7-A-SIDE
UNDER 9s:
KIRKHAM A 0 YMCA A 7
KIRKHAM B 0 YMCA B 0 YMCA dominated the A game from start and were 3-0 up by the break. These came from Jordan Willder who finished well after a poor clearance by the keeper, Conah Bishop who fired home after some excellent work by the outstanding Bradley Garner and a half volley from James Rowley. The second continued with YMCA well on top and they netted a further 4 goals. Garner completed his hat trick with two fine strikes and a further two goals from the impressive Rowley completed a fine hat trick also. Danny Singleton and Johnny Airey also came close hitting the post and being denied by the Kirkham keeper. Matthew Smith also shone. Kirkham opted to put their stronger team out for the B game which earned them a point in a very entertaining contest. Both teams played some good football and creating chances but both keepers were in fine form, Alex Mackenzie in the YMCA goal in particular producing a fine display. YMCA were denied a breakthrough from efforts by Carl Kennedy, Shane Delaney, Callum Hendry and Jack Crawford but overall they didn’t work hard enough to break the deadlock Oscar Twitchett was outstanding for YMCA and Kennedy also shone. UNDER 10s:
WARTON A 0 YMCA 8
WARTON B 0 YMCA B 12 YMCA completely dominated this Coulton Cup prelim tie at Seafield Rd last Saturday to ease into the 1st round proper. In the A game Jack Donovan was in excellent form bagging four of the goals with Lewis Welsh weighing-in with a pair. Strikes by Ben Cheston and Tyler Douthwaite completed the scoring. The B game was even more one-sided with YMCA in total control from start to finish, the outstanding Jordan Bishop claiming four goals and Harvey Rowley a hat trick. Andrew Cowburn notched a pair with Dean Harvey, Jamie Manley and Calvin Ross their other marksmen UNDER 11 GIRLS:
BARNOLDSWICK BARONS 2 YMCA 7 YMCA continued their winning run last Sunday at Barnoldswick. Jenny Hodson opened the scoring for YMCA cutting in from the right and her shot taking a deflection to leave the keeper stranded. Barnoldwick soon equalised though and put YMCA under increasing pressure before Siobhan Fryer restored YMCA’a lead with a well taken effort at the near post. Once again though Barnoldswick came back and equalised just before half time. The second half saw YMCA take control of the game with captain Milly Gallagher scoring, quickly followed by a second from Hodson and then another came with long range effort from Ruby Lawson. Fryer finished off the performance with two goals to claim her second hat-trick in as many weeks and finish up with the Girl-of-Match award. 11-A-SIDE
UNDER 11s:
FLEETWOOD GYM 0 YMCA 0 This game finished in stalemate despite the visitors creating numerous chances throughout. Jack Burton had an early shot well saved and also set up Harrison Kenworthy who pulled his shot just wide. Kenworthy was also unlucky with a strike that was just over the bar. The busy Andrew Walkden had efforts just wide on a couple of occasions and the second half followed in the same pattern. Oliver Drury had two shots well saved and Kenworthy was unfortunate with another effort which went narrowly wide and one which was well saved. Burton almost broke the deadlock in the final five minutes with a 20 yard strike that clipped the crossbar but in the end the home side earned a much deserved point. UNDER 12s:
YMCA 1 FLEETWOOD GYM 3 A very much depleted YMCA side battled hard throughout this game at Seafield Rd last Sunday but were always second best to a busy Gym outfit. The visitors were generally on top in the first half and deservedly led 2-0 at the break. In the second half Gym added a third goal to virtually seal the issue but YMCA continued to show commendable spirit and pulled a goal back through skipper Daniel Farran who was outstanding throughout. Also notable was ‘keeper Joel Kilgallon as was their second ‘keeper Nathan Wall who had to fill in at full back due to YMCA’s lack of numbers. UNDER 13s:
ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1 YMCA 0 - Lancs FA Cup quarter finals YMCA’s impressive run in the County Cup came to an end in this quarter final tie at Accrington last Sunday. Any sort of good football was impossible on a mud-heap of a pitch and it always looked as if one goal may settle the tie. A scrappy first half ended goalless but a battling YMCA more than held their own against the side who are favourites to win the competition. This grueling battle remained scoreless until 12 minutes from time when Stanley broke the deadlock. A home corner was only partially cleared by YMCA’s defence and the loose ball was fired through a ruck of players and into YMCA’s net and it was this strike which proved to be the winner. This was a very spirited YMCA team display in appalling pitch conditions and they were extremely unlucky to go out of the competition. UNDER 14s:
YMCA 1 BJFF 2 YMCA were unfortunate not to get from this game at Seafield Rd last Sunday. With four players unavailable their squad was down to the bare bones and it was the visitors who started brightly. They scored twice inside the opening 10 minutes and were on top for much of the 1st half. However in the latter stages of the half YMCA were unlucky not to draw level. Firstly the visitors survived an amazing goal-line scramble and then the busy Taz Moxon struck a post with a crisp shot. YMCA’s improvement continued after the break taking the game to BJFF and deservedly pulled a goal back 10 minutes after the restart, Moxon volleying home at the far post after excellent play by Chris Barlow and James Gardiner. Shortly afterwards they went within inches of equalising when a 25yd free kick by Moxon clipped the crossbar. They continued to press the visitors’ defence but were unable to penetrate again. Barlow was outstanding in midfield, Gardiner worked hard up front, Jon Brown and James Pollock impressive at the back as was ‘keeper Tom Sharples. UNDER 15s:
YMCA 1 THORNTON 3 YMCA suffered their first defeat for exactly 2 years in this hard fought encounter at Seafield Rd last Sunday. They squandered several chances before going ahead in the 25th minute with a superbly taken goal by Gary Long. However, the visitors leveled the scores on the stroke of half time, forcing the ball home following a goalmouth scramble. YMCA continued to calve out chances after the restart but with a combination of near misses and some great saves by the Thornton ‘keeper they failed to regain the lead. The visitors though always looked lively and they took two chances well to inflict a rare defeat upon a YMCA side who played well despite the scoreline. UNDER 16s:
YMCA 6 BOLTON COUNTY EAGLES 2 YMCA progressed into the Lancs FA Youth Cup semi finals with this excellent victory over a physically strong Bolton outfit at Seafield Rd last Sunday. They could have been a couple of goals up inside the opening 10 minutes, James Butler hitting the woodwork and then having a strong penalty claim turned down. However they deservedly broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with a neatly taken goal by Simon Williams but Bolton leveled with a speculative 25yd shot which looped into the top corner. Right on half time though the outstanding Williams restored YMCA’s lead, scooping the loose ball over the line after a rasping drive from Luke Andrews could only be parried by the ‘keeper. Within a minute of the restart YMCA doubled their lead through Johnny Cundliffe and shortly after it was 5-1 with a strike by substitute Scott Cheyne. Cundliffe then notched his 2nd of the game with a blistering 20yd free kick then after a YMCA had been stupidly dismissed by the referee Bolton who also had a player dismissed, notched a late consolation goal. Alex Pickering, Ryan Colwell and Andrews impressed throughout. UNDER 17s:
BJFF 4 YMCA SENIORS 1 Despite taking an early lead YMCA finished well beaten at Bispham Education Field last Sunday. A strike by Adam Parkinson put them ahead but an own goal presented the home side with an equaliser to make it 1-1 at the break. Just after the restart another own goal gifted BJFF with the lead after which YMCA never really looked like pulling back. In an effort to save the game YMCA pushed several extra men forward but the home exploited the gaps at the back to add two further goals. In an overall lack-lustre display by YMCA Callum Chadderton was notable. | 
