morley Town at the end of the season. He has been our best player this season, scoring 13 goals in 27 appearances and making 7 assists. I am disappointed but.. there’s always another player who can come in and do just as well. I am annoyed with the timing more than anything with probable playoffs and The First Division Cup Final on the horizon.

The Class of ‘26

Amidst all the chaos of the league run-in, a cup final and star players suddenly handing in transfer requests we welcome the next crop of young talent to the club. My head of Youth Development, Roddy Hyland has been waxing lyrical about what he called, “The Class of ‘26” and their potential to form the fulcrum of the first team in the future.

With a worsening financial picture we will need to promote the youth into the first team as soon as we can as it is unlikely we will be able to bring in many more established new faces in the summer.

Remember the names:

Nathan Evans (ST)

Azeez Salami  (AMR) – Adds a bit of spice to the attack

Julien Hirigoyen (MC)

Mike Gregson (AML/ST)

Alfie Priestly (AMLC/MC)

James Goulding (DRC)

Joel Page (DLC/DMC)

Gabriel Suntner (DRL/MR)

Austin Mohan (GK)

Ammari Woolerton-Smithies (ML)

Matt Stockton (AMLC)

Match _37__ Ryburn United v Morley Town

Revenge is very much on our minds as we travel over to Ripponden for another showdown with Ryburn United. The 6-1 defeat they inflicted on us earlier in the season at Glen Road was our worst performance during my tenure as manager and I could not bear to walk down Queen Street for about a week after that.. Our hosts have failed to capitalise on that result and sit in a middling 12, while we are in a perennial 4^th. I revert to a 4-2-3-1 which means a recall for the out of sorts Smith in the number 10 role. Cotteril is preferred to Clery at right back.

Team: Thompson, Cotteril, Wilkinson, Bentley, Morley, Wright, Henderson, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Gutzmore

Subs: McLachlan, Clery, Kemp, Wood, Bett-Wildsmith

Ryburn: Kennedy, Taylor, Ohene, Cooper, Spencer, Convery, Kirk, Lord, Moore, Mendoza, Whitehouse

In the team talk before the match I rallied the troops... motivated them... gave them a Churchillian speech talking about exacting revenge.. at one point I even thought about dusting off The Great Escape DVD... The players are tearing the dressing room walls down, desperate to get out onto the pitch. Even Aaron Smith is up for it... Brilliant... 2 minutes in we’ve barely touched the ball. Ryburn playing tika taka football like bloody Barcelona c2010, us chasing shadows they work the opening beautifully.. Lord to Kirk to Covery.. to Spencer, unmarked in the box.. 1-0 Ryburn as he tucks the ball serenely into the bottom corner past Thompson like Iniesta in his pomp. To be fair after this we gain a measure of control of the match but without creating any clear-cut chances but not conceding any either. Then on 39 minutes, Nathan Morley drops his shoulder and sprints past the defender on the left flank. His beautiful far post cross is met by the head of Henderson who glides the ball into the top corner for a deserved equaliser. One each at the interval. Into the second half and we cannot keep the ball. Ellis flicks the ball on meekly and Ryburn break. This looks dangerous. Cooper to Lord to Mendoza, whose clever turn inside takes out three Morley defenders and then slips in Lord who has run off the ball and he slaps the ball past Thompson. 2-1 Ryburn. We respond. Ellis smacks a long range effort just wide. But Lord is ruling his midfield manor. Taylor is released down the right by him and his low cross is turned home by Whitehouse for another great Ryburn goal which belonged at a higher level. Sod it lets just attack and go direct and see what happens. Henderson has a long range effort tipped round the post. I fire up the team. Suddenly we start to dominate and start intercepting the ball in midfield before they can launch one of their Guardiola style attacks. Wright puts in a crunching tackle in midfield and releases Gutzmore. His cross finds Henderson on the far side. He then dinks a delightful cross of his own for The Angel to nod home from close range. 3-2! We suddenly look like a different animal and roar forward. Suddenly Ryburn are rattled as their pretty little passing game is unravelling as we close them down in midfield and run at their defence from all angles. Cotterill takes a throw in to Henderson who finds half a yard to fizz in a low cross fromt he byeline. The ball evades Harry Wood and his marker but Marlon Gutzmore arrives unmarked at the far post to sidefoot home a brilliant equaliser. 3-3! It’s up for grabs now! Suddenly it is us who are favourites. Nathan Morley at left back, forward to Gutzmore on the left flank. The young winger turns inside and plays a teasing slide rule pass, which just evades the defender and finds Ellis, whose instant pass to his strike partner, Wood sets him free into the area.. Wood to win it.......SCORES!!!!!!  RYBURN 3 MORLEY TOWN 4!!!!! In off the crossbar, keeper no chance... Inevitably Ryburn respond and another one of their 5-star passing moves which sees Mendoza turn, shoot and smack the foot of the post.. It is our day. Ellis has a fierce shot well saved right on the final whistle. What a comeback, from 3-1 down to turn it around to 4-3. We go third and are assured of a play off place and even a slim chance of the title if we win our remaining games and other results go our way..

 

Our largest away support of the season saw 18 ultras make the trip over to Ripponden to witness our amazing comeback win.

 Match 38: Morley Town v Daisy Hill

It’s getting down to the business end of the season with just two league games left and then the cup final against Campion. While a playoff place is secured we (and whisper it quietly) still have a slim chance of stealing the title and automatic promotion to the NW Counties Premier if we win both games and both Charnock Richard and Holker Old Boys lose both of theirs.

I make one change from the XI who beat Ryburn, with Wood replacing Smith in attack. Daisy Hill meanwhile are playing for pride in 9^th place.

Team: Team: Thompson, Cotteril, Wilkinson, Bentley, Morley, Wright, Henderson, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Gutzmore

Subs: McLachlan, Clery, Kemp, Wood, Bett-Wildsmith

Daisy Hill: Lovelace, O’Callaghan, Ellis, Collings, Jones, Pearath, Junior, Meeks, Egan, Brown, Bell

Match Action

It is the visitors who start the brightest and force Thompson into a couple of saves. Seems like we were just toying with them though. Preston back to Wilkinson back to Kevin. He releases Henderson in the right channel who bursts forward to the right corner of the area, where he places the ball sublimely into the far corner off the inside of the post. We look the more likely to add to our lead with Gutzmore cutting in dangerously on his right foot before seeing Lovelace claw his curling effort over the bar. Gutzmore gains half a yard on the left and fizzes in a low cross where Harry Wood sweeps it goalwards first time, only to be denied by Lovelace. Daisy Hill respond and as half time approaches look the better side. A scrappy passage of play where we fail to keep possession is seized upon by the opposition. Rolando Brown runs across from the left win and feeds Egan, whose brilliant crossfield pass finds the onrushing Meeks who takes the ball down and half volleys the ball past Thompson for the equaliser. 1-1 at the break.

Into the second half and we re-assert dominance and look the most likely to score. Gutzmore jinks inside from the right and unleashes a shot just over. Daisy Hill respond and the dangerous Egan picks up the ball on the right. Nathan Morley chases after him and upends the winger... he’s already on a yellow.. the referee has no choice.. red card.. It is end to end stuff as Daisy Hill smell blood and we do the best we can to launch an attack with a one man disadvantage. Egan has a curling shot which just evades the crossbar with Thompson beaten, while we fail to create anything significant. The game peters out into a draw which ends our slim title hopes, so with just one match to play it is the playoffs which we will be competing in.

Final Score: Morley Town 1-1 Daisy Hill

Henderson 11                                   Meeks 39

Match 39: Pilkington v Morley Town

The final league game of the season sees us take the trip to 12^th placed Pilkington. Having secured a playoff spot, but with no hope of stealing the title, this is a bit of a dead rubber. Therefore it’s time to have a first glimpse at some of the Class of ’26 to see what they can do, while resting our star players for the playoffs and cup final to come.

Team: Paley, Clery. Cotteril, Goulding, Bentham, Wright, Hirigoyen, James, Priestly, Bett-Wildsmith, Kemp

Subs: Mohan, Wood, Bentley, Gutzmore, Haggett

Pilkington: Padaruth, Ayala, Coles, Davies, Don-Duncan, Smiljanic, Johnson, Harrison, Hodgin, Brookwell, Jones

Match Action

We look OK for 14 minutes, but Pilkington with their narrow diamond formation start to dominate. Harrison finds Johnson in acres of space who releases John Jones who slots the ball past Paley. Moments later and a slide tackle from Wright falls straight into the path of Harrison who takes the ball into the area and fires in number 2. Oh dear! We go close near the end of the half when Priestley’s low cross is hit over by Hirigoyen. 2-0 down at half time. Into the second half and I introduce Wood for Hirigoyen to give us more bite up front. This nearly works when he latches onto Cotteril’s long pass and slots the ball under Padaruth, but he moves too early. Offside. Then Clery misplaces a pass which is seized upon by the dangerous Jones, who sprints forward one on one but young Dempsey Paley makes a fine save. From the resulting corner though we fail to clear and Jones lays the ball off to Pamment who rifles the ball home from close range for number three. As for the Class of '26, their time will come...

Final Score: Pilkington 3-0 Morley Town

Jones

Harrison

Pamment

North West Counties League Division 1 North Final League Table

Charnock Richard win Title

Charnock Richard have won the NW Counties League Division One North title after a 2-0 win over Haughmond. Congratulations from all at Glen Road.

Playoff Semi-Final Draw

Morley will play Chadderton in the playoffs semi final at the neutral venue of The Shay, home of FC Halifax Town.

Find out how we get on in the playoffs and Division One Cup Final against Campion in the next instalment of The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!