40. Keeping in Touch

 

Match 18: Colne v Morley Town

Put simply we need to get our act together after two heavy defeats and we seem to have lost the fizz we had at the start of the season. Therefore I have decided to try something new and have finally ditched the 4-4-2 and have gone to a 3-5-2 system This is bad news for the returning AML/R Marlon Gutzmore, but I think we have the personell to pull it off and will hopefully make us more solid at the back and be able to compete better in midfield. Colne sit in a middling 12^th place, while we have slipped to 4^th place, but just two points off the top. These are the kinds of games we need to win if we are to challenge for promotion.

Morley Town: Oldham, G.Wilkinson, Bentley, Cotteril, Christie, Worsnop, Wright, Bett-Wildsmith, Smith, Wood, Ellis

Subs: Thompson, Cotteril, O’Connor, Preston, Haylock

Colne: Lombard, Angus, Barnett, Noble, Rice, Delaney, Pelling, Drake, Roberts, Ede, Lee

Match Action

We do not touch the ball from the kick off and a nicely worked move down the right results in their flipping left back having the freedom of Lancashire to stride into the penalty area and smash the ball into the bottom corner. I am fuming already and it’s only the second minute.. Their flamin’ left back behaving like Roberto Carlos.. in the NW Counties Division 1 North. We just cannot get the ball as wave after wave of red shirts attack. Lee heads just over, then fires a shot just wide of the post. We have barely touched the ball in ten minutes. I go back to 4-4 flipping 2..

Suddenly we click into gear. Harry Wood does well to intercept a loose pass and shoots agonisingly wide when through on goal. We are up for this, hunting in packs to win the ball back and then breaking quickly and directly at the Colne defence. Karlos Bett-Wildsmith drills a shot in which was a coat of paint wide. We deserve an equaliser here. Another swift attack sees Ellis send Harry Wood scampering down the left. His pull back finds Aaron Smith who drives the ball goalwards, only to find the fingertips of Lombard sprawling to his right.

Colne launch their first attack for ages and a long range effort from Lee brings out the best of Oldham. Roberts then thwacks the crossbar from a free kick. It is suddenly the home side who look most likely to score again. The second half ends disappointingly and we just cannot gain a foothold or create any chances. It is so frustrating as Colne just pass and pass and pass and pass and we are just chasing shadows.. The FM gods hate me right now...

Match 19 Morley Town v Alsager Town – First Division Cup Second Round

We are back in Division One cup action as we take on NW Division One South outfit, Alsager Town, who lie in 3^rd in their league. This will be hopefully a positive distraction from the league where we have suffered three defeats in a row. The cup also provides us with the opportunity to rotate the squad and let our fringe players and youngsters stake a claim for a first team.

Morley Town: Thompson, J. Wilkinson, Goulding, Bentley, Haylock, Tree, Hirigoyen, Gutzmore, Woolerton Smithies, Wood, O’Connor

Subs: Oldham, Wright, Bett-Wildsmith, Cotteril, Gregson

 

Alsager Town: Wright, Coates, Hutchinson, Whittaker, Wyatt, Daly, Wormall, Horbury, Holmes, Qasim, Akanbi

Match Action

We actually look up for a fight and are the brighter team in the opening exchanges, forcing a string of corners but without any success. Alsger have barely threatened.. Until A long goal kick from Wright causes chaos in the Morley defence and Bentley misses the header, allowing Akanbi to run through and larup the ball into the top corner one on one with Thompson. It just sums up our luck at the moment. But.. we are quite good going forward. Joe Wilkinson makes progress down the right flank before slipping in Marlon Gutzmore down the right. His low cross is swept home first time by young Martin O’Connor for a brilliant Morley equaliser. Lovely football that belonged at a higher level. Alsager hit back and a well worked move sees the dangerous Akanbi hit the crossbar when he should have scored. Another flowing move from us sees Harry Wood shoot just wide. Alsager though are giving as good as they are getting and a good move by them sees the ball land at the feet of George Horbury who takes one touch and fires in a low shot which Thompson does a Sydney harbour bridge over it as it flies into the bottom corner. Then a ridiculous moment, Alsager wins a free kick which is way over hit but as the ball was going out of play, Joe Wilkinson is adjudged to have pushed the Alsager player for the stupidest penalty ever given at any level of football. Wormull steps up and fires it low past Thompson into the bottom corner. Very disappointing to be 3-1 down when we are actually playing quite well!

Into the second half and Gutzmore goes on a mazy run before seeing his shot well saved. The same player then skins his full back before delivering the perfect low cross, but somehow Wood miscued his shot wide..  We dominate and have several shots either saved or flying just wide. I know this is not our day.. again.. Martin O’Connor has been brilliant and his dipping volley thwacks the crossbar and bounces into the keeper’s arms. Just about sums it up really. Then, to cap it all off Gutzmore receives the ball and runs with it again, before falling down in a heap in agony injured and has to be stretchered off, having been the best player on the park and man of the match.. I hate this stupid game... Our defence of the First Division Cup is over.

Final Score: Morley Town 1-3 Alsager Town

O’Connor 12                                       Akanbi 10

                                                          Horbury 29

                                                          Wormall 32 (pen)

 

Gutzmore out for the Season

Unfortunately my young winger, Marlon Gutzmore has broken his lower leg after pulling up injured during the Alsager match, meaning he will be out of action for up to 9 months.. It never rains but it pours...

Match 20: Morley Town v Pilkington

This is a must-win game at home to 11^th place Pilkington. Four defeats in a row in league and cup has seen us slip to 5^th in the league and crash out of the First Division Cup. We are desperate for a good win and performance. The “big guns” are back for this one with Ellis, Smith, Wright and co all returning. The one conspicuous absence is Gutzmore who will sadly not be with us for some time..

Morley Town: Oldham, Cotteril, J.Wilkinson, G.Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, , Bett-Wildsmith, James, Ellis, Smith, Preston

Subs: Thompson, Bentley, Worsnop, Wood, Haylock

Pilkington: Thomas, Gomes, Matthews, Ayala, Hollingsworth, Fura, Mohan, Warren, Quarless, Clowes

 

Match Action

We start brightly. Lee James gets down the right and his near post cross is almost steered home by Ellis, only for Thomas’ hand to get in the way. Then from a wicked Christie corner, George Wilkinson’s powerful header is blocked on the line. We have been brilliant in the opening ten minutes, but cannot score. Pilkington break away.. here we go..McWilliams down the left to Clowes! Brilliant save from Oldham to deny him. We attack some more, exploiting the flanks with Preston and James enjoying the extra space afforded to them by Pilkington’s narrow formation. Joe Wilkinson pings a sumptuous ball to Kevin Preston on the left who reaches the byeline and his inch perfect cross is nodded home comfortably by Ellis for a brilliantly worked goal and exactly what we deserve. Then it is all Pilkington and every time we get the ball we give it away. Luckily we reduce them to a couple of long range efforts. We lead 1-0 at the break.

Into the second half and Pilkington carry on from where they left off. On 56 minutes we launch an attack. Robbie Christie throws the ball in and receives the ball back from Preston. His first time cross is deep and Karlos Bett-Wildsmith has made a forward run and he twists his neck round to make contact with the ball which loops over Thomas and into the corner of the net. 2-0!  Pilkington won’t go away though and Joseph Oldham is called into action on three occasions to deny them a way back into the game. We see it through to the end. Boy did we need that win.

Final Score: Morley Town 2-0 Pilkington

Ellis 29

Bett-Wildsmith 57

Match 21: Barnoldswick Town v Morley Town

We travel to the Yorkshire/Lancashire border town in great spirits after our 2-0 win over Pilkington and it was nice to get that winning feeling back in the dressing room again. We now must back this up against 9^th placed Barnoldswick, who have been punching above their weight this season. I make one change with Harry Tree replacing Lee James who drops to the bench.

Morley Town: Oldham, Cotteril, J.Wilkinson, G.Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, , Tree, Bett-Wildsmith, Ellis, Smith, Preston

Subs: Thompson, Bentley, James, Wood, Haylock

Barnoldswick: Kipikuris, Bastanis, Blackwell, Cumming-Bart, McRae, Shepherd, Dawkins, Lawlor, Gibbons, Sinton, Stoneley

Match Action.

It’s even as both teams look to attack but fail to create a significant chance. Then Sam Wright goes in for one of his trademark slide tackles but stays down injured. He is replaced by Sam Bentley. We look the better side with some neat approach play, but the final ball is letting us down. Jayden Cotterill has our first shot on target which is beaten away by the keeper. Sinton at the other end latches onto Cumming-Bart’s excellent long ball, but can only sting the palms of Joseph Oldham. 0-0 at the break.. a poor half of football from both sides.

We create the first chance of the second half when Robbie Christie’s shot is headed against the post by Bett-Wildsmith. Then Bastaris gets up from right back and whacks a shot goalwards which Oldham turns behind for a corner. We start to dominate and win a string of corners. Gabriel Ellis curls a shot goalwards, but is blocked by the defender, just as it looked like it would whistle into the top corner. Then Robbie Christie has a go but the fingertips of Kipikuris just diverts it away from goal. Unlucky. As the game ticks on towards full time we press some more desperate to score. Lee James cuts the ball back, Ellis inside the area lays the ball off to Harry Tree.. Ohh brilliant save Kipikuris who acrobatically tips the ball over the bar. Right on full time and Lee James is played in by Tree, right edge of the area.. the crowd urges him to shoot.. but instead cuts the ball back to Ellis.. but he’s crowded out and the ball is cleared. The full time whistle blows. A frustrating 0-0 draw, but I’ll take the point on the row which keeps firmly in touch with the top of the table.

Final Score: Barnoldswick Town 0-0 Morley Town

George Wilkinson Leaves Morley Town

My talented defender, George Wilkinson has sadly left Glen Road and joined Holbeach Town of the Eastern Counties League Division One South.. A bit of a sideways move if you ask me, unless he has family over that way or something.. He made 20 appearences, scoring two goals.

Match 22: Morley Town v Prescot Cables Reserves

These are the kinds of teams we need to be beating if we are serious about promotion. To be fair they have punched above their weight in our league and lie in 12^th while we are in 4^th, but crucially just two points off top of the table Daisy Hill in a tight top 5.

I shuffle the pack a little after our frustrating 0-0 against Barnoldswick and introduce O’Connor up front to partner Ellis and Amari Woolerton-Smithies to on the left with Preston switching to the right. Bentley replaces the departed George Wilkinson in defence.

Team: Oldham, Cotteril, Bentley, Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, O’Connor, Woolerton-Smithies

Subs: Thompson, Goulding, Haylock, Tree, Bett-Wildsmith

Prescot Cables Res: Dick, Withe, Haythornthwaite, McAuley, Labyad, Beattie, Whitlow, Beirne, Khan, Liversedge, Rey

Match Action

It’s end to end but we create the clearer chances. Ellis knocks the ball down for O’Connor who half volleys over the bar when he should have done better. At the other end we restrict the visitors to long range efforts with Oldham rarely troubled. Then the move of the game sees Christie play a lovely one-two from a throw in with Smith, who wanders into the box and forces a fine save from the keeper. We have been the better team but once again cannot find a way through.. Goaless at half time.

Into the second half and it is more of the same. I throw on Harry Wood, who immediately gets down the left channel.. and crosses in for Ellis who rises highest.. off the underside of the bar and bounces clear.. How Unlucky! Then on the break Kevin Preston charges down the left wing. His low cross is met by Harry Wood!!!! He lashes the ball home.. Brilliant.. But No.... The lInesman raised his flag.. Offside.. I kick a water bottle on the touchline in frustration. Then a brilliant angled ball from Bentley sets Preston away down the left and his low cross find Wood! Blocked on the line and out for a corner.. What do we have to do to score? I bring on Haylock and go three at the back with Smith, Wood and Ellis as front three , Tree and Preston on the flanks in an attempt to force the issue. This nearly works as Sam Wright bustles forward and unleashes a piledriver which was brilliantly saved by the keeper. Again... Then Prescot win a corner this could all unravel, the ball falls to Whitlow.. who stings the palms of Joseph Oldam. From the resulting corner we break away, Kevin Preston once again leading the charge. His cross is headed out by McAuley, only to Smith in the inside left position who flashes the ball across goal which is cleared but only as far as Preston who surges forward to byeline. Preston crosses, but it evades everybody but HARRY TREE who lashes the ball goalwards and flies into the top corner!!.. It took a deflection off Harry Wood! Relief!  He got the final touch. 1-0 Morley Town! We see it through to the end.. 1-0.. It’s results like this of which champions are made. We go second on goal difference with Daisy Hill.

Final Score: Morley Town 1-0 Prescot Cables Reserves

Wood 89

League Table After 20 Matches

Somehow, despite some indifferent results, Morley Town are 2nd in the table on goal difference from Daisy Hill. Can they take the division by the scruff of the neck or will other teams gain supremacy in the North West Counties Division One North? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!