Formby Junior Sports Club - Frank Rourke's report

There were some excellent results gained by many of Formby Junior Sports Club’s Representative teams last weekend. FJSC’s Under 12 Blacks gained an impressive and very exciting league win. There was a tremendous first leg cup-tie victory for FJSC Under 17’s, a hard earned FJSC Under 14 Whites league win and another cup success for FJSC’s Under 10’s Saturday team. FJSC Under 12 Blacks made a very slow start in their match with Southport FC. Southport were well on top and threatened the Formby goal with attack after attack. Two quick goals were conceded and it looked ominous for the Blacks. Goalkeeper Bowie Mavers kept FJSC in the game with two fine saves. Confidence grew and the Blacks started to play better and settled into the game. The team started to pass the ball well and a few chances were created. A great cross from Alfie Finney found Ollie Shaw who finished well for FJSC’s first goal. Further possession and a nice move ended with Oscar Fletcher crossing for Ed Poole to volley home from close range for the equaliser before half time. The second half was all FJSC with Finley Clarke, Dan Raw and Joe Wake playing exceptionally at the back, providing the platform for the boys further forward. Isaac Bird played well on the left and Jude Williams was a constant threat down the right flank, with Oscar Fletcher and Alex Burke playing well in midfield. Joe Finnegan was commanding in goal. Oscar Fletcher was found after a nice passing move just outside the box and he turned inside and fired into the top corner to make it 3-2 for FJSC. A further goal by Oscar Fletcher in the last minute made it 4-2 to Formby. It was a really pleasing, encouraging and excellent team display. FJSC Under 17 played their first leg quarter-final cup tie away, against Birkdale United SAC. It was a very competitive match between two good teams. FJSC took control of the first half with a couple of goals in quick succession. Sam Riley headed in on thirteen minutes from a corner, which was followed by an almost identical goal from Sean Lawler-Pilkington two minutes later. Jack Cunliffe headed home FJSC’s third goal after thirty-five minutes before Birkdale United pulled a goal back before half time. The second half was a different affair with Birkdale coming back strongly into the match. It was now end to end football before Birkdale United reduced the deficit to 2-3. FJSC restored their two-goal lead in the eighty-fifth minute when Bryn Macy scored with a well-taken right-footed shot to the keepers left into the top right of the net. It finished 4-2 in favour of FJSC with it all still to play for next week in the return leg at Smithy Green. Man of the match was keeper James Hardy with some magnificent saves to keep FJSC’s advantage. FJSC Under 17’s have now won four matches in succession. FJSC Under 14 Whites made an excellent start in their away match at Southport Trinity. The Whites had most of the possession and despite creating chances early on it was their opponents Southport Trinity who took the lead. Another quick Trinity goal followed. FJSC fought hard and clawed themselves back into the match with two goals before half time scored by Henry Peck and Steven Mordaunt. In a much more settled team performance in the second half FJSC went on to win 5-3. Steven Mordaunt’s commanding midfield performance gave the Whites the edge and there was a further goal from Henry Peck and a brace from Luke Honour. The Under 14 White’s are now unbeaten in the last five matches with four wins and a draw. Next Saturday is the return fixture between the same two teams. FJSC Under 14 Blacks played away at high fliers Ormskirk Galaxy. The Blacks tried hard but found Ormskirk’s hotshot forwards too difficult to contain and lost 9-1. FJSC’s Haydn Eccleston scored a well deserved goal for his team. FJSC Under 10’s Saturday team were once again in cup action and played Northfield FC in what turned out to be a very exciting match, which had a grandstand finish. Luca Massey gave FJSC the lead from a corner in the first half. Northfield equalised in the second half. The Under 10’s defended well as Northfield pressed for a winning goal and in a quick counter attack in the final minute Luca Massey scored to see FJSC gain a 2-1 victory. FJSC Under 10’s Sunday team played Southport and Birkdale. It was an extremely close match played in wet and windy conditions. With no goals scored a draw seemed the likely result until a goal from a penalty late in the game settled the outcome. FJSC Under 8 Bobcats were in action against Formby Community FC. The Bobcats played very well with Bella Massey, Sophia Kamel, Gabriella Otty and Shanice Jones all scoring. Skylar Davies and Sienna Kamel also deserve mention for their efforts. Girl of the game was Bella Massey. FJSC Under 6’s travelled to the Netherton Activity Centre with three teams. In the first fixture FJSC played River Rio. It was a high scoring and very close match between two very enthusiastic teams. FJSC got off to a great start thanks to goals from Mason Stringer and Diego Funes-Cervera both of whom scored after a combination of individual skills and finishing as a result of some great teamwork. The defensive skills of Joshua Halpin, Max McAuley, Rory Rankine and Jude Massey gave the team a real platform and the opportunities for FJSC’s two strikers to score some very well-taken goals throughout the game. Man of the match was Mason Stringer. The second encounter was against ESC. It was an end-to-end game that both sides could have won. Jaiden Crosby, Oscar Howard, Noah Walker-Hall and man of the match Parker Kehoe scored. Ezra Mavers also played well in his first game. The third match was against FC Northern. Man of the match Josh Tallon scored two great goals. The first was from a half volley into the top corner of the net and then a minute later from a lob over the keeper from outside the box. Also scoring were Oliver Hall- Gleeson, Harley Evans and Ryan Lamb. Finn McDerby also played well. All the Under 6 boys braved the very wet and windy conditions extremely well. INTER CLUB FOOTBALL Inter Club football went well once again with some excellent coaching for many groups taken by EUFA Coach Jordan Parker. There were some highly entertaining matches with some excellent defending, spectacular goals and some brave goalkeeping. INTER CLUB SCORERS Sebastian Hodgson, Max Byford, Walter Ramsdale, Jaiden Crosby, Harley Evans, Rory Rankine, Luke Smith, Mason Stringer, Hughie Macleod, Jamie Seasman, Alan Burness, Lewis Donoghue, Patrick Fleming, Zach Gilbert, Joel Gilbert, Luke Patel, Jamie Potts, Isabella Massey, Gabriella Otty and Annabel Rowe. INTER CLUB ARRANGEMENTS FOR SAT. 1st FEBRUARY All matches and coaching sessions are at Deansgate Lane Playing Fields. START TIMES Reception Boys and Girls at 9.30am until 10.30am Years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Boys’ at 10am until 11am. Year 4, 5 and 6 Boys’ Coaching from 11am to 11.30am. Girls’ Coaching at 10.30am until 11am. Girls’ matches at 11am until 11.30am. Girls’ coaching and game - Years 9 and 10 from 11am until 12 noon. NEW MEMBERS IN ALL INTER CLUB AGE GROUPS ARE MOST WELCOME. CHILDREN WISHING TO START TO PLAY FOOTBALL FOR THE FIRST TIME ARE INVITED TO COME ALONG TO SEE IF THEY ENJOY IT. CLUB NEWS FOOTBALL FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS FJSC would like to invite four year olds and children going into Reception next September to Deansgate Lane on Saturday mornings at 9.30am until 10.30am. There will be a coaching session followed by small games of football. Parents are asked to bring their children along to see if they like it. GIRLS’ FOOTBALL FJSC is very proud of all the girls playing football in the club. At the present time our Under 18 Girls’ team are top of the West Lancs Youth Division, our Under 16 Girls’ team called the Jets are enjoying their Hightown League season and our youngest team FJSC Under Under 8 Bobcats, with a very small squad of players, have done fantastically well so far this season with nine victories from ten matches played. The new Inter Club girls have also made good progress. FJSC invites new girls to join the club. The Under 8 Bobcats has room for some more players. If interested please attend training at Deansgate on Saturday mornings at 10.30am. Girls at Primary school age who are interested in starting to play football are welcome to come along on Saturday mornings at 10.30 to 11.30am for coaching and a game. SPONSORED PENALTY COMPETITION FJSC thanks all those who took part in the event which as a result has raised £327 for club equipment.