7-A-SIDE
UNDER 9s:
FLEETWOOD TOWN A 4 YMCA A 0
FLEETWOOD TOWN B 6 YMCA A 0
League leaders Town were always too strong for the visitors at Memorial Park last Saturday and despite plucky efforts from YMCA the home side were comfortable winners in both games. Declan H and keeper Joe C though both impressed for YMCA.
11-A-SIDE
UNDER 11s:
KIRKHAM 0 YMCA 4
YMCA impressed in all areas of the pitch to keep their unbeaten record going with a comfortable win over Kirkham last Sunday. They started brightly on a narrow pitch and took an early lead when a Jordan W corner found Carl K who headed home. Jordan W then saw a screaming volley well saved before giving YMCA a 2-goal cushion after a Johnny A strike was well saved. YM continued to press and a great through ball from James R found Shane D who out-sprinted the Kirkham defence before firing home just before the break.
In the second half YM continued to press but only added one further goal, this coming when a Conah B corner was headed in by Cameron S.
UNDER 12s:
YMCA 3 FOXHALL 0
YMCA avenged an early season defeat to the hands of Foxhall and also ended the 100% record of the visitors at Seafield Rd last Sunday. The first half was very evenly contested but YMCA broke the deadlock with a superb strike by Jamie M which gave them a slender 1-0 lead at the interval. It remained an even contest after the restart with little to choose between these two very good sides. However, Linus W doubled YMCA’s lead with a well-taken goal and their victory was sealed after a penalty award for a foul in the closing minutes. Calvin R’s spot kick was almost saved by the Foxhall keeper but the ball trickled into the corner of the net. In an outstanding YMCA team performance Giles H, Ben C and Andy C were all particularly notable.
Lancs FA Cup 2nd Round:
UNDER 13s:
WARTON TYPHOONS 1 YMCA 10
It didn't take long for YMCA to get their passing game going and they went ahead when and a neat pass from Ryan A found Paul D who netted with a good strike from the edge of the box. Warton defended well for a spell before Ryan A set up Ryan R to make it 2-0. Ryan A himself then got on the score sheet when persistence saw him nick a goal after the Warton keeper fumbled to make it 0-3 at half time. From early pressure in the 2nd half a great strike by Robbie H made it 4-0 and he was on hand again to square the ball across the box for a simple tap in by Jordan B. Robbie H got his second from a corner before Warton pulled a goal back after the YM defence lost concentration. Sam M then scored twice as a just reward for his all round team play the first being a great strike from well outside the box. This excellent team performance was topped off by two well taken strikes, the first from Jack W after a neat knock back from Sam M before a strike by Corey C completed the scoring.
UNDER 14s:
YMCA 2 SQUIRES GATE 4
YMCA started well in this game at Seafield Rd last Sunday and took an early lead with a strike by Lewis M. However, the visitors responded well and were soon back on level terms. Play remained even but Gate became stronger in the latter part of the 1st half and they netted twice more to take a 3-1 lead into half time. After the restart though YMCA continued to show good spirit and they reduced the score with a goal from the outstanding Mattie K. However, the visitors scored again to put the issue beyond reach of YMCA for whom Dan F and James R impressed throughout.
UNDER 15s:
BRIERCLIFFE CELTIC 4 YMCA 0
YMCA never really got started against their Burnley opponents in this LFA county Cup fixture and suffered their first loss of the season. Briercliffe made their physical superiority tell all over the park and went close on several occasions. Only stout defending by Joe K, Sam S and Ben W kept YMCA in the match but it was no real surprise when the home side broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a long ball over the top which was prodded past keeper Alex C. In the second half, a tap in from close range made it 2 – 0 in the 47th minute and a tiring YMCA midfield, which was overrun for most of the match, conceded two goals in 4 minutes to make a 4 – 0 score line. The nearest YMCA came to scoring was a deft header into the net from Oscar R which was mysteriously flagged offside. Jason W chased willingly for YMCA all afternoon with little reward for his efforts.
UNDER 16s:
YMCA 1 BLACKPOOL RANGERS 2
YMCA were a little unlucky to come out of this game nothing to show for their determined efforts against joint second in the table Rangers at Seafield Rd last Sunday. The first half was very evenly contested and with both defences on top, very few clear-cut chances were created and it remained 0-0 at the interval.
It was a similar pattern in the 2nd half but 10 mins after the restart Rangers broke the deadlock with the opening goal. YMCA continued to show good spirit and were level again 10 minutes later when Jonathan M scooped the ball under the bar and into the net. However, Rangers regained the lead minutes later after a break down their left and this proved enough to give them victory. Without their leading scorer who was on holiday YMCA didn’t pose enough attacking threat to the Rangers’ goal but their rearguard of Jonathan B, Nathan A, Neil W, Tom P and keeper Tom S was mainly solid throughout.
UNDER 18s:
BAC/EE 1 YMCA 3
This trip to The Riverside Ground in Preston was always going to be difficult against last year's LFA Cup winners, but YMCA's task was made even harder by key players being unavailable.
However, the eleven YMCA players on show did themselves and their club proud by producing an excellent display and taking all 3 points. They got off to a great start when after only 3 minutes the prolific Nathan R scored from close range and after Dan H had shot narrowly over and Jordan D grabbed YMCA's second with another close range finish in the 15th minute. The BAC keeper then denied Dan H again before he scored a well deserved third goal in the 34th minute to make it 3-0 at the break. In the second half BAC threw men forward but YMCA's backline stood resolute and YMCA were now playing on the break. Ruddle could have added to his tally and Dan H hit the bar late on before BAC notched a consolation goal with 7 minutes remaining. This was a great team performance with playmaker Scott H outstanding and skipper Matty R at his determined best. Max R was a threat to the home side down the right hand side throughout.
GIRLS U10s:
LAMMACK 4 YMCA 1
YMCA started slowly with Lammack taking the initiative and scoring their first goal and Half way through the first half they doubled their lead. The YMCA keeper was then injured and had to be taken off the pitch. YMCA though found their footing and battled hard for the rest of the half and almost pulled a goal back with a fantastic shot by Georgia R which hit the post. It remained 2-0 at half time and just after the restart YMCA were unlucky to concede a third goal. They had the edge in the whole of the second half with many attempts on goal. Even though Lammack managed to score a 4th the girls kept their spirits high and Laurel N finally scored after a great run down the left and she nearly netted again a minute later after another determined break down the left.
GIRLS U13s:
YMCA 5 FLEETWOOD TOWN 3
YMCA maintained their 100% start to the season, with a hard fought victory against a battling Fleetwood Town last Sunday at Seafield Road. YMCA took the lead through strong running from from Evie M as this took her clear of the Fleetwood defence.
However, Fleetwood quickly levelled and seized the initiative in the game by taking the lead but YMCA battled back and levelled before half time through Millie G. After the break YMCA took the lead following a mix up in the Fleetwood defence and an attempted clearance was knocked passed the keeper. The game flowed from end to end and the scores were level again when a mix up in the YMCA defence allowed a Fleetwood effort to get past the keeper.
With 8 minutes remaining YMCA took the lead again through Evie M and as Fleetwood pushed forward Olivia T burst from defence to force a fine save from the Fleetwood keeper but Evie M was on hand to turn the rebound home to complete her hat trick.
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