44. Look East

 

The kids are off school, the airports are crowded, the wasps are all over the bins, and the nights are starting to draw in. It's August in the UK, which also means its the start of the new footy season.. yay!

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.

 

After shifting quite a bit of dead wood and players we could not afford to keep, these are the ones that are left and make it into the first team squad. 

Morley Town First Team Squad

Goalkeepers

Joseph Oldham

Ellis Green (yth)

 

Defenders

Jayden Cotteril (DRC)

Sam Bentley (DC/DMC)

James Goulding (DRC/WBR)

Fraser Greenfield (DC) (yth)

Kyle Hancock (DC)

Marley Haylock (DLC/DMC)

Yiabanthi Diamini (DL)

Michael Francis (DR)

 

Midfielders

Sam Wright (DMC/MC)

Baran Onder (DM/MC/AMC)

Aaron Smith (MC/AMC/ST)

Kevin Preston (ML/AMR/)

Marlon Gutzmore (ML/AMR)

Lewis Kemp (AML/FC)

Alfie Priestley (MC/AMLC)

Forwards

Gabriel Ellis (FC)

Harry Wood (FC)

Livesey Mason (AML/FC)

Martin O’Connor (FC)

Match 1: Golcar United v Morley Town

Our first destination in the NE Counties League Division One is err.. a bit west to Huddersfield to take on Golcar United. You may remember that in our first season we put nine past their reserve team in the Yorkshire Amateur League... I’m not really sure what to expect, a new team and a new division. While we have not been active in the transfer market, this season is about the young players already at the club to make the step up to the first team, so the likes of Michael Francis and Lewis Kemp start.

Morley Town: Oldham, Francis, Cotteril, Bentley, Diamini, Wright, Onder, Preston, Smith, Ellis, Kemp

Subs: Green, Haylock, Wood, Mason, Hancock

Golcar: Burns, James, Longstaff, Goldstock, Rasmus, O’Neill, Aldsworth, Birch, Holvey, Brophy, Price

Match Action

We start brightly with Kemp and Preston looking lively on the flanks. Kemp loops a header over the bar, while Onder finds the side netting with an angled shot. Late into the half, Diamini gets forward from left back but his potshot is comfortably saved. A mind-numbing 0-0 at the break. Half the ground is asleep.

Into the second half and we start positively, but when Aaron Smith is caught in possession a delightful through ball sends the pacy Kayle Price through on goal and he slots the ball into the corner of the net past Joseph Oldham. 1-0 Golcar.

It gets worse. Suddenly having enjoyed most of the possession we just cannot get the ball off the hosts who look more and more threatening to add to their lead. Every attack starts with a green shirt not a white one. I throw on Wood and Mason to try and get us up the pitch but to no avail. Brophy turns on the edge of the box and fires past Oldham into the top corner to cap a miserable opening day. We rallied towards the end with Kevin Preston hitting the post late on, but a disappointing opening game for team Morley..

Final Score: Golcar United 2-0 Morley Town

Price 47

Brophy 76

Match 2: Morley Town v Athersley Recreation

Must do better is the cry around Morley after our opening day defeat to Golcar. Athersley beat Brigg U21s 3-2 on the opening day and lie in 7^th, while we are down in 17^th, but it’s early days yet. I make a couple of changes. Marlon Gutzmore returns to the left wing and Livesey Mason starts up front alongside Ellis and Kyle Hancock makes his debut in central defence, with Cotteril switching to right back.

Team: Oldham, Cotteril, Hancock, Bentley, Haylock, Wright, Smith, Preston, Mason, Ellis, Gutzmore

Subs: Green, Onder, Goulding, Kemp, Wood

Athersley Recreation: McIntyre, Isherwood, Mills, Ozel, Barrass, O’Riordan, Statton, Evans, Farmer, Morgan, Carlos

Match 2: Morley Town v Athersley Recreation

Must do better is the cry around Morley after our opening day defeat to Golcar. Athersley beat Brigg U21s 3-2 on the opening day and lie in 7^th, while we are down in 17^th, but it’s early days yet. I make a couple of changes. Marlon Gutzmore returns to the left win and Livesey Mason starts up front alongside Ellis and Kyle Hancock makes his debut in central defence, with Cotteril switching to right back.

Team: Oldham, Cotteril, Hancock, Bentley, Haylock, Wright, Smith, Preston, Mason, Ellis, Gutzmore

Subs: Green, Onder, Goulding, Kemp, Wood

Athersley Recreation: McIntyre, Isherwood, Mills, Ozel, Barrass, O’Riordan, Statton, Evans, Farmer, Morgan, Carlos

Match Action

It takes them exactly 42 seconds to score. A cross from the left by Morgan is met by Carlos’ header that strikes the foot of the post. The rebound falls straight to Ryan Farmer who smashes home the rebound from close range. Not the start we had in mind.

We respond. Ellis picks up the ball and thunders a shot goalwards which smacks the crossbar with the keeper beaten. No luck!

Then a flowing move ends up with Sam Wright fizzing a daisy cutter just past the post. The Ultras are getting behind the team. We are tigerish in midfield and are breaking up their attacks and then counter-attacking with menace. Preston dribbles down the right before crossing in for Mason at the far post who nods the ball in but is greeted by the offside flag, much to the frustration of most at Glen Road. Then, on 21 minutes Gutzmore pops up on the right flanks and his deep cross is headed across the face of goal by Hancock into the path of Eliis who taps home from 5 yards with a simple finish. A deserved equaliser. Athersley enjoy a spell of possession but every time we get the ball we look dangerous. Another sweeping move sees the ball crossed low to Aaron Smith to strike, but the ball smacks the foot of the post and bounces clear.

Then from a thrown in, Cotteril, Preston and Smith combine, with the former sending another spearing far post cross, where The Angel is waiting. The ball is slightly behind him but manages to twist his head and backheader the ball low into the corner of the net. Brilliant improvisation from the Morley G.O.A.T.

“The Angel” is in one of those moods today and his clever lay-off inside the area nearly results in goal number three but Livesey Mason finds the inside of the post. 2-1 at the break.

Into the second half and we are completely dominant but just cannot get that third goal. Smith smacks the crossbar with a stunning half volley from the edge of the area. From a cleared corner, Preston and Gutzmore combine brilliantly on the right wing, before the former cuts inside on his left and slides the ball across for Smith to tap home from close range. Brilliant! A few minutes later our fourth goal is a thing of beauty, this time a left wing cross from the impressive Marley Haylock, straight onto The Angel’s head who does the rest. 4-1. Marlon Gutzmore has tormented the Athersley defence all afternoon with his direct running and skill. He skips past two defenders before dinking in a cross which is volleyed home by “The Angel” for his fourth and Morley’s fifth. Our season is up and running!

Final Score: Morley Town 5-1 Athersley Recreation

Ellis 22, 35, 58, 65                         Farmer 1

Smith 56

Isuzu FA Vase 1^st Round Draw

Morley Town will host Western Premier League outfit, Nailsea & Tickenham. A quick search on Google Maps reveal they are located just South West of Bristol and not far from the M5. Big Dave the bus driver is thankful we were drawn at home and will be hoping for a positive result.

Match 3: Yorkshire Amateur v Morley Town

We make the short trip across Leeds to take on Yorkshire Amateur in what is now our local derby. I name an unchanged team to the one which destroyed Athersley Recreation. The Amatuers lie in 18^th place after two opening defeats.

Morley Town: Oldham, Cotteril, Hancock, Bentley, Haylock, Wright, Smith, Preston, Mason, Ellis, Gutzmore

Subs: Green, Onder, Goulding, Kemp, Wood

Yorkshire Amateur: Seery, Goshi, Cardoso, Reyes, Haines-Coker, Harvey, Fox, Johnson, Parkinson, Sunday, Byrne

 

Match Action

Not much happens in the opening ten, but Livesey Mason picks up the ball on the edge of the area and curls a fierce effort goalwards, and it clanks off the crossbar. On 15 minutes, Sam Bentley plays the ball to Sam Wright who spins past his man and finds Gutzmore who flights the ball to Ellis on the edge His clever knockdown fall straight into the path of Aaron Smith, who first time half volleys the ball straight into the bottom corner. A goal only he could score. 1-0 Morley. We look most likely to add to the lead. Wright skims one over the crossbar from range, while Gutzmore’s cushioned volley from a Preston far post cross is comfortably saved when he could have done better. Then Aaron Smith, who has run the show in midfield receives the ball in space and let’s fly. The keeper is beaten but the ball hits the frame of the goal. Unlucky. A deserved 1-0 lead at half time.

Yorkshire Amateur enjoy a spell of possession early in the second half but fail to create a chance of significance. Aaron Smith has been impressive today and yet another long range effort brings a fine save from Seery. Kemp comes on for the quiet Preston on the left flank. His intelligent ball down the left channel plays in Livesey Mason who skips round the advancing goalkeeper before looking up and picking out a cross for Ellis to cushion volley the ball into the empty net. 2-0. We see it through. Mason nearly adds a third but guess what, his shot hits the post. A good solid away win and it was rather comfortable in the end.

Final Score: Yorkshire Amateur 0-2 Morley Town

                                                                Smith 16

                                                                 Ellis 69

 Match 4: Morley Town v Ollerton Town

Our friends from down the A1 in Nottinghamshire travel up the famous motorway to Glen Road in 9^th place in the NCEL Div 1. We lie in 6^th place after two straight wins. I stick to the same team again.

Morley Town: Oldham, Cotteril, Hancock, Bentley, Haylock, Wright, Smith, Preston, Mason, Ellis, Gutzmore

Subs: Green, Onder, Goulding, Kemp, Wood

Ollerton Town: Benstead, McEleny, O’Conor, Samuel, Morris,  Bamba,Downing, Bonner-Bottom, Read, McCrea

Subs: Wright, Storey, Hart, Ewing, Broadbent

 

Match Action

It is the visitors who make the early running with McEleny forcing Oldham to tip the ball over the bar. However we regain a measure of control, but lack an end product after good build-up play. Ellis has a dipping shot just over the bar and Sam Wright has a long range effort comfortably saved.

Ollerton get a few shots of their own, one of which hits the bar with Oldham beaten. Then the dangerous Bay Downing gets down the right and his pinpoint cross is met by McClea but is downwards header is brilliantly saved by Oldham. As the half draws to a close, Ollerton are the dominant force and Oldham is forced into a string of fine saves to stop them from taking the lead. We are under the pump as the Aussies put it.

Finally we break out as Gutzmore surges down the left. The ball is cut back to Haylock underlapping and then to Sam Wright who beats the keepr but not the post. The rebound falls to Kevin Preston who fires the ball goalwards and hits the bar. How unlucky! No goals at the break.

Into the second half and after a few words about our lethargic performance in the first half, we seem to have livened up. Gutzmore runs down the left and his deep cross goes all the way through to Preston who spins past his full back cleverly before exchanging passes with Smith before swinging in a cross onto the head of Gabriel Ellis (who else) who nods home from close range.

We then look certain to add to our tally. Smith has a screamer tipped wide and Kevin Preston’s fierce effort saved. Meanwhile at the other end, Oldham has to be alert to McCreas’s shot from a narrow angle. We hold on and eke out a 1-0 win in a game which should have had more goals at both ends, but we’ll take this.

Final Score: Morley Town 1-0 Ollerton Town

Ellis 50

Sam Bentley Leaves Morley Town

In a blow to our promotion hopes our best defender, Sam Bentley has fecked off to United Counties League North outfit, Rocester, leaving us a little short at the back..

Match 5: Morley Town v Nailsea & Tickenham (FA Vase First Qualifying Round)

Firstly, we thank our lucky stars that we are at home for this one as Nailsea face an six hour journey up to West Yorkshire from their home which is just outside of Bristol. We gave them a big Yorkshire welcome. They too have had a good start to the season and lie in 4^th place in The Western League Premier Division. All to play for.

Morley Town: Oldham, Cotteril, Goulding, Hancock, Haylock, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Mason, Gutzmore

Subs: Green, Priestley, Diamini, Kemp, Wood, Onder, Francis,

Nailsea & Tickenham: Kahkonen, Thomas, Kenneally, Harvey, Watch, Sheaf, Botfield, White, Muggeridge, Malone, Flippance

Match Action

The visitors kick off and fashion a half chance when Muggeridge crosses from the right and Flippance heads just over. At the other end, Kahkonen’s poor clearance results in Ellis shooting just over when he could have done better.

Nailsea look like a decent team with Muggeridge and Sheaf getting joy down the flanks an only a last minute block from Haancock prevents Flippance from burying the former’s low cross.

Marlon Gutzmore has looked dangerous and his curling shot from inside the area is tipped round the post.

Gabriel Ellis has the ball in the net after latching onto Cotteril’s long clearance but he was offside. No score at the break.

Into the second half and we seem to have a measure of control, but cannot create a clear chance, with Ellis and sub Harry Wood having tame long range efforts easily saved. On the hour we give the ball away needlessly in midfield and suddenly we have a problem. Sheaf runs at the heart of the defence before slipping in the ever dangerous Muggeridge who places the ball into the corner with a tidy finish.

We respond. Cotteril hangs the ball into the penalty area with Gutzmore looking to get on the end of it. He falls to the ground after being shoved in the back by the defender. Penalty! Up steps Gabriel Ellis..... Saved! Kahkonen makes a flying save to his right and tips the ball round the post.

But we are talking “The Angel” here.. Moments later Kevin Preston plays a fine through ball for him to chase. He latches onto it and fires the ball low past Kahkonen into the corner of the net.. 1-1!  But moments later Kevin Preston pulls up injured and we have used all our subs.. Oh dear!

Nailsea smell blood and they win a corner. Muggeridge swings it in and Connor Harvey rises highest at the near post to nod the ball fiercely into the top corner to restore their lead.. Then sub Hunt gets down the right and crossed far post for Muggeridge (who else) to volley low across the face of goal for White to tap home number three and knock us out the FA Vase. Our bad luck in this competition continues as we are “mugged” by Muggeridge and co.

Final Score: Morley Town 1-3 Nailsea & Tickenham

Ellis 69                                               Sheaf 61

                                                      Muggeridge 84,86

Callum Haggett loan deal

Young midfielder, Callum Haggett has joined Sporting Khalsa (GAD) on loan for the rest of the season.

Match 6: Morley Town v Shirebrook Soldiers

Attention! Shirebrook Soldiers are in town for their latest battle in the NECL Div 1 at fortress Glen Road. The newly promoted side have only taken one point from their opening five games, while we are in 7^th place with nine. I make two changes. Kemp comes in on the left flank for the injured Preston, with Gutzmore switching to the right and Harry Wood partners the Angel up front.

Morley Town: Oldham, Cotteril, Goulding, Hancock, Haylock, Wright, Smith, Gutzmore, Wood, Ellis, Kemp

Subs: Green, Priestley, Greenfield, Onder, Mason

Shirebrook Soldiers: Clarke, Perrin, Fall, Hammond, Linden, Koukleris, Hassell, Rowell, Porter, Carnevale, Doyle

Subs: Jackson, Flynn, Deakin, Reale, Mulberry

Match Action

The visitors start the strongest and after two minutes force Oldham to tip the ball acrobatically over the bar. We cannot get going. The Soldiers carve out two or three decent chances which thankfully are not taken, but we are certainly in a battle here. Finally we get the ball in their half and Gutzmore cuts inside from the right and his low drive is well saved by the keeper. Their best player, Rowell then latches onto a clever flick from Koukleris but can only scuff his shot wide with only Oldham to beat. At the other end a lung bursting run down the right by Jayden Cotteril results in Lewis Kemp narrowly heading over the bar at the far post. We assert dominance and are much sharper in the tackle. Gutzmore is running rings around his full back, but that final pass is still not there. Smith has a n effort deflected wide, while Ellis’ speculative effort curls just wide. No goals at the break.

Into the second half and the game gets bogged down but we still look the better team. Smith and Wood both have long range efforts over the bar and Smith has another shot blocked when laid back to him by Gutzmore. I throw on Livesey Mason for Kemp on the left and young Alfie Priestly in the attacking midfield role to try and make something happen. Then, on 63 minutes Marley Haylock dinks a teasing ball down the left channel, where Harry Wood scampers after it. He gets the ball on the left edge of the area, before opening his body to slide the ball perfectly into the  opposite corner from a brilliant goal. 1-0 Morley. Then lovely link up play between Priestley and Wood sends the youngster through on goal, but his low finish hits the foot of Clarke, the goalkeeper and deflects wide. Unlucky! Inevitably, Shirebrook Soldiers look for an equaliser and when one of their attacks is cut out, we break swiftly with the impressive Priestly finding Ellis who hurtles down the right flank. His low cross cum shot is parried by the keeper, only into the path of Harry Wood who taps home number two from 5 yards. Then sub Greenfield takes a free-kick, short to Harry Wood in the centre circle. He spins and flights a superb ball for The Angel. He looks up and sees the keeper off his line and chips the ball over his head and into the top corner to score one of his best of his 90-odd goals for Morley Town A good solid win.

A solid start to life in the NECL Div 1 has seen Morley Town up in the higher reaches if the league as they seek to escape Level 10 Football. But iwth their best defender, Sam Bentley leaving the club can they maintain their good form? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!