43. High Noon Part Deux
It's been a long, hard season which had seen us at one stage three points clear at the top of the table, only to endure a string of indifferent results which saw us sink to 5th place and take the final play off spot. Just to fill me with confidence before we take on Ryburn United in the biggest match of the season, the board issued me with this statement.
Match 37: Ryburn v Morley Town NW Counties Division 1 Playoff Semi Final
So here we are back at The Shay in Halifax for another playoff semi
final, this time against Ryburn United. The team picks itself as the kids go
back to the U18s and the first teamers come back in. Aaron Smith, the man for
the big occasion is preferred to Livesey Mason Will this be our year? Ryburn
are dangerous opponents and came within a whisker of grabbing the title for
themselves on the final day of the season.. Here goes nothing,..
Morley Town: Thompson, Cotteril, Wilkinson, Bentley, Christie, Wright,
Tree, Bett-Wildsmith, Smith, Ellis, Preston
Subs: Oldham, Haylock, Goulding, Mason, James
Ryburn: Kennedy, Kelly, Lago, Cooper, Gigilo, Parisi, Fairclough, Scott,
Holmes, Gitteh, Yoffe
Match Action
It’s a cagey opening 15 as both sides suss eachother out and there are few opportunities, except for long range efforts which are either wide or comfortably saved. Sam Wright as ever is up for a fight and his lung-bursting run down the right flank results in his fierce effort beaten away at the near post by Kennedy. Ryburn look dangerous down the right with Holmes but other than that it’s an even game. Then, as so often happens a random free kick is won out of nowhere by Ryburn on the left flank. Ryan Gigilo floats the ball in back post where big Cameron Cooper rises highest to nod the ball into the roof of the net past Thompson’s outstretched hand. 1-0 at half time.
I rally the troops in the team talk and we start the second half brightly when a superb far post cross by Christie from the left finds Bett-Wildsmith on the half volley.... beaten away by the keeper.. Then Ryburn attack and almost get a second but for a smart stop from Thompson. I introduce Livesey Mason for Bett-Wildsmith with the versatile Harry Tree moving to the right flank and Smith going to the Number 10 role. We look more threatening this half but cannot find that final ball. Ryburn look dangerous on the break. But.. From a Ryburn corner we clear to Kevin Preston who scurries down the right flank on the counter attack. He lays the ball back to the supporting Harry Tree who plays a wonderful first time diagonal ball to the onrushing Livsey Mason who controls the ball on his chest and steers the ball past Kennedy for a brilliant equaliser. 1-1. Pandemonium at the Morley end! Ryburn fly forward with Gigilo and Gitteh combining on the left. The latter streaks the byline before crossing low for Yoffe to sidefoot the ball past Thompson for 2-1... He looked offside to me... but the goal stands.. No VAR in the NW Counties League..
We press
forward and look for another equaliser but Ryburn are dangerous on the counter
and Thompson brilliantly denies Yoffe’s header from point blank range. We
though start to dominate the game as Ryburn are pinned in their own half. Once
again they breakaway with the dangerous Gitteh down the left.. His cross is
blocked by Cotterill. Corner kick. The ball is swung in but Wilkinson clears it
straight to Gabriel Ellis who is sprinting down the right on the counter
attack. Ellis.. plays a low cross to LIVESEY MASON!! 2-2 He sidefoots the ball
home instantly from seven yards! Brilliant goal.. Both sides now press for a
winner. Sam Wright snaps at the heels of
the Ryburn midfield and bursts forward before sending a shot., oooohhh!! Just
over the bar... Ryburn attack and Thompson has to be alert again.. The whistle
blows. 2-2 It’s gone to penalties.
Ryburn will
take the first penalty.. The Shay holds its breath..
GITTEH –
Scores.. bottom left corner with Thompson guessing the right way.
ELLIS –
Saved by Kennedy diving low to his right.. .. 1-0 Ryburn..
LAGO – High
into the top corner
Smith – Drills
it low into the bottom right corner. 2-1
Gigilo –
Scores – High into the top right corner.
Kevin Preston
for Morley.. Short run up.. – Saved by Kennedy. Straight at him at a
comfortable height...
Coombes – Saved
by Thompspn Catches the ball mid air diving to his right.
Christie – Hammered
into the bottom left corner
Parisi to win it for Ryburn and break Morley hearts..–
Scores...
Smashed into the top corner..
The Ryburn players mob him.. The Morley players can only lay forlornly
on the grass...
Ryburn win
4-2 on penalties and progress to the playoff final.
Meanwhile
for Morley it is back to the drawing board of trying to find a way out of Level
10..
Gutted is an
understatement. We played well and matched Ryburn toe for toe but were undone
by the lottery of a penalty shoot out. Another year in the NW Counties Division
1 North beckons. This is a big opportunity missed, given that some of our best
players will be leaving the club at the end of the season..
Morley Town offer new Contract
I’m back in
the boardroom, this time to sign a new contract, which once again earns me
diddly squat but hey I’m having fun...
Squire’s Gate Promoted
Blackpool
based outfit, Squire’s Gate won the playoff final 2-0 against Ryburn United to
seal promotion to the North West Counties Premier.
Morley Town U18s Update
Our Under 18s have been simply brilliant this season. No longer propping up the table as in previous seasons, they finished in a very creditable 7th place and beat FC Halifax U18s 2-0 on the final day to finish above their counterparts from Harrogate and Scarborough among others. The future is bright!
Kevin Preston Gets assist record
My young winger’s 15 assists this season is a new record, beating Ben Henderson’s 14 assists in the 2025/26 season.
Marlon Gutzmore Back in Training
After his
horrendous injury in the cup tie against Alsager Town my young winger, Marlon
Gutzmore has been kicking a ball and doing some light training. It’s great to
see him back and will be firmly in my plans for next season.
Morley Town to Play In the North East Counties League Division One
Season Expectations and Budgets
The board
expect me to reach the playoffs in the NE Counties Division One, reach the 1st
round of the Isuzu FA Vase and the 1st Round of the NCEL League
Cup....(basically turn up to both) To achieve this they have given me a war chest of £1,300 and a wage
budget of £1,560... I have already decided on my transfer policy.. develop the
players we already have....
Players In
Morley Town Sign Baran Onder on loan
from Liversedge
Young
midfielder, Baran Onder has made the short trip down the M62 from Liversedge to
join Morley Town on a season long loan. He can play in defensive midfield, or
in a more attacking role and is an exciting signing for the club. The question is can he do it on a cold Tuesday night in Goole?
Players Out
Mike Gregson
on loan to Richings Park
Joel Page
(DC/DMC) Released
Danny Benza
to Woodthorpe Park Rangers (free)
Fletch
Brooksby to Fleckney (free)
Lee James to
Highgrove (free)
Joe
Wilkinson (contract expired)
Tony
Thompson (contract expired)
Ben
McLachlan (contract expired)
Harry Tree
(contract expired)
Robbie
Christie (contract expired)
Oscar
Caffrey (contract expired)
Nathan Evans free transfer to Armthorpe Welfare.
Welcome to the North East Counties
Division One.
These are
the teams I will be up against in the NCEL Division One.
Armthorpe
Welfare (Doncaster)
Athersley
Recreation
Bottlesford
Town
Brigg Town
U21s
Cleethorpes
Town
Denaby Main
Denton Town
Frickley
(Pontefract)
Golcar
United
Goole
Ollerton
Town
Reckitts AFC (Hull)
Retford United
Scarborough
Athletic U21s
Shirebrook
Town
Shirebrook
Soldiers
Sleaford
Town
Worsborough
Bridge
Yorkshire
Amateur (Chapeltown,Leeds)
Forget El
Classico... Can’t wait for the Shirebrook derby...
Opening Fixtures
We start our
NCEL Div 1 campaign away at Golcar United, followed by a home game against
Athersley Recreation and then a Leeds derby against Yorkshire Amateur.
Friendly 1: Morley Town v Morley Town
U18s
So here go
again, the beginning of a new pre-season, starting with our annual jamboree against
the youth team, some of whom may be vying for a run in the first team.
Morley Town:
Oldham, Francis, Cotteril, Diamini, Wright, Onder, Preston, Ellis, Wood,
Gutzmore
Subs: Green, Haylock, Smith, O’Connor, Mason, Bett-Wildsmith, Worsnop
Morley U18s:
Mohan, Suntner, Johnson, Bentham, Carew-Longbottom, Salami, Daws, Hirogyen,
Stockton, Kemp, Gregson
Subs:
Haggett, Coubillay, Woolerton-Smithies, Evans, Farrugia, Moha? Cummins.. Not
sure who Moha is?
Match Action
We dominate
the early stages and when Wood slips in Ellis with a lovely slide rule pass,
there is only one result as he fires the ball low through the advancing young
Austin Mohan’s legs in goal. Onder is upended by Stockton and has to go off
injured. Not a good start for the loan signing. The kids rally and from a
free-kick a looping header by Lirak Bentham hits the post with backpedalling
Oldham beaten. It’s end to end and a decent game of football. Ellis goes close
again after seizing on a defensive error, but could not capitalise. At the
other end, Stockton has a shot well saved by Oldham. 1-0 at the break.
Into the
second half and the dangerous Matt Stockton shoots agonisingly wide for the
U18s. At the other end a Kevin Preston dinked cross is nodded home by The Angel
for his second. Then, Preston dribbles to the byline and his low cross is
tapped in by Ellis for the perfect hat-trick. 3-0 the final score with The
Angel on fire.
Final Score: Morley Town 3-0 Morley
Town U18s
Ellis 18,
66, 79
Friendly 2 Albion Sports v Morley Town
Morley Town;
Green, Francis, Goulding, Greenfield, Haylock, Onder, Bett-Wildsmith, Priestly,
Gutzmore, Wood, O’Connor
Albion
Sports: Robinson, Bumbar, Azman, Jones, Nelthorpe, Mballa, Smith, McCarragher,
Hernandez, Copeland, Collins
Match Action
A nicely
worked move sees Gutzmore cut inside from the left and ping in a shot which is
tipped over the bar by Robinson.
But against the run of play Hernandez gets down the right for the home side and his low cross is turned home first time by Lewis Copeland. We hit back. A Gutzmore corner is cleared back to him and he tries again this time finding the head of Bett-Wildsmith, whose towering header finds the top corner. 1-1. Martin O’Connor has been quiet so far but he picks the ball up from deep and pings a lovely crossfield pass for his strike partner, Harry Wood who skips past his marker and cuts the ball back for O’Connor who has sprinted into the penalty area and he powers his effort past Robinson for a 2-1 lead.
Into the
second half and I make many substitutions which allow Albion back into the
game. Daniel Collins applies the finishing touch to Hernandez’s ball into the
box. The game ends 2-2.
Final Score Albion Sports 2-2 Morley
Town
Copeland 27 Bett-Wildsmith 41
Collins
72 O'Connor 44
Takeover Bid Back On
After nearly
a year of Radio Silence regarding a potential takeover bid, it seems a local
investor is interested in buying the club... We’ll see what happens. I won’t
hold my breath...
LMAO at Jez
Snowden..
Friendly 3 – Morley Town v Farsley
Celtic
In real life
we all know what has happened to Farsley Celtic and let’s hope they return in
some form as part of the English pyramid with a pitch to play on and a stadium
to be proud of once again.... On FM (remember this save dates back to FM23 they
are a thriving Northern Premier side (Level 7) and play three tiers above us.
Morley:
Oldham, Cotteril, Greenfield, Bentley, Diamini, Wright, Priestley, Preston,
Ellis, Mason, Gutzmore
Farsley
Celtic: Harvey, Isherwood, Gould, Middleton, Adams, Bissett, May, De Castro,
Besant, Ehimamiago, King
Match Action
It’s all
Farsley and Oldham is forced into some early saves. Suddenly we attack and
Livesey Mason curls a shot just wide and Sam Wright sees his effort tipped over
the bar by Harvey after brilliant wing play from Gutzmore on the left flank.
Farsley look dangerous, especially Ehimamiago cutting in from the left flank
and a couple of his efforts narrowly miss or are saved by Oldham. 0-0 at the
break. Into the second half and we continue to match the team from three
divisions higher. Sub Harry Wood goes on a run before setting the ball back for
Jayden Cotteril whose brilliant curling effort is clawed over the crossbar. Moments
later a snapshot volley from sub Aaron Smith whistles just over the bar as we
look the better team. At the other end, Ehimamiago heads wide, while Oldham
makes a stunning save from Josh King’s fierce drive. Smith has the ball in the
net for us but Wood was offside. 0-0 draws in friendlies are rare, but today we
have one, which is a creditable result and performance against a team three
divisions above us.
Final Score: Morley Town 0-0 Farsley
Celtic
Friendly 4- Morley Town v FC Halifax
Town
Our “show”
friendly sees the return of National League outfit, FC Halifax Town. I of
course field a strong team but expect defeat.
Morley Town:
Oldham, Cotterill, Greenfield, Bentley, Diamini, Wright, Onder, Preston, Smith,
Ellis, Gutzmore
FC Halifax:
Hemfrey, Batdell, Arthur, Lowry,, McCann, Cooke, Kelly, Leigh, Williamsm Agyei
Match Action
We barely
get a kick in the opening 15. A shot from the edge of the area forces a good
diving stop from Joseph Oldham. Then Agyei gets down the left channel and his
simple low cross is tuned home by Jaden Williams for the opening goal.
Halifax
dominate and look likely to add to their tally, but find Oldham an immovable
object in the Morley goal as he keeps the score down to one. In a rare venture
forward we win a free kick, which Diamini plays to Preston on the edge of the
area. He dribbles forward and unleashes a shot which is saved by Hemfrey. We
register a shot on target. 1-0 Halifax at the break. Early in the second half
and it is the same two who combine again. Agyei easily skips past his man and
crosses for Williams to poke home from close range. We have hardly had a sniff.
At 2-0 down we are slowly gaining a foothold in the game, although Halifax
still look like increasing their lead. But on 80 minutes we win a throw in. The
ball is played back to the taker, Jayden Cotteril who hangs up a delicious far
post cross which is met by the head of sub Lewis Kemp whose downwards header
beats Hemfrey. 2-1! Halifax aren’t done though and Malcolm Nicholls stabs home
a late third from close range to wrap up a comfortable victory.
Final Score: Morley Town 1-3 FC
Halifax
Kemp Williams
(2)
Nicholls
Karlos Bett-Wildsmith Leaves Morley
Town
My brilliant
young midfielder has signed for Southern Premier Central League Side RC Warwick
which is a step up to Level 7. I wish him all the best, but am disappointed he
is leaving.
Friendly 5: AFC Normanton v Morley
Town
This is the traditional “friendly for the
kids,” which takes us to the ex-mining town of Normanton, which is just next to
Wakefield. I take a young squad which will be looking to catch my eye.
Morley: Green,
Francis, Goulding, Johnson, Bentham, Daws, Priestly, Worsnop, O’Connor,
Gregson, Kemp
Normanton:
Watchall, Folwell, Sale, Kolar, McAnally, Buckley, Goodson, Flitter, Edworthy,
Pearson
Match Action
We make the
early running, with Lewis Kemp looking lively down the left flank. His run
causes panic in the Normanton defence and his pinpoint pass finds O’Connor in
the left channel. His low cross is tapped home by Mike Gregson from 3 yards.
Young Kemp is eager to impress and he tracks back and tackles the ball cleanly
before bursting forwards, past one past two he dribbles into the penalty area
before curling a brilliant finish past Wacthall for a superb individual goal.
He has certainly caught the eye! O’Connor heads over from a Francis cross. 2-0
at the break.
Into the
second half and it is a more even game as Normanton enjoy a spell of pressure
with the closest effort clipping the crossbar. Meanwhile the impressive Kemp
has a shot well saved after cutting inside from the right. Goulding sends sub
Harry Wood racing down the right. He beats two defenders before curling the
ball into the top corner to score another brilliant individual goal. 3-0
Morley. That’s how it finished. A good solid win to conclude our pre-season.
Final Score: AFC Normanton 0-3 Morley
Town
Gregson
Kemp
Wood
Morley Town sign Kyle Hancock
I wanted to bring
a bit more experience into my backline, so have picked up this guy on a free.
He’s backup but will add some depth and does not want much wages.
Gabriel “The Angel” Ellis Reaches “Legend”
Status
Morley Town’s talismanic striker is now regarded by fans as a club “legend” His record speaks for itself, netting 93 goals in 134 appearances for the club. He will be looking to reach a ton during the course of this season. At the start of his career, Ellis did not make an appearance for his first club Accrington Stanley before being released by the Lancashire club and dropping down many levels of the pyramid to join Morley Town.
Season Ticket Sales
We have sold 31 season tickets to 31 loyal Ultras, exactly the same as last season.
Bookies odds on Morley Town’s Chances
in the NCEL Div 1
The latest
odds have Morley Town at a generous 5-2 for promotion, making us one of the
favourites to go up this season.
Board Confidence Update
The board
and supporters are both pleased with my performance as manager as we head into
the 2027/28 campaign.
Board Expectations
The board
expect us to reach the playoffs in the NECL Division 1 this season and turn up
for the Isuzu FA Vase and the NECL League Cup.
With the disappointment of playoff semi final defeat long behind us and a new division with new teams to play in the North East Counties League Division One, hopes are high in the Morley Town camp for a successful season. Find out how they get on in the opening set of fixtures next time on the Ultimate English Pyramid Game!
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