FRANK'S REPORT - 21st April 2017

FRANK'S REPORT - 17/04/2017 17 Apr, 2017

Formby Junior Sports Club Under 14’s United needed just one point from their last Premier Division fixture to become League Champions for the fifth successive season.

This was not to be an easy task as for the second week running FJSC Under 14 United’s opponents were second in the division Southport Trinity Blue. A win for the Blues would likely result in a play off for the title. In addition to this background information, in the previous match between these two very good teams the result had been 2-2 with United fighting back to draw after trailing by two goals.

Learning much from their first encounter, FJSC were very alert to the expected early attacks from Southport Trinity’s speedy and very dangerous forward line. Twice in the first match United had been caught on the counter attack but United had prepared well and reduced Trinity to very few opportunities in a very even first half. Oliver Shaw came close to scoring from a free kick and there were some half chances as well for the FJSC front three but the game remained goalless.

The match ebbed and flowed in the second half with both team’s defences more than a match for their opponent’s strikers. However with only five minutes remaining the only goal of the match was scored. FJSC’s Gerard Casterton used his pace to reach a fifty-fifty ball a split second before the Trinity goalkeeper. With great composure under pressure the FJSC striker coolly steered the ball into the unguarded Trinity net.

The three points gained by United secured the league title as Trinity with still one match to play cannot reach United’s unassailable points total. It was a thrilling match. Man of the match for FJSC United was defender Cameron Sergison. The whole squad deserves much praise for a wonderful effort all season. The team played eighteen league matches and won seventeen. United were held to one draw and remained undefeated.

Already Under 13 Championship Division Champions, FJSC Under 13 Blacks were on course to continue their quest to finish the season with a one hundred per cent league winning record. Their opponents Formby Athletic had other ideas and scored first. The Blacks quickly drew level when Tait Sheridan scored after a fine run and crisp strike.

A determined Formby Athletic defence held firm as the Blacks had the major share of the possession. The Blacks mounted attack after attack but couldn’t score the winner and the score remained 1-1. The man of the match award for a dominant centre half display went to Ben Sudlow.

FJSC Under 15 Girls’, another of the club’s League Champion winning teams, played their second match in the West Lancs Challenge Cup competition against Town Green. Anna Rutherford scored one goal in each half with Charlotte Doyle providing a very good assist for one of the goals. The Under 15’s are presently joint top of the Lions group. Girl of the match for her well- timed tackling was defender Megan Houston. Other notable performances were from Sophie Dixon in midfield and from defender Charlotte Armstrong.

FJSC Under 10 Blacks played in the Charlie’s Chance Easter Tournament held at Holy Family High School. The Blacks played six matches against some well- organised teams. Three matches were drawn and the defeats were each only by a narrow margin. This included unluckily losing a penalty shoot-out. The team only conceded four goals in the competition. The Blacks player of the tournament was Marcus Rogan. Also taking part in the fund raising event were FJSC Under 10 Whites and FJSC Under 8 Blacks.

FJSC Under 14 Blacks could make it a League and Cup Double if they can win their cup final against Phoenix at Burscough FC on Wednesday April 19th, kick off 6pm.

Also with cup finals to look forward to during the next few weeks are another ten FJSC teams.

BOYS’ TEAMS IN CRAVEN MINOR LEAGUE CUP FINALS

At Burscough FC: –

FJSC Under 11 Whites v Southport Trinity Whites at 6.15pm on Friday April 28th.

FJSC Under 18’s v Jaguar Whites at 7 pm on Wednesday May 3rd.

At Southport FC :-

FJSC Under 14 United v Churchtown Athletic, on Sunday April 30th. Kick off at 2pm.

FJSC Under 15’s v Brick Juniors on Monday May 1st at 12 noon.

FJSC Under 18 Blacks v Churchtown Athletic, on Monday May 1st at 2pm.

To be arranged:-

FJSC Under 7 Blacks – Under 7 Finals Tournament

FJSC Under 8 Whites – Under 8 Finals Tournament

GIRLS’ TEAMS IN HIGHTOWN GIRLS’ LEAGUE FINALS

The rearranged cup final dates are to be played at Waterloo Rugby Club on Thursday May 4th as follows:-

FJSC Under 8 Rockets v Litherland Remyca at 6pm

FJSC Under 11 Real v Hesketh Colts at 7pm

FJSC Under 11 Albion v Litherland Remyca at 7pm

INTER CLUB ARRANGEMENTS FOR SATURDAY APRIL 22ND

Inter club football will be ON for all age groups at Deansgate Lane Playing Fields. All kick offs will be at the usual times. It is important that matches start on time so children are asked to please attend ten minutes earlier.

Many matches will decide cup final pairings for the end of season Cup Final Day on Saturday April 29th. A good attendance for these matches is needed.

The following cup matches do need to be played.

Year Three Boys - Panthers v Pumas

Year Four/Five Boys – Round Four cup-ties to be played.

Year Six/Seven Boys - Formby Grasshoppers v Cross Green United (also to be counted as a league play-off match); Freshfield Colts v Sandune Rovers; Pinewood Athletic v Red Squirrel Rangers.

Year Six/Seven Girls – Sharks (Yellows) v Dolphins (Blue) and Stingrays (Green) v Seahawks (Orange)

CUP FINAL PAIRINGS - DECIDED

BOYS

Year Two Cup Final – Kingfishers (Blue) v Ravens (Yellow).

Mini Cup Final - Lions (Green) v Leopards (Orange).

Year Three Cup Final – Tigers (Green) v Panthers (White) or Pumas (Blue).

Mini- Cup Final – Jaguars (Red) v Panthers or Pumas.

GIRLS

Year 3/4/5 – Cup Final - Kestrels (Orange) v Owls (Pink).

Mini Cup Final – Eagles (Yellow) v Magpies (Purple).

INTER CLUB COACHING ON SATURDAY APRIL 22ND

Coaching will be ON at the usual times for Reception and Year One boys as well as matches for these two age groups.

Girls coaching for Year Four and Year Five will start at 10.15am followed by Inter Club matches at 11am.

Club coaches will make separate arrangements for other groups.

INTER CLUB COMPETITIONS

The Inter Club Appearance Awards have been calculated using the statistics on the club website up to and including April 1st.

The Goal Scorers Competition will continue until the end of the season.

CLUB NEWS

FJSC Boys’ Representative Team Trials (in order to select squads for next season’s teams) will take place on Wednesday April 19th and 26th for boys presently in Year One up to and including Year Four from 6.30 to 7.30pm at Deansgate Lane.

Thursday April 20th and 27th will be for boys presently in Year Five up to and including Year 8, from 7 to 8pm at Deansgate Lane.

All club members are invited to attend the trials if they wish. Regardless of selection all boys will still be able to play in the Inter Club section next season.

New boys wishing to be considered for next season’s FJSC Under 15’s, 16’s and 18’s are asked to email the club for arrangements for forthcoming practices. This will be for this season’s squads and for newcomers.

FJSC Girls’ Representative Team Trials will take place on Thursday May 4th. and May 11th from Under 7 to Open Age at Deansgate Lane from 6.00- 7.15pm.

MEMBERSHIP

FJSC’s membership for the season has now reached five hundred and sixteen.

FJSC PRESENTATION EVENING

The Annual Presentation Evening will be held at St Jerome’s Church Hall on Friday May 5th. There will be two sessions. Year One up to and including Year Five from 6.45 –7.45pm. Year Six upwards from 8.15 –9.15pm. Invitation letters will be sent out shortly to parents of the children to receive awards on this occasion.

NEXT SEASON’S MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

All club members will receive important information about next season this week by email. Letters will also be available for collection on Saturday April 22nd. Representative team managers will also have letters for distribution as well.

PRESENT YEAR SEVEN BOYS

Saturday Inter Club football will be available for next season’s Year Eights if there is sufficient interest from this age group. Next season’s FJSC Under 13 Representative Teams will now be playing Craven Minor League matches on Sundays and not Saturdays as in previous years. This means that Saturday morning Inter Club can now be played.

Present Year Seven boys are asked to inform their Inter Club organisers on Saturday April 22nd of whether or not they wish to play Inter Club next season. An early decision is necessary in order for Inter Club organisation for the 2017-2018 season to be planned.