UNDER 10s :
SOY A 1 YMCA A 4
SOY B 0 YMCA B 0 These four points at Common Edge Rd last Sunday was enough for YMCA to clinch the league championship for the 2nd season running. In the A game they were on top from the start and scored three times inside the first 10 minutes, the impressive Tyler Douthwaite opened the scoring with a cheeky lob the over the ‘keeper. This was quickly followed by well taken goals from Jack Donovan and Linus Welsh to make it 3-0 and the issue was put beyond doubt with YMCA making it 4-0 at half time with a second strike by Donovan who carried the ball 30yds before rounding the ‘keeper and slotting home. YMCA re-shuffled their team around in the 2nd half and didn’t add to their total but Spirit netted a consolation goal in the closing minutes. Calvin Ross and Donovan were both notable. In the B contest the home team fielded a much stronger squad and YMCA didn’t find their normal fluency. It was a scrappy but very even tussle throughout and with neither side able to break the deadlock it finished in a goalless stalemate. YMCA ’keeper Harvey Rowley pulled off three superb saves whilst the hard working Daniel Lean, Jamie Manley and Jordan Bishop were all unlucky not to get on to score-sheet. This point though proved enough to claim the title with 12 points still to play for. 11-A-SIDE
UNDER 11s BJFF 0 YMCA 2 This was a good team performance by YMCA against a strong BJFF outfit. YMCA ‘keeper Matthew McLaughlin, pulled off an excellent first half close range save to keep the scores level before the visitors edged ahead when the predatory Ryan Allan latched onto a through ball to open the scoring. Allan soon doubled his tally rounding the BJFF keeper to notch his second and Jack Burton was unlucky with a 30 yard strike that went just wide but McLaughlin had to remain alert in the second half with three more fine saves to keep YMCA’s lead intact The YMCA central defensive partnership of Henry Hargreaves and Matthew Ridgway were outstanding in this impressive victory. UNDER 12 YMCA 2 LYTHAM JUN 1 YMCA won an entertaining local derby at Seafield Rd last Sunday. With only five points separating the two teams in the league table YMCA needed to gtt something out of this game to widen the gap further. They started brightly but had to contend with playing against a five-man midfield but they coped admirably with James Rowbotham magnificent throughout. Midway through the first half they took the lead after the ball fell into the path of Matthew Nelson in the penalty area and he neatly fired home. After the break Lytham began to further press YMCA and they scored a scrappy equaliser after YMCA failed to clear inside the box. However YMCA didn’t give up and new signing Lewis Ashcroft and fellow striker Matthew Nelson were a constant menace to the Lytham rearguard. It was Ashcroft who played a clever ball into the path of Jamie Abbey who struck a superb shot which sent over the ball over Lytham keeper to make it 2-1. With the rearguard of Jack Hellon, Joe Virco and David Mitchell standing firm throughout YMCA held on for an excellent victory. UNDER 14s YMCA 5 BLACKPOOL RANGERS 4 YMCA pulled off an astonishing victory against all the odds at sunny Seafield Rd last Sunday. With three defenders all away on holiday it was a patched up team to face 2nd top Rangers but they displayed tremendous spirit throughout. YMCA took a 5th minute lead when a long clearance by outstanding ‘keeper Tom Sharples was latched on to by James Gardiner who coolly fired home. Shortly after it was 2-0 when Rangers only partially cleared a corner and the ball fell to Max Bradshaw who blasted it home from 15yds. As Rangers looked shell-shocked a busy and determined YMCA made it 3-0 when another long clearance by Sharples found Gardiner again who lobbed the ball over the Rangers’ keeper from 20yds. Gardiner then completed an excellent hat trick when he netted again from a Harry Foley corner before Rangers pulled a goal back to make it 4-1 at the break. 10 minutes after the restart it was 5-1 when another Foley corner was superbly headed home at the far post by Joe Van Breemen. YMCA’s incredible efforts began to take its toll in the latter stages of the game and Rangers pulled back three more goals but YMCA held on for a superb and well deserved victory. In a highly impressive YMCA team display Chris Barlow and Foley worked tirelessly in midfield. UNDER 15s YMCA 4 LYTHAM JUN 0 YMCA maintained their title challenge with this hard earned victory over neighbours Lytham at Seafield Rd last Sunday. After a generally even 1st half YMCA managed to reach half time with a 1-0 lead after Dan Hartley latched on to a long clearance out of defence and coolly put the ball past the visitors’ keeper and into the net. After the restart YMCA doubled their lead when a Lytham defender handled the ball on the goal-line which resulted in him being unfortunately sent off and Anthony Stayte fired home the spot kick. With only ten men this left the visitors up against it and YMCA soon made it 3-0 with a goal by Adam Whiteside and victory was completed with a 2nd strike by Hartley. Dan Stones, on his full YMCA debut and against his former club, battled on manfully and picking up a painful injury with ‘keeper Rick Horrocks also impressive UNDER 17s LYTHAM JUN 1 YMCA 1 Half term holidays left YMCA depleted for this local derby played at Blackpool Rd North last Sunday and they could only muster up ten players. Lytham had the stiff breeze at their backs in the first half and they reached half time deservedly 1-0 ahead. After the break however YMCA had the edge and a Connor Craddock goal levelled the scores. Several other chances were created by YMCA which they couldn’t convert but Lytham had their chances also but were thwarted several times by outstanding saves by YMCA ‘keeper Adam Whelan. In the end a draw was probably a fair result and it made it five games unbeaten for YMCA. Adam Parkinson playing in an unfamiliar defensive role and Callum Chadderton in midfield both impressed for YMCA. UNDER 17s KIRKHAM 2 YMCA JUNIORS 0 Following last Monday’s County Cup Final victory this was a disappointing result against a well organised Kirkham outfit at Weeton Army camp last Sunday. Over anxious tackling resulting in far too many free kicks conceded led to YMCA spending most of the first half defending high balls and to make matters worse the first half ended with Johnny Cundliffe limping off with a torn thigh muscle. The second half saw a little more composure but a rash dive in defence left Kirkham free to cross the ball which the unfortunate Ryan Colwell deflected into his own net. YMCA pushed forward in search of an equaliser but conceded again with 15 minutes to go after several weak challenges allowed a Kirkham player to toe poke home from 6 yards. Kirkham's ‘keeper made several good saves in the latter stages of the game but the home side deserved their victory overall. UNDER 11 GIRLS: HASLINGDEN 0 YMCA 13 YMCA produced an excellent performance at Haslingden last Sunday to keep their unbeaten record intact. They took an early lead through Olivia Turnbull with a long range shot and they dominated throughout against a weakened home outfit and further goals came at regular intervals. Turnbull netted twice more to complete her hat trick and hat tricks were also claimed by Stephanie Vickers and Millie Gallagher. Becky Sullivan weighed-in with a double strike with goals from Siobhan Fryer and Ruby Lawson completing the scoring. | 
