Frank Rourke's Report from Formby Junior Sports Club

Formby Junior Sports Club’s Under 8 Reds team were a brand new team at the start of the season. The team have gradually improved with every outing and after nine matches of trying were rewarded in their tenth match with a draw. It was a confidence boosting result and thoroughly deserved. On the Inter Club front numbers continue to rise and as a result next Sunday a squad of ten boys from the Year 4/5 section will play for the new FJSC Under 10’s team. This means that FJSC will once again have at least one team in each age group from Under 6 up to and including the Under 12’s. In addition FJSC has an Under 16 team made up of many boys who have been with the club for over ten years.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM MATCHES

FJSC Under 8 Reds played Southport FC at home and had a marvellous first half with the team’s top scorer Zac McHugh scoring a very good hat-trick. Southport scored once before half time and came back strongly after the interval to level the score with two more goals. The match was thrilling to the end but without any further goals. James Hannan and Mason Todd played in goal for a half each and made some important saves. Jenson Gray and Tom Murphy defended well and there were battling performances from Joel Craven, Joel Wright and captain Isaac Pepper. Man of the match was Zac McHugh. With twenty-eight goals scored by the team in ten matches and with only one game in which the team has not scored ,together with the team spirit this team has developed the first win of the season should not be far away.

FJSC Under 12’s were in action against Warbreck in the Hightown Premier Division. The two teams were very evenly matched. The deadlock was broken in FJSC’s favour in the forty-sixth minute when man of the match Freddie Garvey scored the only goal of the match with a volley.

FJSC Under 12 Blacks got off to a sensational start against Freshfield FC when Charlie Garvey scored in the first minute. Charlie Garvey then scored two more goals to complete a first half hat-trick. With a 3 nil lead FJSC played with confidence in the second half and added three more goals without reply. Dominic Maxwell scored a brace and Freddie Garvey made it 6 nil with a powerful drive from twenty yards. Man of the match was Isaac Burns. The Under 12’s are now in second position in the league table.

FJSC Under 11 Whites produced one of their best performances of the season against Ormskirk West End and were very unfortunate not to win. Niall Brennan and George Hansen scored one goal each to level the score after Ormskirk had led but an unfortunate goal was then conceded.

FJSC Under 11 Blacks played Forefield Rangers. The opening exchanges saw a close contest as both teams tried to establish themselves in the game but a couple of defensive errors saw Forefield take the lead and then to create several more chances. The Blacks pulled a goal back after Ollie Dean passed the ball out to Henry Renton on the left wing and he sprinted forward to score with a well taken goal. The second half brought about a slight change in formation for the Blacks as they played two strikers, and that paid off when Thomas Donnelly found himself clear on the right and he played in a perfect cross to Abe Rice who finished well. Samuel Lewis also created some chances with his clever runs through the middle and Josh Kearney showed some skilful touches on the wing, but it was Forefield who took advantage of a couple more defensive errors to extend their lead. Man of the match was awarded to Josh Kearney for his overall play and positive attitude in the game.

FJSC Under 9 Whites were at home to a strong Redgate Yellows team. Goalkeeper Gregory Houghton made a couple of good saves in the first half and after Redgate had taken the lead FJSC were unlucky not to score when a shot hit the post. In the second half Redgate added to their score before FJSC’s man of the match Zac Hooson-Jones scored a well-deserved goal.

FJSC Under 8 Blacks went one goal down against Southport and Ainsdale but equalised soon after. S.and A. had a number of attacks but failed to score again due to very good defending by Finn McDerby and Oliver Hall- Gleeson together with some fine goalkeeping from Harrison Hughes. The in form Rory Rankine scored a great hat-trick and in the second half Jack Williams scored three times in five minutes. Joseph Kenyon was also on the scoresheet with a well- earned goal. It was a very pleasing team performance.

FJSC under 6’s continued to gain match experience in the Sefton JFL Development League with a match played in three short sessions against a good Northfield team. Northfield had much the better of the first third. In the second session FJSC played very well with Beau Brodrick scoring a hat-trick and Archie Phenna also on the scoresheet with a goal. Northfield scored a few goals in the final period and FJSC’s Beau Brodrick scored his fourth goal of this high scoring encounter. The two teams thoroughly enjoyed the match. Archie Phenna was man of the match for his goal, tackling and tireless running.

INTER CLUB SECTION

The Year 4/5 group had a mini tournament last Saturday. In the semi-finals the Reds narrowly won 4-3 against the Royal Blues and the Sky Blues gained a 4-2 victory over the Yellows. In the final the Sky Blues defeated the Reds 2nil and the third and fourth place play-off between the Royal Blues and the Yellows ended in a 3-3 draw. Scoring the goals in this very exciting and enjoyable competition were Ralph Renton, Lucas Lewis, Max Brown, Sylvan O’Hara, Zac Hooson-Jones, Archie Weir, Romeo Higgs and Terence Etim.

There were lively and fun coaching sessions and excellent matches in all the other age groups. The Year 6/7 match between the Royal Blues and the Orange team had everything except goals.

Also amongst the goals in the other age groups were Archie Smith, Jack Bogucki, Finley Duffin, Beau Brodrick, Archie Phenna, Harrison Weir, Jack Hansen, Jack Haggart, Henry Williamson and Oliver Hall-Gleeson.

For more information about the number of appearances made during the season so far and the number of goals scored please see the club website for up to date statistics.

INTER CLUB ARRANGEMENTS FOR SATURDAY 27th NOVEMBER AT DEANSGATE LANE PLAYING FIELDS

YEAR 4/5. 9.30 am

YEAR 6/7. 9.45 am

RECEPTION. 10.45 am

YEAR 1. 10.45 am

YEAR 2. 11.15 am

YEAR 3. 11.15 am

NEM MEMBERS IN ALL AGE GROUPS ARE WELCOME.

In the event of bad weather, if sessions are cancelled a message will be placed in the News Section on the Club Website, Twitter and Facebook. Parents can also tel. 01704 873238 to hear a message on the club telephone .

With the weather now getting colder it is recommended that the boys wear warmer clothing for the coaching sessions and matches.