41. Do we Dare To Dream?
We have had a good season so far and despite some inconsistent form, have managed to stay in touch with the other teams near the top of the table, as one club fails to take the division by the scruff of the neck. Can we kick on and establish a lead as we approach the end of the season, or will we fade into the obscurity of the playoffs?
Morley Town sign Livesey Mason
This is a
massive coup for the club. The former Holker Old Boys forward has fallen out of
favour with the promoted side, who are adapting to life very well in the NW Counties
Premier, lying in 5th place. He banged in 46 goals for the Cumbrians
over three seasons at this level and so is a proven NW Counties Div 1 goalscorer who will
bolster our forward line which have been a little shot shy of late.
Match 23: Lepton Highlanders v Morley
Town
It is
matches like these we need to win if we are going to be promoted. Our friends
from down the A62 lie rock bottom of the league, while we are in second place
and could go top with a victory at the Sports & Social Club. The
Highlanders though have been somewhat of a bogey team of late having beaten us
on the last two occasions.
Morley Town:
Oldham, Cotteril, Bentley, Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Bett-Wildsmith, Ellis,
Mason, Preston
Subs:
Thompson, James, Haylock, Tree, Wood
Lepton
Highlanders: Johnson, Barker, Liddle, Mensah, Bailey, Dovey, Chapman, Brown,
Thirkell, Pierre-Louis, Davenport
Match Action
I cannot believe this.. In two minutes we are 1-0 down,as the Highlanders cut through our defence like knife through butter. It stems from a breakaway down the left, Chapman to Thirkell, to Pierre Louis, whose pinpoint pass is seized upon by Chris Davenport who slots the ball neatly under Joseph Oldham.
We roar
forward in search of an equaliser.. On 14 minutes it comes. A lovely move through
midfield starting with Wilkinson striding forward from the back like Beckenbauer,
before finding Aaron Smith whose instant angled pass finds Livesey Mason who
fires the ball confidently into the roof of the net. A great goal on his Morley
debut! What a way to announce himself! Then Bentley finds Smith who is revelling in his position in the number
10 role. He threads another instant pass through to Bett-Wildsmith who has come
in off the right flank into the penalty area and he guides the ball into the
corner of the net. 2-1 Morley. Lovely finish. We attack some more and looking
for a third goal. Bett-Wildsmith hits the side netting from the angle, while
Preston has a shot well saved. Lepton look a threat from set plays, but fail to
create a significant chance. 2-1 Morley at the interval.
Into the
second half and we attack down the left on 53 minutes through Preston and his
excellent cross is nodded just wide by Ellis. We need a third goal. Then
Gabriel Ellis is lying flat in the ground and has to be carried off. This is
worrying, Harry Wood takes his place. The game ticks on as we try to hang on to
the 2-1 scoreline. We breach the Highlander’s defence on several occasions but
frustratingly cannot find the final pass or be clinical enough in front of
goal. Preston heads over right near the end as we hang on to our advantage.
After 6 long minutes of stoppage time, the referee finally blows his whistle.
Job done against the bottom side and a two point lead at the top of the NW
Division One North. Do we dare to dream? It’s Boxing Day so there’s still
plenty of football to be played but we are top of the league at Christmas.
Final Score: Lepton Highlanders 1-2
Morley Town
Davenport 2 Mason 15
Bett-Wildsmith 17
Ellis Out for 6-7 Weeks with
Fractured Ribs
Morley talisman, Gabriel Ellis is ruled out for 2 months after fracturing his ribs in the Lepton Highlanders match. This is a big blow in our title challenge but we have good back up in the shape of new signing, Livesey Mason and Harry Wood.
We face the
long trip to Bacup in good spirits after three wins on the bounce which has led
to us proudly topping the table. As history proves, 4th placed Bacup
are tough opponents with the dangerous duo of Decarrey Sheriff and Charlie
Ridge still leading the line. Ellis and Gutzmore are out with long term
injuries so Smith and Mason lead our attack, with Haylock slotting into defensive midfield alongside Wright, in an otherwise unchanged line up to the one
that beat The Highlanders.
Morley Town:
Oldham, Cotteril, Bentley, Wilkinson, Christie, Haylock, Wright, Smith,
Bett-Wildsmith, Mason, Preston
Subs:
Thompson, Worsnop, Haylock, O’Connor, Tree.
Bacup:
Martey, Ferguson, Potter, Ryan, Fallon, Penfold, Scruton, Nolan, Murawski,
Ridge, Sheriff,
Match Action
We are up
for a fight as Sam Wright makes a crunching challenge on Nathan Scruton in the
opening minute... We look up for this. The same player blazes a shot over the
bar, while at the other end Penfold slips his man and cuts the ball back to
Charlie Ridge but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Bentley just as he was
about the pull the trigger. On 20 minutes Sam Bentley launches the ball forward
which is headed away by Ryan, but only to the feet of Aaron Smith. He drops his
shoulder and runs to the byeline before squaring for Livesey Mason to fire home
from 2 yards for his second goal in two games. Brilliant! Moments later
Christie throws the ball in on the left flank to Preston who turns inside and
flights a beautiful cross onto the head of Bett-Wildsmith whose downwards
header clips the inside of the post before nestling in the back of the Bacup
net. 2-0 Morley. Robbie Christie has the ball on the left hand side and let’s
fly.. which stings the palms of Martey as he tips the ball acrobatically over
the crossbar. Then another sumptuous move down the left results in Aaron Smith
running with the ball down the channel before squaring to an unmarked Mason in
the middle... 3-0.. surely,, no! He skies it over the bar for what could be the
miss of the season! I hope we don’t rue that miss! Two goals up at the break.
Into the
second half and Bacup launch the first attack. A brilliant diagonal pass is
pinged out to the dangerous Penfold who crosses and Decarrey Sheriff sticks out
a leg to divert the ball home. 2-1. We respond well. Smith goes close again
when his half volley is clawed round the post. Then the game ticks on as we do
a good job of time wasting and general s***housery to slow the game down. The
dangermouse, Penfold though has not given up and when his run and cross is
diverted goalwards by Sheriff, it looked like the equaliser had come, but
Oldham stuck out a right hand to parry the ball and it is hoofed clear by
Bentley. We break away. The irrepressible Smith gallops forward before
releasing sub Harry Tree who threads the ball through for the brilliant Livesey
Mason who powers the ball into the top corner to seal a brilliant away victory
against one of the better teams in this league.
Final Score: Bacup Borough 1-3 Morley
Town
Sheriff 47 Mason 21,94
Bett-Wildsmith 25
Match 25: Morley Town v Squire’s Gate
The team
from Blackpool have always been a tough nut to crack and it is always a closely
fought battle when the two sides meet. The visitors are in 4th
place, while we sit two points clear of the rest. I make one change and bring
in Harry Tree for Marley Haylock in midfield as I seek a more attacking line
up.
Morley Town:
Oldham, Cotteril, Wilkinson, Bentley, Christie, Wright, Tree, Bett-Wildsmith,
Smith, Mason, Preston
Subs:
Thompson, Haylock, Wood, James, Goulding
Squire’s
Gate: Chamberlain, Richardson, Myers, Sawyer, Byrne, Opuku, Awford, Flood,
G.Johnson, C.Johnson, Appeh
Match Action
We keep the
ball well in the opening exchanges. Starting from the back, Wilkinson pays it
to Tree, back to Wright, to Christie, forward to Aaron Smith who flights a
lovely through ball for the onrushing Livesey Mason.. Mason! 1-0 Morley! He
slots the ball confidently home to open the scoring after just six minutes!
Then we get a stroke of luck. Harry Tree gives the ball away needlessly in
midfield and the dangerous Challis Johnson is sent through on goal, which he
converts, but the linesman had his flag up.. Pheww! Kevin Preston is away down
the left but is scythed down by Ethan Richardson.. It’s a straight red for the
Squire’s Gate right back. Undeterred the visitors attack down the left and
Byrne puts a dangerous cross in. Wilkinson and Appeh jump for the ball and both
miss it. Appeh goes down on the floor like he’d been shot. Penalty! Stupid
decision.. Gabriel Johnson steps up and finds the bottom corner. 1-1. The game
ticks on annoyingly towards half time but not before Aaron Smith has the ball
in the net, but was clearly offside. 1-1 at the break.
Inevitably
we start to dominate the game as Squire’s Gate seem content to hang on for a
point with a man down. We attack with gusto. Tree is unlucky when his goalbound
effort is deflected wide after good work from Preston down the left. I
introduce Wood for Tree with Smith playing in his favoured Number 10 role. Then
Wood gets into the left channel and his angled shot is blocked on the line and
hacked clear. Karlos Bett-Wildsmith hits the post with a downwards header. So
Unlucky. The Ultras smell blood and roar Morley Town on from behind the goal.
We win a free kick when Mason is upended on the edge of the area. This is in
Aaron Smith territory. The Morley Number 10 sizes up the angles.. He steps up,
strikes and the ball rockets into the bottom corner of the net. Brilliant! It
looks like it took a deflection as Nick Awford as it goes down as an own goal.
2-1 Morley. We nearly make it three when more tenacious tackling from Cotteril
results in Bett-Wildsmith being played in and whacks the crossbar. Then from a
Cotteril throw, Bett Wildsmith finds Preston with only the keeper to beat.. but
his effort is flayed away by Chamberlain to keep Squire’s Gate in the game.
Finally deep in stoppage time we get the deserved third goal. Sub Goulding
throws to Preston who gets to the byeline for the umpteenth time and digs out a
far post cross where Bett-Wildsmith heads powerfully home to seal victory. We
go 5 points clear. Do we dare to dream?
Match 26: Silsden v Morley Town
We travel
once again up to Silsden in good spirits, three points clear at the top of the
table and looking to keep our excellent run of form going against a competent
Silsden side who lie in 9th place. I make one change with Haylock
coming in for Tree to solidify the midfield away from home.
Morley:
Oldham, Cotteril, Wilkinson, Bentley, Christie, Haylock, Wright,
Bett-Wildsmith, Smith, Mason, Preston
Subs:
Thompson, Tree, Goulding, Wood, James
Silsden:
Richardson, Walker, Laird, Jones, Adams, O’Brien, McDonnell, Hodges, Essien,
Wilson, Santos
Match Action
We start
brightly and a good move sees Bett-Wildsmith fire just over. We attack again.
Jayden Cotterill marauds down the right flank but his cross is cleared, only as
far as Karlos Bett-Wildsmith who fires in a shot which is blocked, but the
deflection falls neatly into the path of Livesey Mason who controls , spins and
fires the ball into the top corner from close range to open the scoring for
Morley Town.
The game
gets a bit scrappy as Silsden press. A nice move through midfield finds its way
to McDonnell whose low shot slides inch perfect into the corner of the net with
Oldham sprawling. 1-1. Suddenly its the home side who look the better team but
they fail to create a significant chance. At the other end Sam Wright fires
wide when he should have done better. Aaron Smith then thwacks the crossbar
with a thumping free kick. Just before half time a lovely reverse ball from
Santos plays McDonnell in but thankfully he fire sit high and wide. 1-1 at the
break.
Into the
second half and it’s a slow death by a thousand passes as Silsden take the Pep
approach and we become more and more frustrated. I bite the bullet and throw on
Lee James to add some pace down the flanks for Preston and Harry Wood for
Haylock as I opt for a diamond in midfield. Sam Wright does well to win the
ball in midfield and we work the ball right to Lee James who spins smartly past
his full back before hitting the ball goalwards.... the keeper dives.. but can
only palm the ball into the roof of the net. He was caught by surprise.,
brilliant from Lee James! We look dangerous on the break as Silsden press for
an equaliser. Livesey Mason is sent clear but whacks the post. Lee James is
injured but I’ve used all my substitutes so he has to stay on the pitch for
just two more minutes. Mason has the ball and gets to the byeline, but for some
stupid reason he checks back and lays the ball back to his crocked
teammate. Big mistake. Sub Ross Oulton easily outmuscles him and races clear
with the ball. The Morley defence back off him and the midfielder fires a low
shot past Oldham into the corner of the net.. Sucker Punch! Gutted! How crucial
will those two dropped points be come the end of the season?
Final Score: Silsden 2-2 Morley Town
McDonnell
15 Mason 7
Oulton
92 James 66
Match 27: Morley Town v Daisy Hill
Another day
another crucial league game, this time a home game against Daisy Hill, who have
caused us problems in the past. Early season they were challenging at the top
of the table, but have slipped down to 8th. It still doesn’t make
them a bad team. Joe Wilkinson is suspended so young 16 year old James Goulding
makes his full debut at right back with Cotteril moving into the centre with
Sam Bentley. Wood partners Mason up front as we revert to a diamond formation
in midfield.
Morley Town:
Oldham, Goulding, Cotteril, Bentley, Christie, Wright, Bett-Wildsmith, Smith,
Wood, Mason, Preston
Subs:
Thompson, Worsnop, O’Connor, Tree, Haylock
Daisy Hill:
Edwards, McManaman, Ngoyi, Burke, Jones, Boyle, Warren, Egan, Brown, Calder
Match Action:
In the
opening 15 minutes we hardly have the ball as Daisy Hill win free kick after
free kick, but thankfully fail to fashion a decent chance. Our first attack
results in Harry Wood heading straight at the keeper from a Bett-Wildsmith
cross. On 20 minutes though their pressure tells. We fail to clear a corner,
Oldham does well to claw away a close range volley from Jones, but the rebound
falls to Jack Egan who volleys into the empty net from 20 yards. We respond
well. Kevin Preston has a curling shot brilliantly saved and likewise Harry
Wood from a similar effort. Harry Wood is then set free by Livesey Mason and
his brilliant run takes him past two Daisy Hill defenders before thundering a
shot off the underside of the crossbar. What does this man have to do to score
a goal? Then just before half time Daisy Hill work the opening well with the
dangerous Egan’s volleyed cross headed home at close range by Jack Price... We
nearly pull a goal back when the ball is worked brilliantly to the unluckiest
man in West Yorkshire Harry Wood with only the keeper to beat and he hits the
foot of the post. I expect nothing less with the FM Gods in this dreadful mood.
We don’t deserve to be 2-0 down at half time. Into the second half and guess
what! Harry Wood hits the post again.. although this time it would have been
ruled out for offside. I introduce youngsters O’Connor and Worsnop to try and
breathe new life into us for the ineffective Smith and the cursed Wood. Kain
Worsnop has a fizzing near post shot saved brilliantly. It really just is not
our day today as Daisy Hill break away yet again with menace. The ball arrives
at the feet of Jack Egan who may as well be Cristiano Ronaldo and he sidefoots
home number three. Most of the Ultras have headed to The Farriers Arms by the
time on 73 minutes Livesey Mason pulls one back. Worsnop plays the ball
forward, O’Connor nods it back to Bett-Wildsmith whose through ball is seized
upon by the former Holker Old Boys man, but too little too late. Mason almost
scores another after good work from Bett-Wildsmith down the left flank, but he
miscues his shot and it dribbles harmlessly wide. Just about sums up our day...
Final Score: Morley Town 1-3 Daisy
Hill
Mason 74 Egan 17,67
Price 45
Board & Supporter Confidence
Update
This is the
highest grade I’ve ever achieved.. an A-. The fact we are top of the league may
have something to do with it..
Now let’s
see what the mood down t’Farriers is...
Match 29: Morley Town v Stocksbridge
Park Steels Reserves
Put simply
if we can’t beat this lot, then we don’t deserve to win the title.. but the FM
Gods are a strange bunch... The visitors lie in 13th place, so are
hardly deep in trouble and as they are a reserve team anybody could turn up in
their ranks from the first team.
Jayden
Cotteril is suspended so Kain Worsnop replaces him at right back. Gabriel Ellis
could also play some part in the game after returning to full training.
Morley Town:
Oldham, Worsnop, Wilkinson, Bentley, Christie, Wright, Tree, Smith, Preston,
Mason, Bett-Wildsmith
Subs:
Thompson, Haylock, Goulding, Ellis, Wood
Stocksbridge
Reserves Rivis, Coker, Kane, Conteras, Proctor, Richards, Claxton, Prichard,
Lightowler, Killock, Piercey
Match Action
We worked
the opening beautifully, a beautiful passing move down the left flank resulting
in Bett-Wildsmith cutting the ball back for an unmarked Aaron Smith who smashes
the ball.. but it sails over the crossbar.. This looks ominous. We dominate the
game but the final ball lets us down time and again.Then when it does come off
our finishing is poor, when Mason is sent through on goal by Aaron Smith’s
delightful through ball. Wave after wave of attack but still we cannot score.
Bett-Wildsmith has a run and shot straight at the keeper. Smith skies another
fre kick over the bar. Then on thee stroke of half time Stocksbridge win a free
kick. The ball is floated into the box an goes over everybody to Killock who
has sneaked in at the far post controls and volleys the ball handsomely past
Oldham for the biggest goal against the run of play imaginable. I Hate this
Stupid Game! 1-0 at half time. I have no
choice and throw on Ellis for Tree at half time.
We dominate
inevitably. Bett-Wildsmith and Bentley go close with headers. Then on 53
minutes Christie’s corner is not cleared properly and the ball is headed
straight up in the air by the defender. Bett-Wildsmith leaps highest and powers
a header into the roof of the net. Yes! Come on! We hunt for a winner, but
cannot create a clear cut chance and whn we do we keep booting the ball over
the crossbar. At the other end Oldham produces a fantastic flying stop to deny
Piercey as the visitors look to snatch a goal on the break. In stoppage time
sub Marley Haylock launches the ball into the box onto the head of ELLIS!!!!
Cometh the hour cometh the man!! 2-1.. no wait... The linesman has his flag
up.. The goal is disallowed for offside.. About sums it up really..
Final Score: Morley Town 1-1
Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves
Bett-Wildsmith 54 Killock 45
Morley Town sign Diamini
I have
signed young left back, who has been released by 1874 Northwich.
Match 30: Prestwich Heys v Morley
Town
Another trip
across the hills, this time to the Manchester based side, Prestwich Heys.
Despite only mustering a point against Stocksbridge Reserves we are still top
on goal difference from Ryburn on 52 points. Gabriel Ellis is fully fit and
raring to go. The hosts lie in a middling 11th place. All to play
for.
Morley Town: Oldham, Goulding, Wilkinson,
Bentley, Christie, Wright, Bett-Wildsmith, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Mason
Subs:
Thompson, Wood, Worsnop, Haylock, Tree
Prestwich
Heys: Platt, Blissett, Lee, Clarke, Houlton, Roberts, Ezard, Annan, Nicholas,
Jones, Cowan
Match Action
We dominate
possession but our final ball lets us down. Ezard has a long range effort
whistle just over the bar. This is turgid stuff as the game gets bogged down.
Prestwich have the ball in the net after a rare outbreak of football but he had
strayed offside. Then on the half hour Prestwich win a corner which we fail to
clear and Jones guides the ball into the corner with his head for a really soft
goal... Annoying, We try and mount some
attacks but are met with solid Prestwich defending. Then Cowan has a
speculative effort which crashes against the bar with Oldham beaten, only to
fall straight to Callum Nicholas who calmly fires the ball into the empty
net... Joke...
We plug away
but cannot break down a resolute Prestwich side. We have been pathetic. Too
much sideways and backwards passing and then when we did get in their half we
gave the ball away or the final ball was poor. I throw on Wood, Tree and Kain
Worsnop for the ineffective Mason, Bett-Wildsmith and Smith. Kain Worsnop turns
smartly on the right wing and his brilliant low cross is swept home by Harry
Tree... No it wasn’t his big toe was offside. Worsnop has looked lively since
he came on and the youngster twists and turns on the right wing and sends in
another fine low cross, which finds Wood who heads the ball against the
defender, but the loose ball is hooked in by Gabriel Ellis on his return to the
side for his 19th goal of the season. We storm forward looking for
an equaliser. Tree lines up a free kick which rattles the crossbar. Then a
cross comes in and that man Worsnop heads towards goal but its clawed away by
the keeper. Then in stoppage time Harry Wood chases down a lost cause, cuts
inside from the left and curls a shot agonisingly past the post.. It wasnae to
be.. A 2-1 defeat and we slip to second.
Final Score: Prestwich Heys 2-1
Morley Town
Jones
32 Ellis 77
Nicholas 42
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