See "Last Season" (left) for 2009/10 results and reports.
LATEST RESULT
4 September 2010 - Eastham Veterans 3 Northop Hall Old Boys 3
PREVIOUS RESULTS
27 August 2010 - Northop Hall Old Boys 2 Stationmasters (Buckley) 2
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4 September 2010 - Eastham Veterans 3 Northop Hall Old Boys 3
There was a nervous start from both sides with the Old Boys fielding a few new players in their side, but they were first to settle with an early strike from Anthony Woosey on the home side goal from just outside the penalty area which struck the post with the keeper beaten. (This was to prove a familiar theme for the visitors throughout the match). Shortly after this Phil Ward's demeanour was one of frustration as first he blazed a shot over the home team's crossbar then headed wide from a corner.
The game gradually settled down despite the terrible state of the pitch and the home side got their passing game together becoming more threatening as the half went on. Despite this however, Northop Hall were the first to score when debutant striker Darren Brierley was put through on goal and slotted past the home keeper to make it 1-0.
The well taken lead did not last long though and ten minutes later a long punt upfield by the home keeper saw Steve Davies caught a bit in no mans land and the tall striker from the home side headed the ball over him into the Northop Hall net to make it 1-1.
The goal seemed to spur the away team and they continued to press, although keeper Steve Davies received a kick to the hand that left him with a bad injury and unable to play any further part in the game. However, with virtually the last kick of the half, some very good pressure on the defence from the forwards resulted in Graham Wilks hitting a lovely curling shot from outside the penalty area which the home keeper could only parry into his goal.
Half time 1–2
The second half began slowly for the visitors, letting the home side dominate proceedings and a smart move down their right hand side saw the ball played into the Northop Hall penalty area only for it to bounce awkwardly on the very uneven surface and strike the arm of defender Darren Molyneux. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty which was dispatched by the home side despite stand-in keeper Dave Pritchard getting a hand to it.
Shortly after the restart another piece of luck went the home side’s way when a speculative shot from the edge of the Old Boys penalty area saw the ball take a deflection off Kieran Whelan and into the net for a 3-2 lead despite Dave's best efforts.
With the last quarter of the match looming, Northop Hall started to exert plenty of pressure on the home goal, with attack after attack pinning the home side into their penalty area. Phil Southern came close to an equaliser after beating the home keeper to a 50-50 ball and curling his shot from just inside the area onto the crossbar. Then a fluid move down the left hand side saw a fierce drive from Anthony Woosey cannon off the post loop across the goal only for John Edmunds to head the ball onto the opposite upright. The home keeper was very busy now saving brilliantly from both Anthony Woosey and Darren Brierley to deny that much deserved equaliser.
The pressure finally told and the goal came with the last kick of the second half when some good work down the left resulted in a corner for Northop Hall. With the game in injury time and even the Old Boys keeper in the opposition penalty box, Pete Dessington sent in a perfect cross that was met admirably by Darren Brierley who powered a header into the net. Final result 3–3.
A good battling result away from home against one of the better sides, with a well deserved opposition man of the match award going to Darren Brierley.
Team: Steve Davies, Paz Maletta, Neil Sparrow, Darren Molyneux, Kieran Whelan, Dave Pritchard, John Edmunds, Phil Southern, Phil Ward, Pete Dessington, Craig Jones, Anthony Woosey, Graham Wilks, Darren Brierley, Steve Bodey, Paul Gloyne.
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27 August 2010 - Northop Hall Old Boys 2 Stationmasters (Buckley) 2
The young lads from Stationmasters (Buckley) are no strangers to Northop Hall, this being their fourth visit, although the first one in pre-season having previously filled fixture gaps during the regular season. As with Moneysupermarket earlier in the month, this was felt to be an ideal work out for the Old Boys and another chance to see some of the new faces before the season starts properly in September. The timing of the game at the start of the bank holiday weekend inevitably robbed us of several players but those who did play knew they had been in a game. Phil Southern started in goal in the absence of all other contenders while there was a first start for Paul Gloyne and returns from last season's players' player of the year Darren Molyneux, Pete Dessington who missed the end of the last campaign through injury and Phil Ward and Kevin Hoyland.
Right from the off, the younger team pressed hard, keen to capitalise on their age advantage and it took some time for a rusty looking Old Boys side to get into their stride. Phil Southern was tested early in goal and made a number of decent saves to keep Stationmasters at bay as they enjoyed success particularly down the middle and from their left flank. Several long range efforts failed to register until one of their central midfielders teed himself up to volley home from 25 yards to open the scoring giving Phil no chance.
Although the away side came mighty close to adding a second with another strike that cannoned back off the foot of the post, Northop Hall gradually started to exert pressure of their own, Darren Brierley and Graham Wilks combining to set each other up with chances, the visiting keeper saving well twice from Darren. An injury to Paul Gloyne forced a change after 20 minutes and Kev Hoyland's pace helped to hold up the opposition's left side a bit.
Pete Dessington on the other side, combining well with Neil Sparrow, was turning the clock back again to produce some of the best moments going forward, one cross in particular capping a fine move and forcing a scrambled clearance. Eventually, Darren Brierley was put through from another good move and this time his shot was too hot to keep out despite the best efforts of the Stationmasters' keeper, his second successive pre-season goal.
Half Time 1-1
Paul Gloyne replaced Phil Southern in goal for the second half and it was the home team that started the stronger this time, Graham Wilks feeding off Darren Brierley to fashion a great opening that he thought he'd done enough with, having lobbed the ball over the advancing goalie, only to see it just drop over the bar. Phil Ward came even closer soon after with a terrific shot from distance that the keeper turned over the bar spectacularly.
It took another good strike from distance to provide the next goal and it went to Stationmasters who had been peppering the home goal without coming too close. A breakaway following a Northop Hall corner ended with a cross shot from the right arrowed into the top corner to restore their lead.
As the half wore on though the Old Boys looked just as likely to score, Phil Southern and John Edmunds unable to apply finishing touches to goalmouth scrambles, whilst the strikers tried to get on the end of several excellent crosses from both wings. Eventually a shot on the turn in the area from John Edmunds was touched onto the crossbar by the away keeper but dropped nicely for Graham Wilks to tuck it into the open goal for a second Old Boys equaliser.
The home team survived a scare when Paul Gloyne in goal, who didn't seem too aware of the rules surrounding what keepers can do in the area these days, picked up a backpass instead of kicking it clear. The resulting free-kick, with the home team defending the goal line, was well struck but equally well blocked by Phil Southern to keep the scores level. Injury ended Simon Rowley's game early, but neither side could find a winner in the final stages and a creditable draw resulted.
Phil Southern's versatile performance in goal first half and sitting in front of the back-four in the second earned him the opposition's vote as man of the match, although there were many pleasing performances throughout the team that hopefully bodes well for the coming season.
Team: Phil Southern, Paul Gloyne (Kevin Hoyland), Neil Sparrow, Darren Molyneux, Dave Henrys, John Edmunds (Simon Rowley), Steve Buckley, Phil Ward, Pete Dessington, Graham Wilks, Darren Brierley
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16 August 2010 - Northop Hall Old Boys 1 Moneysupermarket FC 4
The Old Boys handed debuts to six of their summer recruits, as Neil Sparrow, Chris Preston and Simon Rowley started their first match in the yellow and green while Darren Brierley, Dave Bradley and Craig Jones all came on as first half substitutes.
It was two of the old guard who created the early chances for the Old Boys though, as Graham Wilks put himself about well up front and striker Pete Fielder-Shaw had a header blocked on the line.
Player-manager Dave Henrys also drew a save from the opposition goalkeeper with a long-range effort, but completely against the run of play, Moneysupermarket took the lead. A quick throw-in allowed an attacker to get in behind the defence, and goalkeeper Steve Davies could only help the striker’s shot over the line.
Determined not to become too dispirited by the goal, Old Boys continued to create chances as Kieran Whelan hit a free-kick high and wide and Chris Preston created a good chance for himself, bursting through several tackles, only to see his shot saved. Graham Wilks followed this with his side’s best chance of the half, but as he rounded the ‘keeper, his low shot plugged in the long grass and was cleared off the goal line.
At the other end, pressure began to mount however. Steve Davies was called into action regularly and as Moneysupermarket began to gain a foothold in the game, a second goal seemed inevitable, and it arrived courtesy of a simple tap-in, after a low shot came across from the right-wing, just as Old Boys were planning their first wave of substitutions.
Darren Brierley, on for the impressive Pete Fielder-Shaw, made an immediate impact and forced a couple of saves out of the goalkeeper. At the other end, Blue pressure continued to build and when Kieran Whelan was beaten, almost on the stroke of half-time, the striker was able to beat Steve Davies to make it 3-0 as the whistle blew.
Half Time 0-3
With Steve Davies having to rush off due to work commitments, Dave Pritchard took over the gloves at half-time, and Neil Sparrow returned to the defence.
The break seemed to do Old Boys some good, and they started the second half on top, much as they had the first.
Darren Brierley headed narrowly over from a Dave Bradley corner, and went close again when his cross-shot flashed wide. Dave Bradley had a good chance himself from the edge of the box, as a typical long-range shot popped up awkwardly in front of the ‘keeper, who gathered at the second attempt.
At the other end Kieran Whelan made up for his earlier error by getting a crucial touch on a dangerous cross, but just after Old Boys’ second wave of substitutions, Moneysupermarket.com made it 4-0, as the ball was lobbed up over the defence and volleyed in from close range.
As the young opposition tired, and the game became more even, the home team began to completely dominate proceedings though. Craig Jones cannoned a shot against the crossbar after a good Simon Rowley corner was cleared, and another long-range effort from Dave Bradley produced a smart save.
Chances at the other end began to dry up and an ambitious overhead kick was as close as they got. A deserved Northop Hall Old Boys goal finally arrived shortly afterwards, as Darren Brierley capped an impressive debut with a good finish from the right to make it 4-1.
Moneysupermarket were under more pressure immediately afterwards too, as Darren Brierley linked well with fellow debutant Chris Preston. The former had a great shot turned wide by the goalkeeper, while John Edmunds had a long-range effort headed over.
A good move down the left involving Neil Sparrow, Chris Preston and Darren Brierley won Old Boys a corner, while Chris Preston had a shot saved, and Dave Bradley put a long-range shot narrowly over.
As the full-time whistle approached, Darren Brierley nearly doubled his tally, but shot wide when one-on-one with the keeper.
Aside from a fortunate chance at the other end, after a clearance deflected cruelly off Kieran Whelan’s face, Moneysupermarket were seldom in the Old Boys half, and as the referee blew the final whistle, the Old Boys were left to reflect on a very encouraging performance.
Man of the match was awarded to goalscorer Darren Brierley and on this performance it could well prove to be the first of many.
Team: Steve Davies, Dave Pritchard, Neil Sparrow (Kev Higgins), Kieran Whelan, Dave Henrys, John Edmunds (Dave Bradley), Steve Buckley, Chris Preston, Simon Rowley (Craig Jones), Graham Wilks, Pete Fielder-Shaw (Darren Brierley)
16 August 2010 - Northop Hall Old Boys 1 Moneysupermarket FC 4
- report by Phil Southern
The first competitive game of the new season saw Northop Hall take a strong 16 man squad to the Wirral to play one of the top teams on the fixture list.
- report by Colin Henrys ( www.colinhenrys.wordpress.com)
Northop Hall Old Boys succumbed to a 4-1 defeat in their traditional season opener against Moneysupermarket.com, but there was much to be positive about after a spirited performance against tough opposition.