UNDER 9s:
POULTON YTH A 2 YMCA A 1
POULTON YTH B 4 YMCA B 2
YMCA were a little unlucky to come away from Cottam Hall last Saturday with nothing to show for their efforts. In the A game they led 1-0 at the break with a strike by Kyle M who was impressive throughout. However, Poulton had the edge in the 2nd half and bagged two goals to clinch the 3 points. In the B game the 1st half was evenly contested but Poulton reached the interval with a 1-0 lead. However, in the 2nd half the home side cashed-in on some lapses in the YMCA defence and added a further three goals and although YMCA did reply with strikes by Dan H and Reece M. Poulton collected another three points. Marcus W, Declan H and Amy S were all notable for YMCA.
UNDER 10s:
YMCA A 0 POULTON YTH A 0
YMCA B 4 POULTON YTH B 0
Title challengers YMCA were left disappointed not to collect all 6 points from this encounter at Seafield Rd last Saturday. In the A game they created enough chances to win comfortably but they failed to penetrate the visitors’ defence and in the end had to settle for a goalless draw. Owen F was outstanding throughout. The B game followed a similar pattern to the first half and it remained 0-0 at the break. However, after the restart the deadlock was finally broken when Chris C grabbed two quick-fire goals to give YMCA a deserved 2-0 lead and before the end further goals were added by Mattie J and Dave C.
11-A-SIDE
UNDER 11s:
BLACKPOOL RAN 0 YMCA 3
YMCA dominated from start to finish camping in the home teams half for much of the game. They took an early lead when Shane D pounced after a Jack R effort was well saved. Jack R scored YMCA’s second soon after following great work from the influential Conah B down the right. Just before half time Conah B made it 3-0 with a well worked solo goal and in the second half YM continued to dominate with close efforts from Jordan W, James R, Bradley G, Cameron S and Chester D but they couldn't add any further goals. YMCA’s man of the match was the outstanding Jack C who was excellent throughout, creating most of his team’s attacks.
Lancashire FA Youth Cup:
UNDER 12s:
YMCA 1 RED ROSE JUNIORS 2
YMCA's Lancashire Cup journey came to an end against a well-organised Red Rose Juniors side from Preston. YMCA opened the scoring after just three minutes when Linus W pushed the ball past the keeper for Sean K to prod home. An outstanding save by keeper Liam M kept the home side ahead at the break, but in the second half Red Rose came back strongly and scored twice. YMCA besieged the Red Rose goal in the final 10 minutes but couldn't get what would have been a deserving equaliser. Skipper Calvin R and Tyler D were both outstanding for in a fully committed YMCA display.
UNDER 13s:
POULTON YOUTH 0 YMCA 5
Despite extremely heavy conditions at Cottam Hall last Sunday YMCA took control after 10 minutes with a great strike over the keeper from Ryan R. That was quickly followed by a 2nd by Ryan R with a tap-in at the far post following a great move and clever inter-changes of passing. To Poulton’s credit they then put YMCA under asserted pressure for a 10-minute spell but failed to penetrate a determined YMCA rearguard. Just before the break YMCA grabbed a third goal through Ryan A who headed home after good work by Robbie H and Zenden S to give them a 3-0 interval lead. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with YMCA generally on top and new arrival Zenden S capped a fine YMCA debut by making it 4-0 with a great solo goal, beating four defenders before slotting the ball home. YMCA’s victory was complete when following a good flowing attack down the left, Jack W fired in their 5th goal. This was the 3rd consecutive game that YMCA kept a clean sheet thanks to some excellent defending by Keil F and Oliver D and solid goalkeeping by Alex C.
UNDER 14s:
YMCA 1 KIRKHAM 11
Strugglers YMCA were well beaten by their South Fylde rivals at Seafield Rd last Sunday. Although they produced some neat football in the 1st half their they found it difficult to compete with the superior physical strength of their opponents who reached the interval with a 4-0 lead. It was a similar pattern in the 2nd half and the visitors cashed in on some YMCA defensive lapses to add a further seven goals with Mattie K grabbing a consolation goal for the home side. Dave M, Daniel F and James R were all notable for the plucky YMCA side.
UNDER 15s:
YMCA 2 KIRKHAM 0
Kirkham’s defence took everything that YMCA could throw at it in the first half of this top of the table clash at Seafield Rd last Sunday. YMCA enjoyed most of the possession but every time they looked like being rewarded for their good football the Kirkham goalkeeper was at his best to thwart them. The visitors had their chances but man of the match Adam L was often on hand to tidy things up and set up YMCA’s counter attacks. The breakthrough came after 53 minutes when great link up play by Jonathan H and Alex G set up Ben W who thumped a great left foot shot past the goalkeeper. YMCA rode their luck on a couple of occasions but always looked the more accomplished side and on 76 minutes the referee awarded a penalty when Alex G was held in the box. Sam S duly smashed home from the spot to give YMCA a deserved 3 points from a tremendous squad performance.
UNDER 18s:
YMCA 7 BURSCOUGH 1
Heavy overnight rain had made the pitch at Mythop Road very heavy, but after the referee had given the match the go-ahead, YMCA carved out numerous early chances. After only 2 minutes a Dan H cross was headed against the crossbar by skipper Adam W and other early opportunities were scorned. However, in the 20th minute Adam W scored the opener after a goalmouth scramble, and five minutes later Scott H doubled the lead with a shot from the edge of the area. On the half hour a fine move started by a neat one-two between Max R and Scott H, eventually freed Adam W on the right wing, and his pinpoint cross was cleverly converted by strike partner Jordan D.
YMCA's 3-goal half time lead was soon reduced after the interval and for a time Burscough caused the home team some problems. However, a fine 20yd strike from Sam T made it four on the hour, and ten minutes later Max R made it five with a smart finish from just inside the penalty area. In the closing stages Jordan D struck his second with a lofted drive and Adam W grabbed his second from close range to complete the scoring. In the difficult conditions this was a fine win for the League leaders
GIRLS U10s:
YMCA 3 GREAT HARWOOD ROVERS 0
Despite the very cold weather YMCA were on fire again at Seafield Rd last Sunday and started the match at a good pace putting Great Harwood under pressure. They dominated the first half in which their keeper was never troubled and after several near misses Georgia R finally found the back of the net after 14 mins. It remained 1-0 at the break and the second half proved to be similar to the first with YMCA dominating throughout. With the wind behind them Great Harwood finally managed to give the YMCA keeper the chance of the action and she made a great save. YMCA though were soon back on the attack and a shot by Amy S was deflected into the net by a visitors’ defender. Minutes later Beth E carried the ball from the halfway line and made it 3-0 with a great solo effort to complete a fine YMCA victory.
GIRLS U17s:
YMCA 8 ROSSENDALE MAVERICKS 0
YCA returned to winning ways with a victory over bottom club Rossendale. In the 6th min Siobhan R flicked the ball through for Millie B who buried the ball home. YMCA then squandered a hatful of chances before making it 2-0 just before the break. A ball out of defence found Siobhan R who took control before making a defence splitting to Ashleigh Wall who finished superbly. YMCA passed the ball around better in the second half and made their dominance count. A perfectly delivered ball over the defence by Mandy P found Siobhan R who hammered the ball home on 58 minutes. The remaining five goals all came in the last fifteen minutes when Rossendale hearts had finally been broken. In the 75th minute great work from Siobhan R down the middle and a tremendous shot made it 4-0. Within two minutes another ball over the defence put Millie B in and she made no mistake. A superb throw-in from Melissa D led to the next goal, substitute Danielle T out jumping a defender and nodding home. Arguably the best move of the match led to number seven in the 86th minute.
Ellie C made a great challenge in defence then found who put through Brown to finish confidently for her hat trick. In the final minute Siobhan R went on a mazy run and was unlucky not to grab her hat trick when her shot was cleared only for Wall to strike the ball forcefully home. Siobhan R was YMCA’s player of the match with Charlie C and captain Mandy P also notable.
----
The views expressed on this page are those of the contributor and the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the BBC.
