Formby Junior Sports Club’s first weekend of its 66th season was a great success

Formby Junior Sports Club’s first weekend of its 66th season was a great success.  The club provided football for nearly three hundred  youngsters at the weekend which included over eighty new members.  Numbers continue to grow and as ever all are welcome whatever the ability.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM MATCHES

FJSC Under 15’s played Skelmersdale Youth in the West Lancashire Junior Football League. The first half was a tight affair as FJSC battled against a strong wind, and defended well while looking to hit SkemYouth on the break. Ethan Murphy came closest to getting on the score sheet as he broke down the right wing and shot just wide of the far post, while at the other end Ethan Tucker and Sami Abdelhamid contained the Skem attack with strength and pace. The first half ended 0-0.

With the wind behind them in the second half FJSC had more possession and played some excellent attacking football. Against the run of play Skem Youth scored after gaining possession in midfield, but FJSC quickly reset and created several chances before equalising through Tom Donnelly who finished off a low cross from the right after good work on the wing by Joe Norrie. Tom then turned provider as he played a through ball to Ethan Richmond who scored to make it 2-1. Ethan added a deserved third goal after he collected a pass from Ben Cargill and fired the ball past the Skem goalkeeper to make it 3-1. It was an excellent team performance and a great start to the new season.

FJSC Under 14 Blacks had a very impressive 9 nil win against Maghull Blue in the Hightown League.  Jenson Heron, Will Madutlela and Reuben Burke scored two goals each.  There was also one goal apiece for Connor Howells, Zak Healey and Fabien Reilly.  Due to the absence of Ben Gregory due to injury Lucas Lewis went in goal and with the help of his defence kept a clean sheet.

FJSC Under 14 Whites had a very close match with FCFC Orange but narrowly lost 2-1.  The team showed heart and a fighting team spirit.  Will Rawsthorne scored.

FJSC Under 13 Whites had a tough start against a team that played in the higher division last season. FJSC took the lead with a fine long-range goal from Thomas Roberti but Marina Sands took control as the game progressed and went on to win 8-1. There were solid performances in defence from Jasper Lucas and Jacob Underwood, but Man of the Match went to stand in goalkeeper Matthew Crutchley.

FJSC Under 13 Blacks, reigning champions of the Hightown Premier Winter & Spring Leagues, launched their new season with a commanding performance against Town Green FC. With fresh faces Josh Burr, Oscar Butch-Platt, Seb Goatley and Louis Evans joining the squad, the team took to the pitch for their first competitive 11-a-side fixture with a renewed sense of energy and ambition.

The opening exchanges were evenly matched, as both sides battled for control in midfield. A composed defensive performance by Ellis Coyne helped keep the scores locked at 0-0 until in the 20th minute when FJSC won a free kick wide on the right flank. Up stepped debutant Josh Burr, who curled a superb strike into the back of the net to mark his first goal for the club.

Buoyed by the breakthrough, FJSC found their rhythm. Moments later, Caden Walker broke free and slotted home with composure to double the lead. Just before the interval, slick passing through midfield released Seb Goatleyon the edge of the box, and he coolly finished for another debut goal, sending FJSC into half-time with a 3 nil advantage.

Town Green came out fighting in the second half and quickly pulled two goals back, narrowing the score to 3-2. However FJSC showed maturity beyond their years, regrouping calmly and regaining control. Josh Burr, linking up well with Finley Scott, restored the cushion with his second of the match before completing a memorable hat-trick with another clinical finish. Finley Scott completed the scoring later in the match for a 6-2 FJSC victory.  Ellis Coyne and Josh Burrshared the Man of the Match award.

FJSC Under 13 Blacks after narrowly missing out on the Craven Minor League title last season made a good start to the new campaign on Sunday.  Playing in the torrential rainagainst Southport and Ainsdale, the teamstrung together some impressive patterns of play and controlled possession. Their early pressure paid off around midway through the first half when Isaac Jones latched onto a clever chipped pass and rifled the ball high into the net to make it 1 nil.  Moments later, Charlie Richardson doubled the lead with the first of his three goals. After being denied by the keeper in a one-on-one, he kept his cool and tucked away the rebound with precision. FJSC went into half time 2–0 up, having played a superb thirty-five minutes of attacking football.

The second half saw S&A push back, testing the FJSC defence but goalkeeper Oscar Phillips was in inspired form, pulling off a string of smart saves to keep the visitors at bay. A tactical shift in formation helped FJSC regain control, and Charlie Richardson soon added his second to make it 3–0.  With momentum firmly on their side, FJSC continued to press and Charlie Richardson completed his hat-trick with a composed finish, whilst Louis Evans capped off theperformance with a late goal to seal a 5 nilwin. Man of the Match was goalkeeper Oscar Phillips.

FJSC Under 12 White started brightly against TQ Santos, pressing high and creating chances in the opening ten minutes. The early dominance was rewarded when FinnbarCoss struck after just two minutes to give the hosts the perfect start. Despite the strong opening, chances came and went without a second goal, and TQ Santos punished the missed opportunities by finding an equaliser midway through the half. FJSC regrouped, and on twenty-five minutes Josh Halpin restored the lead with a well-taken finish. The remainder of the first half was scrappy, with neither side taking control, but Formby went into the break narrowly ahead at 2-1.

The second half saw a transformed FJSC performance, inspired largely by the energy and direct running of Diego Funes-Cervera, who caused endless problems for the Santos defence. Within minutes of the restart, Clayton Connolly added a third, followed quickly by a superb strike from Diego Funes-Cervera. With momentum fully in their favour, Kayden Watters capped off the scoring in the 53rd minute. Santos did pull one back, but FJSC were always in command during the second period winning 5-2.

Man of the Match Finnbar Coss set the tone early with his opener and worked tirelessly throughout.

FJSC Under 12 Blacks were in action against  Forefield White and made a great start to the season with a dominant display. Goalkeeper George Pennington on his debut made some good saves and there were solid displays from all the lads.  Man of the Match  Ben Robertson produced a great assist and was solid all game.

FJSC Under 12 Whites were back in action on Sunday against Parklands. The Whites were caught cold early on, conceding the first goal to fall behind 1 nil. However, the boys showed real composure, keeping calm and quickly found their rhythm with slick one-touch passing and aggressive pressing.

Clayton Connolly equalised on seventeenminutes, and just two minutes later FinnbarCoss turned the game around with a well-placed finish to make it 2-1. Parklands threatened either side of half-time, but crucial saves from Lucas Guest kept FJSC ahead, particularly at 2-1 and again at 3-1 after an own goal extended the advantage.

With the game stretched, Formby’s superior fitness and attacking quality shone through. Zach Cooper took full advantage, scoring twice to put the result beyond doubt. The team finished strongly, playing with confidence and style and won 5-1.  Man of the Match was Dylan Scally for his tireless work in defence, breaking up play and driving the team forward.

FJSC Under 12 Reds had a very a tough away fixture against 11 Soccer Coaching with awful weather to go with it. The boys started well but indecision at the back found the boys 2-0 down early in the first half.  Jacob Holton and Campbell Woodcock showed some great dribbling skills and nearly found opportunities in the area but were unable to get their shots away. 11 SC broke clear late in the half and chipped the ball over Brett McKeown who had rushed out to close down the striker. 3-0 half time.

The second half saw several subs come on for FJSC but the opponent’s quality shone as they took advantage of the tiredness to fire many shots at the Formby goal. Brett McKeownmade several fantastic saves but was unable to keep them all out. There were solid defensive displays from Max Fairhurst and Lucas Firth. 11 SC attacked relentlessly scoring further goals to win 7-0. Haden Radcliffe who was captain for the day was also Man of the Match with his tireless running and solid tackles throughout the game.

FJSC Under 11 Gold opened their season with a hard test against a strong and well-organised Southport Athletic side. With several new players in the squad and some changes from last season, it was always going to be a challenging first outing. Despite the scoreline, the team showed encouraging signs. There were moments of promise going forward, particularly when players linked up with quick passing and movement. However, lapses in defensive shape and gaps through midfield were punished by Southport, who took their chances clinically.  The Players of the Match were Peter McCormack for his driving runs from deep, constantly carrying the team forward and Charlie Herbert for his excellent work rate, combining strong defending with composure on the ball.

There were plenty of lessons to take into training, with a focus on defensive organisation and positional discipline. Importantly, the spirit and commitment shown by the players gives the team a strong foundation to build upon as the season develops.

FJSC Under 10 Whites with a number of new players are still getting to know each otherwhich takes time. The boys played really well against an exceptionally good Burscough Dynamo team. All the boys worked hard and didn’t give up. Austin Faraday scored a brilliant goal which was assisted by ElliottDyment. Teddy Mills played very well in goal and made some fantastic saves.

FJSC Under 10 Blacks played an OrmskirkWest End with greater experience, skill and physicality which told from the start. They controlled possession, pressed high, and finished clinically to race into a commanding lead by half-time. FJSC battled throughout—defenders blocked bravely, the goalkeeper made several strong saves, and the midfield worked tirelessly—but the Blues repeatedly exploited space out wide and were ruthless in front of goal.

The pattern continued after the break, with Ormskirk adding further goals despite committed challenges and non-stop running from the Blacks. FJSC kept going and were rewarded late on with a well-worked consolation goal scored by Eoin Follett with a well struck shot from outside of the box, following a perfectly weighted pass off an indirect free kick.

It was a tough opening day for FJSC, who were outclassed but never stopped competing. Clear takeaways: quicker decision-making, tighter marking, and stronger 1v1 defending. Plenty to build on during the week.

FJSC Under 9 Whites had a full squad of ten players for the first match of the season playing in their new kits sponsored by Acorn Kitchens.  FJSC started well but Marina Sandstook the lead half way through the first half.  Logan Haggart played a through ball to Archie Jones to find an important equaliser.  Logan Haggart, Lucas Byrne and Luke Clarkeadded goals in quick succession to ensure a good lead at half time.  In the second half Franklin Chignell scored from a long range effort  and Archie Jones scored again for a comfortable first win of the season. Joint Players of the Match were Logan Haggart and Archie Jones.

FJSC Under 9 Blacks played host to Crosby Stuart Youth on a wet morning at Deansgate Lane.  See the photograph of the squad above.

The game started strongly with several early chances which failed to find the back of the net. Crosby Stuart countered and took their chance and opened the scoring. Sam O’Brien then equalised following good midfield playfrom Isaac Murphy and Teddy Ball.

Crosby Stuart came back strongly in the second half which put goalkeeper Harley Rea under pressure but he held his nerve. With a game that ebbed and flowed there were good performances from Harry Yates, Theo Dunn and Sebastian Downes. Ted Middleton worked hard up front by consistently putting the pressure on Crosby Stuart’s defence and was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet.

There was a debut performance for Zach Oliver-Watts who had just joined the Blacks in defence and combined very well with Oscar Craven who had another excellent match.  Sam O’Brien taking over the number 7 shirt proved to be a good decision as he went on to score two more goals for a well-deserved hat trick.  The Man of the Match award was shared by Isaac Murphy and Ted Middleton.

FJSC Under 9 Reds were playing their first ever competitive match.

The Reds opened the game well and during the first twenty minutes the match was end to end with both goalkeepers making important saves. Lucas Kelly on his debut for the club performed brilliantly in goal during the first half to deny Southport Hesketh on numerous occasions.

A switch at half time meant that Billy Mainwaring took the gloves in the second half. He again excelled on his debut and his new role between the sticks.  The boys gave everything throughout the game and can be very proud of their first game performances.  Man of the match was Ed Makinson who continued his good early season form.

FJSC Under 8 Whites played Southport and Ainsdale Whites who were undoubtedly a very strong team.   While the scoreline tells one story, the game itself told another. Their players were technically sharp, passed with precision, and clearly understood their roles on the pitch. That said, FJSC were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet and created a couple of good chances. Unfortunately, a few avoidable errors led directly to goals.

Deserving a special mention is Cian O’Farrell, the well-deserved Man of the Match who never stopped running, contributing in attack and tracking back tirelessly in defence.  Also Jack Kefford and Tom Babun impressed on their full debuts and showed great promise.

FJSC Under 7 Whites played their first game in the Craven Minor, away against Southport Trinity.  Straight from the kick off Kayden Dowdell surged forwards and finished brilliantly. Throughout the game Shayan Palin showed great composure at the back with excellent defending keeping Southport contained. There was superb team work from Teddy Gillingham who supported the team across the pitch making a number of excellent tackles. With great control and confident finishing Kayden Dowdell bagged two more goals. Southport Trinity were unlucky to miss a penalty but scored just before half time.

In the second half Mikey Tucker and McEddy Osei Assibey were solid in midfield. Towards the end of the game Thomas Daly was unlucky on a number of occasions not to score. During his time outfield Toby Woodcock made some good challenges and completed his performance by scoring with a low strike to the bottom corner.  It was asuperb team performance which will give thegroup plenty of confidence for the rest of the season.

INTER CLUB SECTION

There was an extremely good attendance for the first Inter Club session of the season with many new members joining in all age groups.  Each age group had half an hour’s coaching followed by a friendly fun match.

There were plenty of goals scored in the matches which were refereed by volunteer dads.  It was good fun, enjoyed by the very enthusiastic young footballers but also by mums, dads , aunties, uncles and many grandparents.

Scoring the goals were – Oscar Stainthorpe, Johnathan McFadden, Junior Swartze, James McManus, Bobby Sinclair, Ezekiel Fitzgibbon, Rory Dunn, Sonny O’Callaghan, Gene Dugdale, Arthur Pollard, George Leggett, Ezra Hodgson, Leo Clarke, Josh Kefford, Michael Short, James Curran, Brett McKeown, Chase Lowen, Zac Hooson- Jones, Charlie Griffiths, Grayson Fox and William Gregory.

INTER CLUB ARRANGEMENTS FOR SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER AT DEANSGATE LANE PLAYING FIELDS

9.00am - 9.30am       Goalkeeper Coaching

9.30am- 10.40am      Year Two ( new earliertime )

9.30am –10.40am     Year Eight/ Nine

10.00am 11.10am.     Fours, Reception and Year One

10.40am- 11.45am    Year Three/Year Four

11.15am 12.20pm    Year Five/Year Six/ Year Seven.

ALL ARE WELCOME.  COME ALONG AND SEE IF YOU ENJOY IT.

INTER CLUB NEWS

The Year Two group will start at the new time of 9.30am and will finish at 10.40am.

For budding goalkeepers - there is Goalkeeper Coaching at 9am to 9.30am each Saturday morning.  This is open to all Inter Club age groups.

Parents are asked to please look at the Mini Handbook in the Club Documents Section of the club website formbyjuniorsportsclub.co.uk  for important information about the club.  This will be particularly helpful for parents of new members.