Frank Rourke's Report from Formby Junior Sports Club
Formby Junior Sports Club has been delighted with the wonderful start to the season the club’s younger Representative teams have made. The boys have regularly attended Inter Club football on Saturdays and those wishing to represent FJSC on Sundays have all had the opportunity to do so. Whether win, draw or lose all the boys playing for FJSC are doing the club proud. The boys are constantly being praised for their sportsmanship and great enthusiasm.
The FJSC Under 7 Whites team are one of the surprise teams of the season so far. From a group of boys who at the beginning of September hardly new each other, have jelled together and improved their skills both individually and as a team in a very short space of time. On Sunday the team played Redgate Yellows. James Smith opened the scoring for FJSC but Redgate replied with three quickfire goals. The young FJSC team came back strongly with a goal each from Harry O’Donnell and Jack Haggart. There were more goals in this eleven-goal thrilling match including a goal from Henry Williamson with a smart poachers finish and Seb Hodgson scoring with a long shot. Jack Haggart and James Smith both scored again in a very good team performance.
The match between FJSC Under 8 Blacks and Southport FC was a brilliant game from start to finish. The Blacks got off to a good start with a goal each for Rory Rankine and Huey Stevenson. Southport attacked with menace but found FJSC’s goalkeeper Harrison Hughes and defender Finn McDerby on top form which helped to keep a clean sheet for their team throughout the first half. Southport staged a very good fight back in the second half and with a flurry of goals went ahead. In a grandstand finish the Blacks swept forward. Joseph Kenyon equalised and Rory Rankine scoring a well-taken goal in the final minute to decide the outcome of this thrilling encounter.
FJSC Under 12 Sunday team travelled to Shevington. It was a very evenly contested match with Shevington taking the lead in the first half. Archie Ogden equalised in the second half for a 1-1 draw. FJSC still remain in second position in the Premier Division.
On Saturday FJSC Under 12’s played top team L4 in the Hightown League. L4 led 2 nil at half time. James Cook scored early in the second half but L4 extended their lead from the penalty spot. A Berat Ulusoy converted penalty set up a close finish but L4 held on to win 3-2.
FJSC Under 11 Blacks hosted Southport Hesketh at Deansgate Lane in perfect conditions on Remembrance Sunday and both teams respected the pre match minutes silence impeccably. See photograph.
The pattern of play quickly took shape as the Blacks defended deep and tried to hit Southport on the counter attack. Southport created several chances but were thwarted by the FJSC defence of Sam Uttley, Evan Hughes and Charlie Knowles and goalkeeper Jack Finley who made several impressive saves. As half time approached it looked as though it would remain even but as the Blacks advanced forward, Southport reversed the tactics and hit them on the counter attack with a fast break down the right wing from which they scored with a low drive into the far corner of the goal.
The second half saw the game continue in similar fashion with the Blacks working hard but unable to gain control. As the half went on and spaces began to open up, Southport made their pressure count and scored further goals to put the game beyond FJSC. Man of the match was Jack Finley for his impressive and confident display in goal.
FJSC Under 9 Whites started slowly against Southport Trinity Blues and found themselves quickly three goals down. The boys battled hard, particularly in the second half where it was a much closer game than the score suggested. There was another excellent goalkeeping performance from Matthew Crutchley and a joint man of the match effort from Gregory Houghton and Nat Daniels who never stopped running or trying.
FJSC Under 8 Reds played against a well organised and competitive Southport Trinity Blue team. Trinity took the lead and kept up the pressure throughout the game but the FJSC Reds never gave up and kept fighting until the end and were rewarded with a good goal finished by James Hannan after a through ball from Zac McHugh. Other highlights for the Reds included good team performances in goal from Mason Todd in the first half and by Joel Craven in the second half and the never give up attitude of all the players. Man of the match was Isaac Pepper.
FJSC Under 6’s had a very enjoyable match with Qom. The first half was frantic and end to end with six goals equally shared between the two teams. The middle and final third followed the same pattern. After ten goals scored and honours even the final whistle was blown. Jacob Givin and Beau Brodrick scored FJSC’s goals. Harrison Weir, Finley Duffin and Matthew Miles all played well but the first weekly man of the match was awarded to Oliver Parrish for his work rate and sportsmanship. To complete a very enjoyable morning all the boys took part in a fun penalty shoot-out.
INTER CLUB SECTION
It was another Saturday morning of exciting matches and great coaching sessions with good attendances in all age groups.
The following boys were amongst last Saturday’s scorers – Harry Hughes, Jacob Givins, Harrison Weir, Rory Rankins, Matthew Miles, Rory Rankine, Lucas Lewis, Ralph Renton, Jacob Davies, Isaac Jones, Max Brown, Archie Weir, Sam Lewis, Henry Renton and Tom Donnelly.
INTER CLUB ARRANGEMENTS FOR SATURDAY 20TH NOVEMBER AT DEANSGATE LANE PLAYING FIELDS.
START TIMES
RECEPTION / YEAR 0NE 10.45am -11.45am
YEARS TWO/THREE 11.15am -12.15pm
YEARS FOUR/FIVE. 9.30am - 10.45am
YEARS SIX/SEVEN. 9.45am – 11.00am
INTER CLUB - SPACES AVAILABLE
New members in all age groups are most welcome to come along and to join in the coaching and fun football sessions.
MORE HELP NEEDED AT THE END OF MATCHES
Some kind parents help every week to take down goals but if a few more parents could assist this would be greatly appreciated and would be much quicker.
CLUB NEWS
NEW UNDER 9 AND UNDER 10 TEAMS
There are still some places available for FJSC’s two new to be formed teams at Under 9 ( present Year 4) and Under 10 (present Year 5). If interested please come along to the Year 4/5 Inter Club session at 9.30am. next Saturday.
NEW UNDER 5 TEAM
It is hoped that very soon a FJSC Reception (Under 5) team will be formed to play some friendly matches on Sunday mornings. If interested please let Frank Rourke know next Saturday.
JOINING FORCES
It is great to see that two of FJSC’s Representative teams are joining forces for extra training sessions before their usual Inter Club football. Well done to the boys in the Under 8 Blacks and Under 8 Reds teams and their coaches.
Another team to take advantage of available time to get together for extra practice with their coach on Saturday mornings has been the young FJSC Under 7 Whites team.
Everything continues to go well at Formby Junior Sports Club.
