7-A-SIDE:
U9s:
YMCA A 0 POULTON YTH A 2
YMCA B 4 POULTON YTH B 0 YMCA never really got going in the A game on a very cold Saturday morning at Seafield Road. After a close half with neither team creating any chances a long ball caught out the YMCA defence for the Poulton striker to nip in and lob the ball over the advancing YMCA ‘keeper just before the break. The 2nd half was similar to the 1st with neither team creating many chances but the visitors made 2-0 after another long ball caught out the YMCA defence. Conah Bishop was outstanding for YMCA and looked the only threat with Callum Hendry and Matthew Smith also notable. The B game was very different though with YMCA dominating with some excellent football. The impressive Jack Crawford and Shane Delaney both came close for YMCA before they eventually took the lead when the outstanding Bradley Garner volleyed home from a corner midway through the first half to give them a 1-0 lead at the break. Soon after the restart a cross by Garner found Cameron Stubbs who superbly headed home. In the second half Garner notched his second before Johnny Airey fired home
YMCAs fourth goal. Oscar Twitchett and Crawford both shone throughout for YMCA. U10s:
POULTON YTH A 0 YMCA A 3
POULTON YTH B 0 YMCA B 2 YMCA took a giant step towards claiming a 2nd successive league title by claiming all 6 points against their main rivals at Cottam Hall last Saturday. In the A game they adapted superbly to the hard bumpy surface and were on top throughout with Calvin Ross, Jack Donovan and Jordan Bishop causing the home side endless problems. They led 1-0 at the break after Ben Cheston blasted home following brilliant work by Bishop and YMCA’s dominance continued into the 2nd half with a spectacular display of flowing football. Half time substitute Jack Dudgeon doubled the lead with a neat finish and he notched his 2nd goal shortly after with a thunderous 15yd drive to complete a highly impressive YMCA display for whom Luke Mayler, Giles Hellon and ‘keeper Connor Ratcliffe allowed Poulton few scoring opportunities. The B game started more evenly with both teams creating chances and Poulton were unlucky to see a shot come back off a post. It was goalless at the break though but YMCA gained complete control of the contest after the restart and took the lead through Jamie Manley following great interplay between Daniel Lean and Tyler Douthwaite who both shone throughout. Victory was sealed when Lean blasted the ball into the far top corner after a quickly taken free kick. Andy Cowburn and Johnny Marsden were both solid in defence for YMCA who now just need 7 points from a possible 36 to clinch the Championship. 11-A-SIDE
U11s:
YMCA 3 POULTON YOUTH 1 This was an excellent team performance by the under 11’s against a strong Poulton side. YMCA controlled the first half with Ryan Allan having an early strike saved and excellent keeping preventing an Andrew Walkden goal. YMCA finally took the lead with a well taken shot by Henry Hargreaves following a Jack Burton corner and just 5 minutes later Oliver Drury further increased the home side’s lead with a superb chip from the edge of the area. It was 2-0 at half time but the visitors got back into the game soon after the restart when a defensive lapse gifted them with a goal. Liam Robinson did well to clear a Poulton shot from off the line and prevent an equaliser although both Walkden and Allan were unlucky not to increase YMCA’s lead with good efforts but Oliver Drury finally sealed the points with his second goal of the game. Hard working Alex Evans and Jack Burton were both notable. U13s:
YMCA 2 KIRKHAM 1 On very wet and unpleasant afternoon at Seafield Rd last Sunday YMCA avenged a 2-1 defeat at Kirkham earlier in the season with a victory by the same scoreline. The visitors started the livelier of the two teams and created a couple of early chances without converting. Eventually though YMCA began to settle down to produce some excellent fluent football but the game remained goalless at the interval. YMCA began the 2nd half as they ended the 1st and their efforts were finally rewarded with a goal after 50 minutes, the impressive Joe Kennedy firing home a loose ball from 15yds. As YMCA remained on top they doubled their lead 10 minutes from time when Lloyd Paton latched on to a Ben Cudworth free kick and spectacularly volleyed the ball into the net from 12yds. Kirkham then rallied and pulled a goal back in the closing minutes to create an edgy finish for YMCA but they couldn’t find an equaliser. Alex Grindrod was outstanding throughout in a fine YMCA team display. U17s:
CLIFTON RANGERS 0 YMCA SENIORS 3 YMCA notched up their 4th successive victory with a hard working display at Mereside Park last Sunday. Both teams found the heavy pitch difficult to cope with but YMCA adapted the better and took the lead with a well taken goal by Henry Wright. A superb save by ‘keeper Mark Wells enabled YMCA to keep their lead and it 1-0 at the break. Another fine save by Wells denied Rangers an equaliser before YMCA doubled their lead through Elliot Lavin and as they continued to display a little more commitment than the home side a 2nd strike of the game by Wright sealed victory. Michael Toft was outstanding in an unfamiliar full back role in an all round gutsy YMCA performance in very unpleasant conditions. U11 GIRLS:
YMCA 6 RISHTON 0 YMCA produced an excellent team performance at Mythop Rd last Sunday to maintain their unbeaten record.
They went ahead midway through the 1st half with a superb drive from Gabrielle Newell and only a series of fine saves by the visitors’ ‘keeper restricted YMCA to just a slender 1-0 lead at half time. However, Stephanie Vickers doubled YMCA’s lead soon after the restart and a double strike in as many minutes by Millie Gallagher put them comfortably 4-0 in front. Olivia Murray added a 5th goal by finishing off the best move of the game and victory was completed with a goal from Jenny Hodson. | 
