37. Goals Galore!
So another season beckons and with all the pre-season formalities over with and the nights starting to draw in it can only mean one thing.. A brand new football season.. What will the 2026/27 campaign bring for Morley Town FC?
Goalkeepers
Tony Thompson
Joseph Oldham
Defenders
Jayden Cotterill (DRC)
Sam Bentley (DC/DMC)
George Wilkinson (DLC)
Joe Wilkinson (DRC)
Fletch Brooksby (DRC/DMC/MC/ST)
Robbie Christie (DL/ML)
Marley Haylock (DL/WBL/DMC)
Hugo Jewson (DRLC)
Midfielders
Sam Wright (DMC/MC)
Karlos Bett-Wildsmith (MRLC)
Lee James (MR/AMR)
Marlon Gutzmore (MRL/AMRL)
Kevin Preston (MRL/AMR)
Alfie Priestley MC/AMLC)
Forwards
Gabriel Ellis (ST)
Harry Wood (ST)
Aaron Smith (AMC/ST)
Olly Cresdee (ST) (on loan from Farsley Celtic)
Martin O'Connor (ST)
Welcome to the New Boys In The NW Counties Div 1 North
Alwoodley- The surprise new boys. After Morley
had contributed to their relegation to the Yorkshire Amateur Premier (level 12)
back to back promotions have seen them escape from the amateur leagues and into
the NW Counties North, turning semi-pro in the process. Another Leeds derby to
look forward to.
Marine U23s
The former
Division One Cup winners have somehow landed up in our league. Their first team
have gone from strength to strength and are in the National League.
Prescot Cables Reserves
The
Liverpool based outfit of the Northern Premier have put their reserves in our
league. These are our first opponents.
Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves
Yet another
reserve team have holed up in our league.
Silsden
Strangely
Silsden Reserves have been replaced by their first team in the NW North.
Another nice trip to this picturesque North Yorkshire town awaits.
Colne
This East
Lancashire outfit were relegated from the NW Counties Premier.
Season Ticket Sales
Morley Town have sold 31 season tickets which is exactly the same as last season.
The big Kick
off!! Let the 2026/27 season commence! This is our third season now at this
level and I have only one aim in mind – promotion to the NW Counties Premier.
It starts here at Valerie Park, home of Prescot Cables, deep in the suburbs of
Liverpool. Big Dave has warmed up the team coach and as we drive down the M62
west for our first trip over the Pennines of the season I wonder what thrills
and spills await us in our bid to climb out of Level 10 football. I have a great
squad with some experience and a batch of good youngsters who have the ability
to make their mark at this level.
I have a
full squad to pick from and go in with a 4-4-2. Robbie Christie and Olly
Cresdee both make their debuts with my other new signing, Hugo Jewson on the
bench.
Morley Town: Thompson, Cotterill,
J.Wilkinson, G.Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Cressdee,
Gutzmore
Subs:
Oldham, Bentley, Bett-Wildsmith, Jewson, Wood
Prescot
Cables Reserves: Dick, Haythornwaite, Withe, McAuley, Cooper, Halford, Whitlow,
Beirne, Lengyel, Carroll, Kelly
Match Action
We start
brightly and look in control, but fail to create a chance of note. Then on 18
minutes we strike. Christie’s throw-in to Wright, back to the debutant, infield
to Gutzmore in the area. He twists and turns before firing a fierce shot at the
near post which the keeper can only palm into the top corner of the net. 1-0.
Comfortable. Preston then dribbles down the right and his low cross is fired
goalwards by Ellis, who brings the best out of Dick who gets a hand on it. 1-0
Half time.
Into the
second half and it is the hosts who start the strongest. Beirne has a shot
which is clawed away by Thompson, his first save of note. Beirne is then
released by a good ball over the top in the right channel and he cuts the ball
back for Lengyal to lash home an equaliser. 1-1 at half time. We have not got
out the blocks in the second half, but Ellis releases Cressdee in the right
channel. The loanee checks back but loses possession. Carroll clears the ball
but it hits his own player and falls to Sam Wright, whose instant pass finds
Gutzmore on the left edge of the area. His fizzing cross is turned into his own
net by Haythornthwaite for a rather fortunate own goal. Sub Harry Wood nearly
makes it three but his header is cleared off the line after more good work from
Kevin Preston. The same player fires
just wide after beating the keeper to the ball from Sam Wright’s brilliant
pass. On 80 minutes Ellis misses a point blank header that should have sealed
the game. Prescot have always posed a threat and very nearly equalise twice
when Thompson does well to deny Carroll at close range and then Kelly misses with a point blank header which could easily have gone in. We see it through
and a brilliant three points on the road in what was on paper a tricky opening
fixture.
Isuzu FA Vase 1st
Qualifying Round Draw
Morley Town will host NW Division One South outfit, West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Match 2: Stocksbridge Park Steels
Reserves v Morley Town
Reserve
teams are like a box of chocolates, you never quite know what you are going to
get.. a bunch of annoyed players who have been demoted from the first team, or
a bunch of youngsters eager to impress. Another away game, meaning the 31
faithful ultras will have to wait another week before they see a home game.
Anyways I
stick with the same XI which saw off Prescot Cables in the opening game. In
fact, the same match squad will make the trip across the Pennines to East
Manchester and Jamie Vardy’s old stomping ground.
Morley Town: Thompson, Cotterill,
J.Wilkinson, G.Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Cressdee,
Gutzmore
Subs:
Oldham, Bentley, Bett-Wildsmith, Jewson, Wood
Stocksbridge
Park Steels Reserves: Spurdens, Coker, Foulstone, Kane, Colclough, Rickards,
Joyce, Pritchard, Lightowler, Warwick, Bell
Match Action
It’s a death
by a thousand free kicks in the opening 5 but we survive them and then get one
of our own. Robbie Christie floats it into the box towards Ellis.. but he falls
to the ground. Penalty! Up steps The Angel.. 1-0 Morley.. In off the post. The
hosts respond and a Warwick header forces a fine save from Thompson. We then
have a good spell. Gutzmore does well on the left before picking out a cross
for Ellis to force the keeper to claw the ball away from his header. Aaron Smith
also forces a fine save from Spurdens direct from a free kick. At the other
end, Bell’s fierce drive from the edge of the box is tipped over by Thompson.
On 28 minutes Marlon Gutzmore picks up the ball and drives at the Stocksbridge
defence. He twists and turns like a mid-90s Giggs before reaching the byeline
and digging out a cross onto Ellis’ head. This is blocked by the defender, but
the rebound falls to Olly Cresdee who sweeps home from 6 yards to open his
Morley account. 2-0 Morley. We are playing with confidence and Sam Wright
bursts forward from defensive midfield before playing in the dangerous Gutzmore
inside the penalty area. The defender comes across and clatters him. Penalty!
and a red card for their right wing back, Fraser Colclough. Gabriel Ellis steps
up once again.. and drills the ball low into the bottom left corner... 3-0.
After just 34 minutes we are playing “Ole” football. Aaron Smith wins a free
kick. He gets up and blasts the ball goalwards straight into the top corner.
Great to see him back on the scoresheet. 4-0 and it’s not yet half time.
Into the
second half and Ellis who is in one of those moods, latches onto a misplaced
pass and races clear with just the keeper to beat... Never in doubt he
finished with a low drive straight into the bottom corner from 20 yards.. Harry
Kane would have been proud of that! Stocksbridge don’t give up and Mohammed
Catton gets down the right and his low cross is turned in by the sliding
Warwick for 5-1. No matter. Moments later a sweeping Morley move with the
brilliant Gutzmore down the left. He cuts the ball back to Sam Wright who
touches the ball forward for Aaron Smith who swivels and curls the ball into
the top corner for his second and Morley’s 6th. 6-1. The final
whistle blows. We march to the top of the table after 2 games.
Final Score: Stocksbridge Park Steels
Reserve 1-6 Morley Town
Warwick 71 Ellis 7 (pen),32 (pen)
48
Cresdee 29
Smith 42,74
Brooksby on loan at Thorpe United
Versatile
youngster, Fletch Brooksby has joined York Division 2 Outfit, Thorpe United on
a season long loan.
Match 4: Morley Town v West Didsbury
& Chorlton – Isuzu FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
Our first
cup game of the season and unlike last year we don’t have a 300 mile journey
ahead of us. Instead we host Manchester side, West Didsbury & Chorlton
of the NW Division One South. They have had a mixed start to the season and lie
in 12th in their league while we top ours after two games. They
have the brilliantly named Myles La Bastide up front. Lets hope he doesn’t live
up to it.
I bring in
Harry Wood in place of Cresdee up front, but otherwise its the same settled XI.
Seven subs enable us to include two more members of the squad.
Morley:
Thompson, Cotteril, J. Wilkinson, G.Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith,
Preston, Ellis, Wood, Gutzmore
Subs:
Oldham, Bentley, Bett-Wildsmith, Cresdee, Jewson, Benza, James
West
Didsbury & Chorlton: Griek, Winter, Garrity, Williams, Hornsby, Jones,
Sandhu, Hodgson, Oglesby, La Bastide, Miller
One minute
on the clock and Jonathan Oglesby thinks he’s flipping Mo Salah. He cuts inside
from the left, skips past two half-hearted Morley tackles and blasts the ball
into the top corner. Not the start we had planned.. We respond. Wood is unlucky
to be caught offside when his wonderful improvised finish is ruled out. Aaron
Smith has a long range effort tipped round the post. The visitors attack with
La Bastide on the right side of the box.. Good challenge George Wilkinson
perfectly timed... but the referee blows his whistle.. What the actual?? Penalty
He won the ball are you blind ref?... Unbelievable decision! Hodgson steps up
and plants the ball firmly in the corner. It gets worse. That man Oglesby again
finds a far post cross where Lewis Jones nods home.. Three chances three
goals.. Joke. We respond. Smith gets forward and is tackled but Preston picks
up the loose ball and his near post cross is turned home by Ellis, who looked
suspiciously offside but hey ho I’ll take it. 3-1 down in a match we have
completely dominated. Strange is football. Wright bursts forward and his shot
is well saved by Griek. Gutzmore gets to the byeline but his low cross evades
everyone.. Inexplicably 3-1 down at half time.
The second
half begins and we attack with gusto. Gutzmore now on the right plays a lovely
reverse ball to the underlapping Aaron Smith, He runs forward and squares to
Ellis! He thumps the ball into the top corner. 3-2! Game on! We are
irresistible now. Preston cuts inside from the left and floats a sumptuous
crossfield pass to Gutzmore in space on the right. His simple cut back is
tapped home by that man Gabriel Ellis for his third hat-trick in three games..A
hat-trick of hat-tricks.. 3-3. Disdbury have other ideas though and Jayden
Sandhu fires goalwards after a sweeping
move 4-3. We huff and puff but cannot blow the house down. Bentley hits the
post with a header. Some good defending denies Ellis when he was about to pull
the trigger. Our opponents have a habit of scoring just when you don’t want
them to. Jones crossfield to Oglesby who touches inside to Sykes-Newton who
lays off to Miller inside the box who fires past Thompson to seal our fate. Joe
Wilkinson was sent off for two bookables late on. Unfortunately it just wasn’t
our day. A cup run would have been nice, but my focus this season is firmly on
the league. We received the princely sum of £160 for taking part which we used
to drown our sorrows with down Morley Bottoms afterwards.
Danny Benza joins Wallington on loan
My promising
AMLC Danny Benza has joined Northern Alliance Second Division side, Wallington
on a season long loan.
Freddy Coubillaay joins Rothbury on
loan
My promising
midfielder, Freddy Coubillay has joined Northern Alliance Third Division side,
Rothbury on a season long loan.
Match 5: Alwoodley v Morley Town
Rich meets
poor as we make the short trip to the leafy suburbs of Alwoodley in North Leeds, just off
the A1620 ring road in this NW Division One North clash. It’s a bit of a
throwback to our Yorkshire amateur league days when of course we enjoyed a 9-0
victory on this ground, which has the must un-Alwoodley name possible, the
Alwoodley Community Association Ground, which sounds far too working class for the wealthiest suburb in Leeds. Anyway to the football. We line up in the trusted 4-4-2 but with a few changes,
mindful of our showdown with Chadderton in just a few days time.
Struggling
Alwoodley are down in 17th after gaining one point so far this
season.
Morley Town: Thompson, Jewson,
Bentley, G.Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Cresdee,
Gutzmore
Subs:
Oldham, Cotteril, James, Wood, Hayloc
Alwoodley:
Scott, Hutchings, McGrth, Newell, Burrows, Riley, Chambers, Phillips. James,
West, Lister
Match Action
We dominate
the opening proceedings and are rewarded after seven minutes when Christie
throws to Smith back to Christie, back to Smith who dribbles into the area and
unleashes a fierce shot which sails into the top corner from the angle. It’s great
to see Aaron Smith returning to his best form. 1-0 Morley. Alwoodley respond
and create a couple of half chances but don’t trouble Thompson. Then Preston
gets down the right hand side. His low cross is cut out at the near post to
Burrows who was tracking Preston. Instead of hoofing the ball into Row Z he
tries to play it back to the keeper. Big mistake as he presents it straight to
Gabriel Ellis who turns and smashes the ball into the empty net. Three minutes
later and a training ground move from a Smith free kick results in Kevin
Preston cushion volleying home number three. Could another 9-0 be on the cards?
Alwoodley though are made of sterner stuff these days and enjoy a good spell of
possession and create some chances, forcing two good saves from Thompson. 3-0
at half time. The second half is a bit of anti-climax and I take off Ellis,
Christie and Preston to rest them for the game in three days time. We see out a
comfortable 3-0 win and maintain top spot with four wins out of four and 12
points.
Final Score: Alwoodley 0-3 Morley
Town
Smith 8
Ellis 13
Preston 16
Nathan Evans on loan at Liver Academy
My young
Kiwi forward, Nathan Evans has joined the Liver Academy on loan and will play
in the Liverpool Premier League First Division.
Match 6: Morley Town v Chadderton
First plays
second in this crunch early season fixture which sees us entertain Chadderton.
I make a few changes from the win at Alwoodley with Cotterill, Wood and Joe
Wilkinson returning.
Morley Town: Thompson, Cotteril, J.
Wilkinson, G. Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Wood,
Gutzmore
Subs:
Oldham, Jewson, Bentley, Cresdee, Bett-Wildsmith
Chadderton:
O’Neill, McLeish, Gillan, Colbear, Williams, Agyemaan, Whinsper, Kyriakou,
Winfarrah, Read, Johnson
Match Action
We dominate
the opening proceedings. Harry Wood has the ball in the net but he was offside.
Ellis has a header well saved from a Preston cross. We look dangerous and carve
out some chances, but cannot put the ball in the onion bag. Slowly, Chadderton
weather the storm and grow in confidence. As half time approaches they win a
free kick on the right edge of the area. The ball is floated in back post where
Sam Colbear rushes in and guides a downwards header into the corner. Completely
against the run of play. We finish the half the stronger with Sam Wright
stinging the palms of O’Neill in the Chadderton goal. 1-0 down at the break,
despite complete dominance.
We make a
poor start to the second half as Chadderton attack and look more likely to
increase their lead.. But.. on 53 minutes Cotteril plays in Ellis down the
right channel. He half volleys a cross first time onto the head of the diving
Harry Wood for a brilliant equaliser. Chadderton attack through Shazad but Sam
Wright wins the ball back with a superb sliding tackle and Kevin Preston runs
up the left wing. He plays it inside to Aaron Smith who plays a crossfield ball
to sub Bett-Wildsmith who heads the ball inside. Gillan miscontrols and the
ball is volleyed handsomely into the corner for 2-1 by The Angel. Morley’s
captain then tests the keeper again with a superb 30-yard daisy cutter but its
clawed round the post. We are storming forward again. Wood holds it up and
feeds the overlapping Preston on the left who cuts it back to Sam Wright on the
edge of the area who touches it onto Aaron Smith who slams home number three
from close range. We are all over poor old Chadderton now. They have a throw-in
deep in their own half. Harry Wood nips in and steals the ball before crossing
for Ellis to fire home from close range to make it 4-1. Chadderton pulled a
late goal back but we hang on for a win.. Five out of 5 now as our 100% record
continues.
Final Score: Morley Town 4-2
Chadderton
Wood 54
Colbear 38
Ellis
67,73
Reed 82
Smith 68
Morley Town have started the new season on fire, winning five out of five games in the league and scoring 21 goals in the process. Can Morley Town sustain their blistering start to the new season or is it just a flash in the pan? Find out next time on the Ultimate English Pyramid Game!
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