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29 May 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 2 NORTHOP HALL NOMADS 8
Unfortunately, the switch from last week when Nomads couldn't raise a side did the Old Boys no favours being down to a bare eleven themselves for this second leg of the Charity Cup, already trailing 2-1 from the first leg. Wilton Evans, Richard Moore and Matt McGuire all made what could be their last appearance for the club.
The tie was put to bed in a first half that Nomads dominated, despite a couple of dangerous moments at their end. Dave Henrys may well have got the last touch to the opening goal with a header under pressure and a second goal left the aggregate score at 4-1, although the Old Boys did manage to claw back a goal just before the break when Pete Fielder-Shaw was upended when clean through on goal. Anthony Woosey dispatched the subsequent penalty.
Half-time 1-2
Any hope that the penalty would be the start of a comeback were quickly dispelled by two more Nomads goals early in the second period, with some quality crossing and lethal finishing putting the Old Boys to the sword. The only respite at the other end saw Ian Powell shoot narrowly wide when put through and plenty of efforts wide of the mark, but the defence was regularly under pressure, particular as legs tired late on. Some last ditch tackling, goal-line clearances (two from Dave Henrys making up for his part in the opening goal) and the woodwork kept the score lower, but Wilton Evans continued to pick the ball out of his goal, eventually of his own making as the final goal came when he tried to juggle the ball out but lost out to the Nomads striker who closed him down, not the way he would have wanted to end his time with the Old Boys but the game was well lost at that point.
In between times, the Old Boys managed to pull one goal back when Ian Powell made the opposition keeper pay for hesitation of his own, but it was mere consolation.
Man-of-the-match on a miserable ending to the season was again awarded to Ian Powell who has regularly caught the opposition eye since joining us late in the season, boding well for next season. For everyone else, we go away to recharge the batteries and hopefully come back stronger for 2010/11.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta, John Edmunds, Darren Molyneux, Dave Henrys, Ian Powell, Phil Ward, Richard Moore, Matt McGuire, Anthony Woosey, Pete Fielder-Shaw
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24 May 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 8 BRICKFIELDS VETERANS 4
A glorious late-May Monday evening saw the return of Brickfields from Wrexham, complete contrast to the drenched conditions on their last visit in November. The Old Boys were again missing Player of the Season Kieran Whelan and had to make a late goalkeeping change with Steve Davies not fit enough for the rigours of keeping on the night, once again Dave Pritchard asked to fill the gap. However, welcome returns for Anthony Woosey and Pete Fielder-Shaw added to the available attacking strength and Steve Buckley provided more steel to the centre of midfield with Phil Ward also unavailable.
Both sides pinged the ball around the pitch right from kick-off, Anthony Woosey and Ian Powell both getting early shots wide and Dave Pritchard sweeping up at the other end as Brickfields threatened to get in behind. The Old Boys took the lead when last season's leading scorer Anthony Woosey in only his second appearance this year opened his account for this season. Dave Henrys found Ian Powell in space in the left channel and his cross was met emphatically for the kind of clinical finish that the Old Boys have missed this term.
The lead was short-lived however, a long ball up to the visitor's big striker saw him turn and volley left footed from the edge of the area with such venom that Dave Pritchard barely got a fingertip to it as it sailed in. Dave did manage to fingertip away a dangerous cross from under his crossbar soon after as it dropped out of the sun from the right wing.
The Old Boys continued to create good chances, Matt McGuire and Anthony Woosey both forcing the Wrexham keeper into saves as they attacked well down both flanks. Changes on the half-hour up front brought instant dividends as Pete Fielder-Shaw got in on goal and his blocked shot bounced over the oncoming keeper to leave Graham Wilks an open goal to head into for his 12th strike of a productive season.
Minutes later and it was three, Pete F-S this time getting away from the visitors defence to slot home himself.
Half-time 3-1
A first half back injury to Dave Pritchard saw an emergency change at half-time with Phil Southern taking the gloves, Paz Maletta being the only other volunteer. A series of early right wing corners were dropped dangerously onto the home goal, Ian Powell heading off the line at the back post on the first, then Paz forgetting he hadn't taken the goalkeeper's shirt and handling at the near post to keep the ball out and concede the penalty. The spot-kick was duly dispatched to bring Brickfields right back into the game at 3-2.
After soaking up a bit more pressure, further changes on the hour proved decisive, despite having to play a few players out of position. Anthony Woosey in an unfamiliar centre midfield role was still able to get forward and blazed a couple of shots over, whilst Graham Wilks came very close to doubling his tally with a chip that just evaded the far post. Richard Moore also came close with a turn and shot whilst Matt McGuire whistled a couple of shots in from the left to test the keeper.
A quickly taken free kick at the other end almost caught out Phil Southern, but in the main the defence stood firm with Darren Molyneux covering a lot of yardage for the cause. Eventually the Old Boys extended the lead with the move of the match, the ball swinging first left then right before Anthony Woosey connected perfectly with the ball as it came across to give the Brickfields goalie no chance.
From there, the floodgates opened with Pete Fielder-Shaw linking well to create another opening for himself which he tucked just inside the far post with a right foot cross shot, then linking with Graham Wilks to finish another good move for his first hat-trick for the club.
Steve Bodey was introduced for his usual late cameo appearance on 75 minutes and almost immediately was in the right place to stab home from close range a cross from Ian Powell that had evaded everyone to double his season's tally and register the team's seventh on the night.
In fairness to Brickfields, they hadn't deserved to be on the wrong end of such a scoreline and rescued some pride before the end with another terrific shot from outside the area that Phil Southern had no chance with and a cross from the right that eluded everyone before changing it's angle on the bounce, finding a favourable bit of ground to turn it in at the far post for the visitor's fourth.
As spaces opened up at both ends it was Northop Hall who completed the scoring in rather bizarre fashion. Anthony Woosey, looking for his own hat-trick, met a right wing cross with an immensely powerful left foot shot but could only hammer it back across goal where Steve Buckley managed to direct it into the beckoning goal with a header he is unlikely to have known too much about and which left him looking momentarily a bit dazed.
It wrapped up a very pleasing result that matched the level of performance on the night against a good standard of opposition who posed a few questions themselves. There were a number of standout performances but it was the industrious Ian Powell who was particularly singled out by the opposition for another man-of-the-match award.
Team: Dave Pritchard, Paz Maletta, John Edmunds (Steve Davies), Darren Molyneux, Dave Henrys, Kevin Hoyland, Phil Southern (Richard Moore), Steve Buckley (Steve Bodey), Matt McGuire, Anthony Woosey (Graham Wilks), Ian Powell (Pete Fielder-Shaw)
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08 May 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 0 UPTON MAGNETS VETERANS 6
This fixture was arranged at very short notice the previous weekend to fill a blank Saturday. Many of the Old Boys will probably now be wishing we hadn't as Upton Magnets Veterans brought a handful of very young players to make up their depleted squad and proceeded to run rings round the considerably older home side. Despite welcoming back the comparatively younger legs of Richard Moore and top scorer Matt Lucas, both returning after a number of weeks out with injury, it was in the defensive and centre midfield areas that mobility was lacking with Player of the Season "elect" Kieran Whelan away and Steve Buckley a late call-off. The game was also marked as the final appearance for veteran goalkeeper Wilton Evans who has announced his retirement.
Kevin Hoyland was also returning from a long injury lay-off and the first chance of the game came his way in the opening minutes when he was put through down the right but blazed his shot over both the oncoming keepr and the bar. Matt McGuire had a long range shot tipped aside and Dave Henrys headed over from the ensuing corner.
At the other end, Upton started to create chances of their own, at first being kept to distance, but as the half progressed they asserted their dominance and forced mistakes from the Old Boys that were to prove costly. Firstly a mix-up at the back allowed the striker in unchallenged to open the scoring. Next a free header from a corner made it two and was followed by a mazy unchallenged run down the left wing that ended with a shot across Wilton Evans into the far corner.
With the young players pulling strings in midfield and stretching Northop Hall in wide areas it was soon 4-0 when one blazing run down the right produced a devilish cross that Paz Maletta in front of his own goal could only poke past Wilton. Soon after, Paz was forced out of the game with a calf strain throwing rotation plans for the defence out of the window.
Although the home side continued to try and knock the ball around and fashioned a couple of half-chances for substitute Matt Lucas, one of which was well tipped over by the Upton keeper, it was the Magnets who finished the half with a fifth goal from distance as one of the youngsters ran through and lobbed Wilton. It was almost repeated minutes later but this time the bounce took the ball over the bar.
Half-time 0-5
The shell-shocked Old Boys regrouped for the second half but were immediately caught out by another break down the right by one of their nippers, his pin-point cross being met with a crisp close range header that gave Wilton Evans no hope.
Remarkably this proved to be the end of the scoring, although chances continued to present themselves at both ends, Wilton making a close range save and sweeping up at the back on a couple of occasions to keep Upton out and the Old Boys fashioning chances of their own.
Kevin Hoyland and Ian Powell saw shots from opposite sides of the goal go close, Matt Lucas had another good effort well saved and two long range efforts from Matt McGuire troubled the Upton keeper into saves, but ultimately the Old Boys never really created anything clear cut enough to register on the scoreboard, the temptation to try and walk the ball in resulting in a bit of over-playing around the opponent's penalty area.
Results have been hard to achieve in 2010, but usually the performances have been heartening enough to overcome that. This was not one of those days unfortunately, but although there was plenty to pick up on in the performance, this is one we should probably just quietly forget and move on to the last two fixtures looking to repeat the form of the previous few weeks. Having said that, the use of young players by the opposition was a major factor today, disappointing as Upton have traditionally been a proper veterans side over the years.
It wasn't the best result for Wilton Evans to bow out for the Old Boys. A stalwart of many years with our former guise as Northop Hall Veterans, Wilton spent last season working with Airbus in the USA, but returned home and to the team last October, ironically at Upton, and made 17 appearances between the sticks for us since then, as well as supporting the 6-a-side game on a Wednesday night. We would like to sincerely thank him for his efforts and wish him well with a return to senior refereeing next season (you're going to need it Wilt!). In the meantime we will be on the lookout for a replacement as other goalkeeper Steve Davies' appearances over the past two seasons have been extremely limited.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta (Darren Molyneux), Pete Dessington, Dave Pritchard, Dave Henrys, Kevin Hoyland, Phil Ward, Phil Southern (John Edmunds), Matt McGuire (Richard Moore), Graham Wilks (Mel Barnes), Ian Powell (Matt Lucas)
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01 May 2010 - NORTHOP HALL NOMADS 2 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 1
The draw for the group games in the Sealand Cup pitched together Northop Hall rivals Old Boys and Nomads in what would have been a mouth-watering finale had it not been for both teams earlier results in the competition. As it was, only third place was available with Liverpool Ramblers and Halkyn Veterans already qualified. However, the game was given added significance as the first-leg of this year's annual Charity Cup fundraiser, with Nomads currently holding the trophy.
A 16 man squad was available for the Old Boys, bolstered by the return of Phil Southern but still missing two of their leading scorers Matt Lucas and Richard Moore and most importantly, Kieran Whelan who has won this year's Player of the Season based on man-of-the-match awards from the opposition.
However, the Old Boys began well with Matt McGuire involved in several good passing moves early on that threatened without coming too close to opening the scoring. Phil ward and Mike Maletta took the battle to the Nomads midfield and both defences looked well on top. It only changed as the Nomads striker caught a lucky break when a decent tackle dropped the ball perfectly for him to strike first time from 20 yards low into Wilton Evans right hand corner.
The Old Boys continued to press, forcing a number of corners as Ian Powell twice almost got round the back of the Nomads defence linking with Matt McGuire and Mel Barnes. One of the corners was overhit though and Nomads broke away down the right. Normally it wouldn't have been a problem, but their manager Martin Ellis skewed his shot from the right between Wilton and his near post to double the lead.
At the other end, chances were at a premium despite more good football from the Old Boys, Ian Powell shooting wide across goal and Phil Southern volleying over the best of the chances created.
Half-time 2-0
The first part of the second half was a similarly even affair with chances at both ends, Wilton Evans saving well twice to deny Nomads and Graham Wilks unable to add to his recent tally at the other end. The reintroduction of Mike Maletta and Ian Powell had a profound effect and as the game progressed the play got more and more condensed into the Nomads half. A through ball got Steve Buckley in but he couldn't get the chip over the keeper to come down in time to drop in.
A succession of corners caused melees in the Nomads box and Phil Southern came close with a header before a good move down the left got Ian Powell in on the keeper but his left foot drive across goal went agonisingly wide.
Eventually the pressure told and the Old Boys managed to find the net, a long cross from the right finding Matt McGuire at the far post and his side foot back inside was poked home by Ian Powell. As the final whistle drew closer it was all one-way traffic as the Old Boys laid siege to the Nomads goal. Steve Bodey came closest to an equaliser stabbing wide from close range as dogged home defending somehow maintained the Nomads lead to the end.
The man-of-the-match award went to Matt McGuire who was constantly involved, with Mike Maletta and Darren Molyneux also particularly impressing neutral observers. So Nomads take a slim lead into the second leg in three weeks time but it will be all to play for and will hopefully raise a creditable sum of money again for this year's charity.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta (Dave Pritchard), John Edmunds, Darren Molyneux, Dave Henrys, Pete Dessington (Steve Buckley), Phil Ward, Mike Maletta (Phil Southern), Matt McGuire (Steve Bodey), Mel Barnes, Ian Powell (Graham Wilks)
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24 April 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 2 ROCK FERRY VETERANS 3
Northop Hall entertained Rock Ferry just four weeks after being resoundingly beaten 6-1 by them, but were bolstered by the returns of Phil Ward in midfield and, almost a year since his last appearance because of changed work commitments, last season's top goalscorer and player of the year Anthony Woosey.
In a lively start, the Old Boys created one or two early chances, both Ian Powell and Pete Dessington testing the Rock Ferry keeper. At the other end, Wilton Evans in the home goal was sweeping well behind the defence but was thankful to see an unmarked header from a corner go straight at him.
However, the lesson wasn't learnt and the next corner also resulted in a free header, this time put wide of Wilton and past Paz Maletta in his sentry position on the post.
The Old Boys continued to play some good football when the rock hard pitch would allow it. Paz Maletta shot wide from distance before Mel Barnes robbed a defender and played in Pete Dessington down the right. His delicious cross looped over the keeper to the far post and was tucked away by Graham Wilks with a close range volley for a deserved equaliser and his eleventh goal of the season.
Changes immediately after brought Kieran Whelan, Matt McGuire and Anthony Woosey into the game, along with the Old Boys other goalkeeper Steve Davies for a second successive outfield appearance. With Graham Wilks unable to reappear later, the goal turned out to be his last touch of the day.
The changes almost had an instant effect as Anthony Woosey picked up where he left off last season, peppering the Rock Ferry goal at every opportunity. Matt McGuire added impetus from midfield and the Old Boys were unlucky not to go in at half-time ahead, although there was one big let-off at the other end when Wilton Evans judged the bounce perfectly to deny their striker a one-on-one opportunity.
Half-time 1-1
The second half began brightly again for the Old Boys with Ian Powell linking well with Anthony Woosey again to no avail and Steve Davies looping a shot onto the back of the goal frame with the keeper beaten.
Although Rock Ferry dominated the midfield with their superior height, they were being restricted to half chances up front until the defence lingered too long over a through ball and paid for not getting it clear when their striker tucked in a second goal for them.
With the game still evenly balanced, several more Anthony Woosey shots were winged in while Matt McGuire brought a very good tip over from the opposition keeper with a fine effort from distance. Shortly after, a left wing corner found its way through to Dave Henrys arriving at the back post but he put his header wide.
The Old Boys were then undone by a straight-forward long ball over the top, the Rock Ferry striker beating Kieran Whelan to the drop to slide in a third goal. The lead should have been cut almost immediately as Ian Powell got on the end of a Matt McGuire cross but couldn't get the ball out from under his feet with the goal beckoning.
A second goal did finally come for the home team, and from a most unlikely source as Steve Davies revelling in his outfield opportunity linked up with Anthony Woosey to get in on the Rock Ferry keeper and poke a right foot shot low and hard beyond his reach.
Although the opposition kept pushing for a fourth goal, pressure at the other end should have told, once again Anthony Woosey rusty in front of goal and unable to convert leaving Rock Ferry to see out a narrow victory which at least showed huge improvement from the encounter last month.
For the second week running, Ian Powell's performance on the left side caught the eye of the opposition for the man-of-the-match award, with Matt McGuire close behind no doubt. From the team's point of view it was another case of missed chances and moments of poor defending that cost, but overall a good performance against a very strong opponent.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta, Darren Molyneux, Dave Henrys (Kieran Whelan), Dave Pritchard, Pete Dessington (Matt McGuire), Phil Ward, Steve Buckley (Steve Bodey), Ian Powell, Graham Wilks (Steve Davies), Mel Barnes (Anthony Woosey)
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17 April 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 3 WATERSIDE OLD BOYS 0
Apologies for a lack of match report for this one, with player-manager Dave Henrys missing through work commitments. The following has been gleaned from different sources.
A fairly even first half, few clear cut chances, defences mainly on top.
Half-time 0-0
Second half goals from Graham Wilks, Mel Barnes and Ian Powell put the Old Boys well on top. Mel Barnes also had a goal chalked off that appeared to have crossed the line.
An ugly incident with 12 minutes remaining as one of Waterside's several under-age players reacted to a challenge by Darren Molyneux and started an on-field brawl. The upshot was the Waterside manager leading his team off the field and effectively abandoning the game, apparently against the wishes of a number of his team-mates.
However, the result stands for the purpose of the Sealand Cup and Ian Powell rounded off an impressive performance by picking up the man-of-the match award.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta, Darren Molyneux, Kieran Whelan, Dave Pritchard, Steve Buckley (John Edmunds), Mike Maletta, Ian Powell, Pete Dessington (Matt McGuire), Graham Wilks (Steve Davies), Mel Barnes
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10 April 2010 - HALKYN VETERANS 3 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 0
The hope of having a bigger squad to select from for the Sealand Cup group game at Halkyn diminished during the week and into the morning of the match, leaving just eleven available players and manager's son Colin Henrys drafted in to provide cover. There was a welcome return from injury for Phil Ward and Eifion Jones, Graham Wilks and Matt McGuire were back after missing the previous game. However, injuries to leading scorers Matt Lucas and Richard Moore, along with Pete Fielder-Shaw, meant that Steve Bodey (more noted for his late substitute appearances) started up front. Pete Dessington moved inside to partner Phil Ward in the middle of midfield while Darren Molyneux swapped inside to centre-back to try and stem the flow of goals that had blighted recent games. The versatile Dave Pritchard once again had to take the gloves with both regular goalkeepers missing again.
With the pitch and weather just about a perfect combination, the Old Boys put up a really good first half performance, moving the ball around well through midfield, creating one or two good chances up front and holding a good tight line at the back that frustrated the home team and kept their own chances to a minimum.
The Halkyn keeper was certainly the busier in the first 45 minutes, saving comfortably from Matt McGuire and John Edmunds but having more difficulty turning Phil Ward's dipping long range effort over the bar. Graham Wilks came closest to opening the scoring as he closed in on the keeper from the left but saw his curling shot clip the crossbar as it went agonisingly over. Paz Maletta ended a particularly good move down the right blasting a rare shot wide while late tackles denied both Graham Wilks and Steve Bodey in front of goal.
Typically, the lack of the opening goal for Northop Hall led to the opposition going ahead before half-time. They had played some good football themselves at times but hadn't given Dave Pritchard too much to do. Then a sliced clearance gave their striker a better opportunity and the finish gave Dave no chance.
Half-time 0-1
The second half began with Colin Henrys giving Steve Bodey a breather up front and almost from the off he wriggled through a couple of challenges in the area but couldn't quite get a toe to the ball as the keeper came off his line. The battle continued through the half with the home side creating more chances and clipping the outside of a post with one shot. Northop Hall had a good spell when the ball was sprayed around neatly again for a while but couldn't fashion a decent enough opening to draw level.
However, the turning point came midway through the half when Eifion Jones pulled a hamstring and had to go off. The subsequent reorganisation of tiring legs contrasted with Halkyn being able to rotate their squad with three substitutes and from then on it was one way traffic.
It didn't take long for the second goal to follow, a shot from 20 yards low into Dave Pritchard's right hand corner that he couldn't get near. It was three soon after as the inability to clear a bobbling ball in the penalty area was punished again. As the game closed out it could have been many more but for some wayward finishing and last ditch tackling from Paz Maletta and Darren Molyneux. By the final whistle, the Old Boys were pretty well out on their feet but had at least salvaged some pride from a very decent performance against good opposition.
A deserved man-of-the-match award went to Darren Molyneux for his contribution at centre-back, but there were many other good efforts that gave hope that the current run of defeats can be turned round before the fast approaching end of the season.
Team: Dave Pritchard, Paz Maletta, Dave Henrys, Darren Molyneux, Eifion Jones, John Edmunds, Pete Dessington, Phil Ward, Matt McGuire, Graham Wilks, Steve Bodey (Colin Henrys)
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03 April 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 1 LIVERPOOL RAMBLERS 5
Northop Hall Old Boys welcomed Liverpool Ramblers for the opening match in this season's Sealand Cup group matches, again with a thin squad that was unable to sufficiently cover the knocks and ongoing injuries from before and during the game. Missing current player-of-the-season Kieran Whelan to work commitments, along with 2nd and 3rd highest goalscorers Graham Wilks and Richard Moore (plus a no-show from Matt McGuire) along with other notable absentees was always going to make it a tricky day, not helped by overnight rain which made the pitch particularly heavy. However, the return of goalkeeper Steve Davies to cover for Wilton Evans, coupled with having Kev Higgins, Pete Fielder-Shaw, Paz and Mike Maletta back, made for a decent enough line-up as the home side tried to reverse a series of recent defeats.
We'll never know how it might have turned out if things had gone differently in the opening exchanges. Northop Hall's first attack saw Pete Fielder-Shaw beat the advancing keeper to chip in a goal-bound shot
from the inside-left position. It looked in all the way until a last ditch saving tackle cleared the ball off the line. Minutes later, a huge clearance from defence caught out the home defence and the Ramblers striker took full advantage to round keeper Steve Davies and slot home despite defenders converging towards their own line. It summed up the way things have been going recently.
The home side had plenty of possession as the half developed, Pete Fielder-Shaw and Matt Lucas up front started to develop an understanding and created plenty of chances for each other without being able to break the deadlock, Matt in particular forcing an impressive save from the Liverpool keeper. With some good support from midfield it looked like a goal would come at any time but some good defending and less than accurate finishing kept Northop Hall out.
However, at the other end, the story was different as Ramblers cashed in on a series of errors. Firstly possession was given away on the right and a neat passing move carved the home defence open for a finish off the inside of the post. Then Steve Davies could only parry a long range shot into the corner of his goal and further misery ensued as he failed to reach a cross from a corner and tipped the ball onto Darren Molyneux protecting the far post who could do nothing to stop the ball narrowly crossing the line. Another attack soon after left Steve exposed again but he made up for his earlier mistake with a good block with his legs.
As half-time approached, the Old Boys lost player-manager Dave Henrys to injury and were forced to make the first of many reshuffles. Another good forward run from Steve Buckley finally found a reward just before the break, albeit requiring a Ramblers defender to turn the cross into his own goal and give the home team a small foothold in a game that still felt they were in despite the scoreline.
Half-time 1-4
A tactical change at half-time bolstered up the midfield which had been pretty well dominated by Ramblers in the first half and the second 45 minutes were a much more even affair, plenty of chances again being created for both strikers, Pete F-S (struggling on despite a strain) firing wide and high and Matt Lucas only being denied by a last ditch deflection to a goalbound effort. John Edmunds also saw a chance go begging as his left foot shot went straight to the keeper.
The closest Northop Hall came followed the award of a free-kick some 25 yards from goal. Kev Higgins delightful chip struck the underside of the crossbar and Dave Pritchard bundled the ball in on the rebound only to see the effort chalked off for offside, although unluckily it was probably a team-mate who was off and not him.
As luck deserted the Old Boys at one end, so again the punishment came at the other. Another long clearance (it is rare at this level to see a veteran retain the ability to hit the ball such a distance) caught the home side on the back foot as they pushed for a goal of their own and the striker again produced an accurate finish that gave Steve Davies no chance. It could have been worse as soon after a tremendous long range shot crashed into the home crossbar and several other shots were put high and wide.
Steve Bodey replaced Kev Higgins as his knee injury forced another reshuffle and soon after Darren Molyneux was forced to leave the field with Dave Henrys hobbling back into the fray for the last ten minutes. There was still time for another great chance for the Old Boys as Pete Dessington's overlapping run and left foot cross dropped for first Steve Buckley and then John Edmunds but neither could convert.
So the Old Boys losing streak goes on, though not for the want of effort, particularly in the second half. It is certainly frustrating to see so many chances being created without being converted and mistakes at the back proliferating each performance and costing so dearly. It was a fairly decent battling performance today and the efforts of the front two in particular caught the eye, Matt Lucas earning the opposition's man-of-the-match nomination. It will take a big effort from here to qualify for the semi-finals but with three games left it is still possible and we will be trying hard again next week to turn things round, hopefully with a few returns to bolster the ailing squad.
Team: Steve Davies, Paz Maletta, Darren Molyneux, Kev Higgins (Steve Bodey), Dave Henrys, John Edmunds (Mike Maletta), Steve Buckley, Dave Pritchard, Pete Dessington, Matt Lucas, Pete Fielder-Shaw
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27 March 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 1 ROCK FERRY VETS 6
A thin Northop Hall squad took the field to host an imposing Rock Ferry side that certainly had the edge in height across the field and who produced the better football on the day too. With both first choice keepers missing, Dave Pritchard once again took the gloves while Eifion Jones was forced into emergency action at the back despite an ongoing achiles injury. On the plus side, the Old Boys welcomed back Darren Molyneux and leading scorer Matt Lucas.
Although the first action of the game saw Dave beaten with a lob towards goal and player manager Dave Henrys hooking clear with an overhead kick off the line, the game was fairly even in the early exchanges. Dave Pritchard was forced into action again at the one end but Matt Lucas and Graham Wilks were getting good ball from midfield at the other and Matt created one or two decent half chances for himself but could only find the opposing keeper or fire wide.
As the half went on, Rock Ferry started to dominate proceedings and although the home side forced a succession of corners and free kicks around the box they amounted to nothing and it was the visitors who went ahead with a neatly worked move that saw them get numbers forward from midfield and work an opening that Dave Pritchard could do nothing to prevent. An injury to John Edmunds brought Eifion Jones back into the fray and it was soon two-nil as the offside trap was sprung and the finish again left the home keeper stranded. Darren Molyneux prevented further scoring with another goal-line clearance and gradually the Old Boys carved a couple of decent openings themselves, firstly with Matt Lucas striking the outside of the post then with Richard Moore cutting in from the left only to be cynically fouled from behind, causing an injury that left him hobbling off and an early entrance for Steve Bodey until we could re-organise at half time.
Half-time 0-2
For the second half, a hobbling Richie Moore took over the gloves with Dave Pritchard replacing him in midfield. Again there were shots from distance at both ends, Richie gathering one at the second attempt as the Rock Ferry strikers pounced. Some better defending, particularly by Kieran Whelan, gave Northop Hall a base to work from and Matt Lucas again fashioned one or two chances that he could only hit straight at the keeper.
However, all the good work was undone by one sloppy piece of play at a Rock Ferry left wing corner where the ball was allowed to bobble around the six yard box without anyone putting a foot through it and was turned in from close range to make it 3-0. In fairness, the heads didn't go down and Northop Hall continued to press for a goal.
Steve Bodey was brought on for a second appearance of the day and as the ball was swept right to left, his pass set up Dave Pritchard to hammer home a left foot drive with quarter of an hour left. For a few minutes it looked like the start of a comeback with the opposition in disarray, but the advantage didn't get pressed home and, as so often happens, the holes left at the back were exploited.
Rock Ferry went on to score three more goals in the last ten minutes without reply and give the scoreline a slightly unrealistic look. The disruption caused by injuries had a big part to play in this defeat and the opposition were a physically strong outfit who battled for every ball and although Northop Hall competed well, Kieran Whelan and Steve Buckley in particular, it was a tough ask. Kieran again got the nod as the opposition's man-of-the-match.
The Old Boys start their Sealand Cup campaign next week and will be desperate to get some of their injured and unavailable players back to halt a losing run which has gone on too long now.
Team: Dave Pritchard, John Edmunds (Steve Bodey), Darren Molyneux, Eifion Jones (Kieran Whelan), Dave Henrys, Pete Dessington, Steve Buckley, Richard Moore, Matt McGuire, Graham Wilks, Matt Lucas
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20 March 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 1 EASTHAM VETS 3
However, the match started evenly enough with both sides getting stuck in and creating chances. Eastham had the first one as the striker broke through but shot wildly wide from distance. At the other end, the home side failed to convert two golden opportunities, firstly as Dave Henrys arrived late at the back post to find a Matt McGuire corner squirting right through the six yard box, but could only toe-end it wide on the stretch. Then Graham Wilks broke the offside trap to get to the ball in the inside left channel before the onrushing keeper but watched his chip shot drop agonisingly the wrong side of the far post.
Steve Davies was starting his first game for a while in the home goal and he was called into action several times in the opening quarter of the game, blocking well as he narrowed the angle to deny their striker and putting in a last ditch tackle soon after to deny another break. However, the Old Boys rode their luck once too often and as Eastham sprung the offside trap again the winger was able to measure a cross for the oncoming striker to head easily home to open the scoring.
Before long it was two as the away side got their right winger away and his dangerous cross was turned into his own goal under pressure by centre-back Kieran Whelan. With the wind behind them, the Old Boys pushed hard to get something from the first half advantage, Pete Fielder-Shaw and Richard Moore were at the heart of some good attacking, whilst Kieran Whelan marauded forward at every opportunity to try and atone for his own goal but to no avail.
Half-time 0-2
The second half again saw chances at both ends, although Eastham were being kept more to distance by a better defensive performance that saw Steve Davies busy with goal kicks but little in the way of saves. Chances continued to be spurned at the other end. Kieran Whelan saw a long range shot go high and wide and was unable to steer home a close range header from another corner, while Richard Moore reacted quickly to a loose ball bobbling around the box only for the Eastham keeper to pull off a good save.
Finally, it was Pete Fielder-Shaw who got the Old Boys back in the tie with a fine low strike following another good passage of play. For a while it looked as if Northop Hall might find the equaliser that could have taken the game to extra time. Pete F-S was denied by another close range save by the keeper and was unable to find the target with another shot after cutting in well from the left. Some good passing moves created other half-openings but the home side were too often guilty of being caught in possession to be able to turn the promising play into decent chances.
Eastham were being kept to occasional breakaways but from one of these they eventually scored the third goal that was to secure the game for them, a right wing cross met with a low finish that gave Steve Davies no chance. Although Northop Hall continued to press, there was no way through again and Eastham progressed to the semi-finals with a 3-1 win, unbelievably the fourth time the Old Boys have been beaten by that scoreline in the last five games.
The opposition's man-of-the-match vote went to Richard Moore for his combative midfield performance, just edging it from goalkeeper Steve Davies whose string of blocking saves and tackles, particularly in the first half, kept the tie alive for much of the game. So as the old cliché goes, after an unsuccessful first forage into the Shotton Steel Veterans Cup we will now be concentrating on the Sealand Cup which starts in a couple of weeks.
Team: Steve Davies, Paz Maletta, John Edmunds (Kieran Whelan), Dave Pritchard, Dave Henrys, Pete Dessington (Phil Southern), Steve Buckley (Steve Bodey), Richard Moore, Matt McGuire, Graham Wilks, Pete Fielder-Shaw
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13 March 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 1 ST MARY'S VETS (LIVERPOOL) 3
Back on home soil after a couple of away games, the Old Boys welcomed back Steve Davies and Mel Barnes after long absences through injury and unavailability. Richard Moore was also back to bolster up the midfield for a first fixture against St Mary's Veterans from Liverpool, very much a proper veterans side much like ourselves. The pitch had dried out well but had been left rutted in patches which made it unpredictable at times.
This proved to be the dominating factor in the first half, despite a good wind at our backs and lively starts from Pete Fielder-Shaw and Kevin Hoyland, the home side were only able to muster a header from Steve Buckley just over the bar and a long range shot from Matt McGuire that lacked power to beat the keeper in the opening 20 minutes. At the other end, St Mary's had a couple of dangerous breaks that Wilton Evans did very well to block by narrowing the angles.
As the half went on, Northop Hall threatened more and following several shots off target, Graham Wilks got away down the inside right channel and his low shot across the goal found the far corner to open the scoring. At the other end, an injury to Darren Molyneux meant a reshuffle at the back but the defence put in a strong first half to keep the visitors out. Up front, pressure continued to build as the Old Boys mounted a series of decent attacks, but couldn't add to the tally before the turnaround.
Half-time 1-0
The second half was always going to be a different story as St Mary's now had the benefit of the wind behind them. Steve Davies took over from Wilton Evans between the sticks and was very soon called into action to tip a dipping shot over the bar. Several other long range efforts were fired wide before the equaliser arrived. It began with a rather harsh free kick against Richard Moore, but once again it was the Old Boys inability to clear from a set-piece that was their undoing, the ball bobbling around the box before being stabbed home.
The game was very much in the balance until the last 20 minutes. A mazy run from Pete F-S carved open the away defence but the decent chance that resulted went begging and Matt McGuire also saw a good effort tipped away by the keeper as the Old Boys put some decent moves together. The day's good work was all undone in two mad minutes at the other end though. Firstly (yet again) a corner from the left was watched by everybody allowing an opposition player to head in completely unchallenged in front of goal from six yards. Two minutes later it was 3-1 as Kieran Whelan challenged for the ball on the right by the goalline and was adjudged to have upended their striker. Steve Davies guessed right but couldn't reach the firmly struck spot-kick.
As the game wore on, the home side made a decent fist of trying to get back into it and created three very decent opportunities. Both Graham Wilks and Pete Fielder-Shaw were looking dangerous up front but both horribly wasted chances when they only had the keeper to beat, Graham lacking power and Pete lacking direction. Overall, a draw would have been a good result but St Mary's are a good footballing side and just about edged a game of two halves.
The opposition voted Pete F-S as man-of-the-match for his lively performance up front which, on another day, could easily have seen him getting his name on the scoresheet.
Team: Wilton Evans (Steve Davies), Dave Pritchard (John Edmunds), Pete Dessington (Kieran Whelan), Darren Molyneux, Dave Henrys, Kevin Hoyland, Steve Buckley, Richard Moore, Matt McGuire (Steve Bodey), Graham Wilks, Pete Fielder-Shaw (Mel Barnes)
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06 March 2010 - WARRINGTON CROFT 3 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 1
After playing short in recent away games the Old Boys took a larger squad to Birchwood for the game with Warrington Croft, although there were still late call-offs and one no-show to contend with. Mike Maletta, brother of full-back Paz, made his debut up-front but the surfeit of defenders in the squad and the lack of central midfielders left the middle of the park a bit short of craft, although no lack of effort kept the game fairly closely matched throughout.
The first half produced few chances at either end, complete contrast to the previous week's fiasco. Wilton Evans was back in the Old Boys goal and handled well from the off, whilst at the other end Graham Wilks and Matt McGuire forced the home keeper into smart saves. The only breakthrough came as Wilton was exposed by a ball over the top which the Croft striker took round him. Although Wilton's tackle caught him as he went by, he didn't go down. However, the referee pointed to the spot and the penalty was well placed to beat Wilton's dive the right way.
Matt Lucas had the best chance for Northop Hall, getting a free run down the inside left channel and being clearly impeded on the edge of the area as he made for goal. The referee waved play-on but Matt's shot was saved and play didn't get recalled as it probably should have been. At the other end, Wilton Evans did well to turn a goalbound shot round the post.
Half-time 1-0
The second half was also predominantly played out in the middle, although a couple of breakaways from the home side resulted in shots off target. The Old Boys grabbed an equaliser as the Croft keeper came a long way from his goal to sweep behind his defence. His clearance only found Pete Dessington on the halfway line and although his first time shot probably wouldn't have got through, it found a helping touch from debutant Mike Maletta to steer it into the unguarded goal.
It could have gone either way for a while as both teams battled for a lead but it was a Croft corner that undid the hard work in the away defence as the cross was met unmarked for a close range header that gave Wilton Evans no chance. Although the Old Boys lost two strikers Graham Wilks and Mike Maletta to injury, stand-in Darren Molyneux was unlucky to be called back for offside when a long clearance put him away.
As the game closed out, Wilton Evans made a superb reaction save as another set-piece ball was poorly defended. A breakaway saw the Croft striker get round Wilton again, but a momentary hesitation allowed Dave Henrys to make a tackle before he could find the net. Eventually, the home side did extend their lead when another set-piece was cleared beyond the penalty area only for the full-back to bullet a shot back that again gave Wilton no chance and put an end to the Old Boys resistance.
The man of the match nomination from the opposition went to centre back Kieran Whelan for another strong performance at the back. Again, there were several other hardworking performances that would have warranted consideration. Missing a bit of flair from midfield there was a tendency to overplay at times and we need to try and get our passing game back on track as the spring cup games loom large.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta, Darren Molyneux, Eifion Jones (John Edmunds), Kieran Whelan, Pete Dessington (Steve Buckley), Dave Henrys, Dave Pritchard, Matt McGuire, Graham Wilks (Mike Maletta), Matt Lucas
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27 February 2010 - WATERSIDE OLD BOYS 10 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 10
This extraordinary encounter took place at the Waterside ground in Halebank, Widnes as the Northop Hall pitch remained waterlogged after yet more rain. Unfortunately, the Old Boys are struggling to raise a team on their travels, despite the large squads that are available for home games, so it was just ten players that made the journey and although the home team manager started for the away team, Eifion Jones' delayed arrival meant starting with just 10 against an opposition that once again contained a smattering of youngsters (It's been said time and again, but what do these kids get out of playing against us oldies. We certainly never wanted to when we were their age, we had our own age group to test ourselves in. There is clearly something seriously wrong with them.)
Anyway, the home team were already ahead before Eifion joined the fray. Waterside manager John Murt took a Northop Hall shirt to make up the numbers and Paz Maletta was switched left to accommodate. With no central midfielders making the trip, Kevin Hoyland was asked to play inside and Dave Pritchard was standing-in between the sticks for Wilton Evans. He will no doubt have wished he hadn't by the end of the day. Not that he could have done anything about the volleyed strike that opened Waterside's account. Prior to that, Northop Hall had a couple of chances, firstly as Dave Henrys ran clear from an unfamiliar midfield position but was tackled before he could get a shot away, then from the resulting corner the same player saw his header drop straight to the keeper. It was to be a rare glimmer of hope in the opening exchanges. Waterside scored four more as a combination of the luck of the bounce and some ropey defending set up three shots that Dave Pritchard could do nothing with and a wide mis-hit cross also sailed in.
Graham Wilks had a chance to get on the scoresheet before Matt McGuire opened the Northop Hall account with a strong strike that the home keeper couldn't keep out despite getting a decent hand to it. However, Waterside extended their lead to 6-1 with the next attack as it seemed that everything they hit went in. The home team would undoubtedly have completed a rout if the teams had been left as they were. John Murt kindly swapped himself with Anthony, one of the Waterside youngsters, and the game started to have a more even feel to it. A reorganisation in personnel saw Dave Henrys go to right back, while Darren Molyneux was pushed up front and soon had a couple of chances he couldn't quite finish, combining with Matt McGuire and Graham Wilks before Graham himself broke his goal drought with his first strike since October. It had been coming for weeks!
Once more it was to be short-lived respite as Waterside added another before half time, again the beleaguered Dave Pritchard had no chance. Despite the scoreline, there had been enough decent football played going forward to give hope that a bit of pride could be restored in the second half.
Half-time 7-2
Soon into the second half, Graham Wilks scored his second with a fine finish - the pressure of not having found the net for a while now a distant memory. As previously though, the Waterside response was instantaneous, the away defence failing to clear a fairly straightforward cross and being punished as the home side continued their impressive strike rate. However, a change in tactics to defend much higher up the pitch started to pay dividends and enabled Kieran Whelan to start marauding forward and with Matt McGuire pulling the strings from midfield and the other wide man Pete Dessington getting into the game much more, the Old Boys enjoyed some sustained pressure that saw them narrow the scoreline a bit.
Firstly though, a trip in the box earned Northop Hall a penalty. With so many misses from the spot already this season, nobody up front rushed for the ball, so loaned player Anthony was surprisingly given the job - and duly saw his shot saved. However, moments later there was a second award for a handball by a Waterside defender and this time player-manager Dave Henrys pulled rank and strode up from the back to register his first ever goal for the Old Boys. At 8-4, the home team discipline was in disarray, not helped by losing one of their better defenders to injury, and Kevin Hoyland earned a free kick on the edge of the area. Matt McGuire's superbly struck kick over the wall at pace gave their young keeper no hope.
Dave Pritchard kept the Old Boys hopes alive by smartly turning a shot round the post that had taken a deflection off Kieran Whelan on its way through and another Northop Hall attack at the other end was ended with another foul in the area and a third penalty kick was awarded. This time Graham Wilks took the chance to confidently send the keeper the wrong way and complete his hat-trick. No sooner were the Old Boys right back in it than two further goals from the home side seemed to clinch it for them, twice evading the offside trap to get through on goal and finish clinically again. It could have been more too. Firstly Paz Maletta headed off the line, then with Dave Pritchard beaten to a ball outside his area, Dave Henrys was in the right place to block the goalbound shot.
However, it merely became the catalyst for an extraordinary last ten minutes. Having threatened several times to open his account from up front, Darren Molyneux finally managed to lob the oncoming keeper to register his first of the season to make it 10-7. It was eight soon after as Waterside's youngster Anthony hit a crisp finish to make amends for his penalty miss. With just two minutes remaining and the Old Boys throwing everything forward, the ball was worked to the left of the box where Paz Maletta had joined the attack. Still looking for his first Northop Hall goal, he won't come much closer without registering, his measured shot striking the underside of the bar and dropping down where fortunately Graham Wilks was alert to stab in his fourth of the game, doubling his season's tally in the process.
With time running out, Waterside tried to take the sting out of the game with possession, but once again Northop Hall won the ball back and Kevin Hoyland launched a run to goal beyond the defence, picking out a perfect cross for Matt McGuire at the far post to complete the most remarkable turnabout in Old Boys history with the equaliser, recording his own hat-trick at the same time for his eighth of the season.
There was an enormous amount to be proud of in such a fantastic comeback. A ten-all draw is unprecedented even at this level but it was just one of those days when everything went in for the home team and, eventually, for the Old Boys too. There will need to be a huge improvement in defence however, conceding ten for the first time is not such a source of pride! Despite this, it was centre-back Kieran Whelan who took the opposition's man-of-the-match award for us, no doubt more for his attacking efforts, although Matt McGuire in particular was equally deserving on the day.
Team: Dave Pritchard, Paz Maletta, Darren Molyneux, Eifion Jones, Kieran Whelan, Pete Dessington, Dave Henrys, Kevin Hoyland, Matt McGuire, Graham Wilks, John Murt - Waterside OB (Anthony - Waterside OB)
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20 February 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 1 WIRRAL VETERANS 3
More snow overnight put this fixture in doubt, but a strong morning sun cleared most of it before kick-off, leaving the pitch wet and muddy. The Old Boys might now be wishing that the decision had been made to call the game off as they struggled to adapt to the heavy conditions. Occasionally, the passing game worked and carved out an odd chance, but all too often the ball stuck short and players overran the pass. There was an inconsistency in the bounce too for good measure. Sometimes it would skid on, sometimes it just stuck. The home side rarely got a grip of any of these aspects, whilst the opposition seemed to have a better game plan and used the ball far better overall.
Another late withdrawl meant changes to the line-up just before kick-off, but with a decent sized squad, there was cover in most areas. Leading scorers Matt Lucas and Richard Moore both returned after a few games out. Dave Pritchard continued to show his versatility across a number of positions again and Kev Higgins was back to add some steel to the back four.
The first half was a neutral affair, Wirral just about shading it in terms of chances as they managed a few more telling through balls. Kieran Whelan used the conditions to good effect to get a few useful sliding tackles in, one of which may have produced a penalty if their striker hadn't thrown himself so theatrically to the floor.
Chances were at a premium at both ends, although Richard Moore had the ball in the net only to be denied by a very close offside call. Neither goalkeeper was particularly tested as both sides tried hard to overcome the stickiness underfoot.
Half-time 0-0
The Old Boys began the second half much better and had the opposition wobbling for a spell. In that time, Eifion Jones neatly played in Matt Lucas who managed to scoop a right foot shot into the far corner of the Wirral goal for his 13th strike of the season. A period of pressure followed when the Old Boys might have doubled their lead, with Matt Lucas and Richard Moore both going close.
However, an innocuous attack at the other end that should have been cleared and wasn't led to the Wirral striker squeezing an equaliser by Wilton Evans near post, that was against the balance of play at the time. Unfortunately, it signalled the end of the Old Boys spell on top and another goal for the opposition came soon after. Dave Henrys attempted ball out to the right wing stuck in the mud and a quick counter-attack saw the same striker beat Wilton at his near post for a second time.
Northop Hall tried to get the ball into the dry areas on the wings and Matt McGuire was able to come in off the left wing to curl one narrowly wide. But it was Wirral who got the all important next goal and effectively finished the game. The same striker was played in on the right and hit a crisp shot early into the far corner for his hat-trick as Wilton Evans rushed from his line to close him down.
The home side put a lot of effort into the latter stages of the match but were frequently bogged down in the middle of the pitch as their attempts to pass their way through continually faltered. In the end, the game ended just as an injury to Wilton Evans would have required a substitute goalkeeper to replace him.
On a disappointing day when everybody performed below par, it was Matt McGuire's efforts to get the ball out of the mud that caught the opposition eye for the man of the match award. With the weather the way it is just now, we are going to have to learn to adapt our game to the conditions over the next few weeks, even though it goes against the grain somewhat. Other teams seem far better at doing this than we do.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta, John Edmunds (Eifion Jones), Kieran Whelan (Kev Higgins), Dave Henrys, Kevin Hoyland (Steve Bodey), Phil Southern, Steve Buckley (Dave Pritchard), Matt McGuire (Richard Moore), Graham Wilks (Matt Lucas), Pete Fielder-Shaw
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13 February 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 4 RHEWL VETERANS 3
Following the previous week's low turn-out, the Old Boys welcomed back a number of players to bring the squad up to a decent size for the visit of Rhewl. Kieran Whelan, Kevin Hoyland and Pete Fielder-Shaw made their first appearances of the year and a cancelled operation meant that Wilton Evans was able to resume in goal for a while longer.
Despite a drying week, the pitch was still muddy in parts and difficult to play football on, so it was credit to both sides for having a go, with the visitors fashioning the early chances without registering. On 20 minutes, after a couple of harmless shots of their own, it was Northop Hall who took the lead. Matt McGuire anticipated the keeper's weak kick out and cleverly chipped the ball back over his head with interest.
The introduction of fresh legs soon after made a difference, particularly Kevin Hoyland looking a threat on the right getting past the full-back on numerous occasions, one such run taking him beyond the whole defence to double the lead with a fine finish.
Rhewl were still causing problems at the other end and when the ball was given away on the Old Boys left they punished the mistake to pull one back. Some of the sting was taken out of their attack when one of their strikers was "replaced" for abusing the referee although it was at the other end that Graham Wilks might have been more aggreived at having a great finish chalked off for a narrow offside decision.
Half-time 2-1
The second half began with a siege of the visitors goal, with some great link-up play between midfield and attack opening up the home defence on a number of occasions without success before Pete Fielder-Shaw was able to finish one of the best moves to poke home past the onrushing keeper.
The extended lead was shortlived however as Rhewl struck straight back at the other end as Northop Hall failed to clear following a left wing corner. However, it wasn't long before it was 4-2. Phil Southern met a corner to head the ball into the mix where Graham Wilks goalbound effort struck a defender's arm as he tried to clear off the line. Having missed so many spot-kicks this season it was time for a new taker to step forward and Phil Southern duly despatched a low shot into the corner, the first successful conversion of the season.
Once again though, the home side were let down by some sloppy defending. A relatively simple clearance was presented straight to the away striker who nipped through to bring Rhewl back in the game again with a crisp shot. At the other end, a far post cross from Kevin Hoyland was fractionally too high for Steve Buckley to head in at the far post and another terrific move saw Graham Wilks feed Pete Fielder-Shaw, only to see his left foot drive clip the post and go wide.
As the game went into its latter stages though, it was all Rhewl. A couple of breakaways might have got Pete F-S or Steve Bodey in but otherwise the action was all around the home goal with Wilton Evans, impressive in his handling all day, making a superb reflex save to turn a shot over that bobbled wickedly right in front of him as he dived to his left.
In the end, the Old Boys held on for a victory that was just about deserved, although credit to Rhewl for a battling performance that kept the game tight right to the final whistle. There were a number of worthy performances from the home side on the day, Wilton Evans in goal and Steve Buckley's combative efforts across midfield coming close, but in the end Kevin Hoyland who caused so many problems to their left flank got the opposition's man-of-the-match verdict.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta, John Edmunds (Eifion Jones), Kieran Whelan (Darren Molyneux), Dave Henrys, Phil Southern (Kevin Hoyland), Steve Buckley, Phil Ward, Matt McGuire, Graham Wilks (Steve Bodey), Dave Pritchard (Pete Fielder-Shaw)
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06 February 2010 - WOOLTON VETERANS 8 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 0
After so many postponements over the past two months, the last thing we expected was to struggle to raise a team for this game even though
it was a road trip to Liverpool. Although there were a number of early declarations of unavailability there was still a semblance of
a squad by the end of the week. This had dwindled further by Friday evening, but on the morning of the game it still looked likely
that we would at least be able to field an eleven, until three further late drop outs left the team decimated. However, it was decided to see
the fixture through with Woolton announcing they were in a position to lend us players. As it happened they had their own problems on the day
and so the game ended up being a 10-a-side affair with home team manager Tony Prior and his teenage son Joe making up Northop Hall numbers.
With the two borrowed players taking the left berths, Steve Bodey got a very rare full game on the right while Graham Wilks was left to lead the line alone and Dave Pritchard
pushed up to midfield to add some steel in the middle, although it did leave a back-four with close to 200 years between them!
Both sides had early chances, the home side guilty of poor finishing, the Old Boys finding "lady luck" deserting them. An early run in the inside right channel
saw Graham Wilks beat the oncoming keeper but see his lobbed shot land just over the bar. Next it was Steve Bodey's turn to be out of luck as he
rose to meet a left wing cross only to see his header come back off the crossbar. Joe Prior was providing young legs in an old team and latched on to a number of
passes to get shots on goal, one of which was half stopped by the keeper's legs and then cleared off the line. Phil Southern's right foot shot looked to be heading
for the bottom corner before the home keeper pulled off a fantastic save diving full length to tip it round the post. Dave Pritchard was also peppering the goal from
range without success.
For the first twenty minutes it was a very even contest but the first goal went to Woolton as they finally got their eye in, their 19-year-old striker and
a speedy left winger in particular giving the old back four a chasing at times. It was no surprise that they added to their lead as the half went on,
despite Wilton Evans best efforts as the last line of defence. For a couple of goals, Northop Hall were their own worst enemies, but John Edmunds was only inches away from
making a goal line clearance on one of them. A four goal lead at the break didn't reflect a half which could easily have seen the Old
Boys still in it and gave the away team heart for the second half.
Half-time 4-0
That confidence quickly evaporated as the young striker chipped a long range effort over Wilton for number five, going in off the underside of the crossbar.
Although chances continued to be spurned at the other end, particularly by Joe Prior unfortunate again with one that came back off the post, the rub of the green was being enjoyed by the home team. Firstly a mis-cued cross from the left
sailed into the far corner for no.6 and then Dave Henrys was involved in a pure comedy moment as he looked to get close to the likely recipient of another long ball from the
Woolton right only for the ball to land on the back of his head and roll agonisingly into the goal that Wilton Evans had vacated to also cover the outcome of the cross. It
summed up the day somehow.
Dave Pritchard, Phil Ward and Joe Prior continued to test the Woolton keeper, while Steve Bodey shot narrowly wide as the Old Boys continued to produce some good moves
through midfield. A drive at goal from young Prior was spilled by the keeper but he dived back to rescue it right on the line. However it was the Liverpool team, who had also forced Wilton into some smart saves, who finished the game with an eighth from their young striker on the
stroke of full-time.
The eight-nil scoreline may have reflected the better finishing and it was a worthy result for Woolton, but it was hard on Northop Hall who weren't eight goals worse on the day. However, for those
that made the effort on the day it was more valuable playing time in a bid to re-establish fitness, particularly with not having to give a big squad a part game each. There may
be some aching muscles as a result but I think most will feel it was worthwhile in spite of the result.
On a day when individual and team effort overrode outstanding performance, it was Phil Ward who caught the opposition eye for the man-of-the-match award.
Team: Wilton Evans, John Edmunds, Tony Prior - Woolton, Phil Ward, Dave Henrys, Dave Pritchard, Steve Bodey,
Phil Southern, Joe Prior - Woolton, Graham Wilks
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30 January 2010 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 2 SANDBACH UNITED VETERANS 4
Despite a light snowfall the previous day and another overnight freeze, the Saturday morning sun did just about enough to provide a thaw, albeit at the expense of muddying up the pitch to make
playing conditions tricky. A large home squad meant that everybody had to settle for 60 minutes action, although after that long winter break it was enough for most at this stage!
Sandbach started the game extremely strongly, coping far better with the surface than Northop Hall who struggled to adapt throughout. Wilton Evans made several sharp saves before
the opposition made the most of a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Paz Maletta was unlucky to have the foul awarded against him in the first place, but as the Old Boys took their
time to set up a wall, the kick was allowed to be taken quickly and was just plonked into the unguarded goal - so much for having our own players refereeing!
The lead was soon doubled when a poor pass out from left back allowed the away team to break with numbers and work an easy opening for themselves. With the midfield battle being dominated
by Sandbach it was pretty much one-way traffic and it was soon 3-0 when the home keeper unfortunately allowed a tame shot to slip his grasp and their striker nipped in to score. However, Wilton made up for it later when he tipped a goalbound effort
over the bar.
After such an early setback, the Old Boys finally got the ball moving forward a bit and Matt Lucas fashioned a couple of good chances for himself without success before finally
finding the net after a good move got him in on goal. Despite drawing the keeper, he looked to have gone too wide to the left but managed to cut back in on his right foot and slot home. It should have been 3-2
soon after but Richard Moore headed wide from an inviting deep cross from the right and Pete Dessington could only hit the side netting from close range from the other side.
At the other end, Sandbach increased their lead in the most fortunate of circumstances when a run and cross from the inside right channel sailed high over Wilton's head to leave the
Old Boys with a real uphill battle in the second half.
Half-time 1-4
It was a different story after the break as both sides made changes throughout the half. Although Sandbach were still making chances, the home keeper's handling was solid and defensively it looked more solid.
At the other end, chances were being created and spurned in equal measure, Graham Wilks and Matt Lucas both failing with decent opportunities before the latter earned the best chance of the game for himself as he
nicked the ball past the defender in the box and was cleaned out by him before he could follow it through. After a delay to pace out the penalty spot in a boggy penalty area, Matt Lucas stepped up and hit the
spot kick straight and low, but the away goalkeeper saved with his legs and the chance went begging, the second week running that we've failed from 12 yards.
In fairness to Matt, he continued to make chances for himself and after another goalmouth melee, he saw his close range shot come back to him favourably off the post and struck a low shot into the corner.
Matt's hour was up soon after and chances were at a premium after that, although Darren Molyneux driving forward from the back combined well with Matt McGuire only to hit his shot straight at the keeper.
The game really opened up in the last quarter of an hour but neither side was able to add further to the scoring and despite a much better second half from the Old Boys, Sandbach went away with a deserved victory.
Northop Hall's fitness has suffered badly from the enforced break and we need to get back to the levels we were at during that decent unbeaten run in the autumn.
Man-of-the-match was awarded to two-goal Matt Lucas who caused a number of problems to the Sandbach defence and should have had more goals to show from it.
Darren Molyneux again must have been very close to getting the vote for another solid defensive performance and his attempts to drive the team forward in the closing stages.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta (Steve Bodey), John Edmunds (Eifion Jones) Dave Pritchard (Darren Molyneux), Dave Henrys, Steve Buckley (Matt McGuire),
Phil Southern, Phil Ward (Richard Moore), Pete Dessington, Declan Hickey (Graham Wilks), Matt Lucas
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23 January 2010 - SHOTTON STEEL VETERANS 4 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 0
After an incredible run of postponed fixtures, the Old Boys returned to action following a break of almost two months. The shirts had all been let out a couple of inches to allow for Christmas excesses that hadn't had the chance to be worked off and everybody was reintroduced to the ball like the return of a long lost friend!
In fairness, Shotton were returning after a long break themselves, but it didn't show in the opening exchanges that all seemed to take part in the Northop Hall half. For our part, it took a while to get used to playing the ball again and a number of passes went astray giving the home team a few opportunities to get in on goal but without really testing Wilton Evans in goal, who was also alert to a couple of breakaways through to him.
At the other end, chances for the Old Boys were hard to come by. Graham Wilks came closest with a couple of long range sighters, but the home team were enjoying the majority of the play and the pressure soon told with an opening goal, a powerful shot from the edge of the box that gave Wilton no chance.
The home team's best chance to go further ahead began in their own half with Northop Hall in possession but over-committing from midfield and the back in search of an equaliser. It only took one misplaced pass to give Shotton the chance to break and they quickly had their striker clear on goal, however Wilton Evans stood up and made a really good save to keep the score down.
A better attack by Northop Hall saw Phil Southern put away down the right and a good deep cross to the far post was headed agonisingly the wrong side of the post by Richard Moore.
The home team continued to press forward themselves though and they were unlucky to hit the woodwork twice. However, right on half time they did double their lead, although it was somewhat controversially. A right wing cross wasn't cleared and when the ball was headed back forward, the unmarked home striker finished from the edge of the six yard box, although he looked a good couple of yards offside. However, protestations were in vain and the goal was allowed to stand.
Half-time 2-0
The second half was a much closer affair with the Old Boys enjoying much more of possession and creating several good chances to get back in the game, the Shotton keeper being called on to make a number of smart saves, the best of which saw him turn a Graham Wilks shot over that was arrowing to the top corner.
A series of corners were causing the home defence problems and a right wing ball in from Matt McGuire saw Dave Henrys pushed in the back as he climbed to meet it and this time the referee ruled in our favour. Matt McGuire stepped up to take the resultant spot kick and although it was a well placed effort, the Shotton keeper dived to his right and fingertipped it onto the post, then enjoyed outrageous good fortune when the rebound struck him on the back of the head and went past the wrong side of the post.
Chances were created at both ends, Wilton Evans being the busiest of the keepers saving well from close range on two occasions and handling well under pressure, although distribution was rusty like everybody else. At the other end, Matt Lucas struck a good low shot straight at the home keeper.
Late in the game, Shotton were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position and the direct shot on goal floated over the hastily assembled wall and nestled in the corner of the goal before Wilton Evans could get there.
Then with almost the last move of the match, Northop Hall again gave the ball away sloppily in midfield and the ball was quickly fed right then left to the oncoming player to ram a low shot into the far corner for a fourth goal, rough justice in terms of the scoreline as the defending had been fairly good overall.
Man-of-the-match was a deserved first vote of the season for Darren Molyneux for his dual role, firstly at right back and then at centre half. For everybody else it was a good first step back into action. The eventual scoreline didn't do justice to the Old Boys overall performance, however rusty, but Shotton were certainly worthy winners on the day. Hopefully we will benefit from thye run out and get our season going again now - weather permitting!
Team: Wilton Evans, Darren Molyneux, John Edmunds, Dave Pritchard (Paz Maletta), Dave Henrys, Steve Buckley (Phil Southern), Phil Ward, Richard Moore (Steve Bodey), Pete Dessington (Matt McGuire), Graham Wilks, Declan Hickey (Matt Lucas)
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28 November 2009 - CHESTER NOMADS 1 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 1
Looking to avenge two heavy defeats last season against Chester Nomads, one a 5-0 drubbing at this venue, the Old Boys arrived at Broughton Hall Cricket Club hampered by late call offs by Pete Fielder-Shaw and in-form defender Kieran Whelan, as well as being without imminent new father Phil Ward and leading scorer Matt Lucas again. However, the balance was retained by the returns of Kev Higgins and Richard Moore amongst others who missed last Sunday's game and after a 10 month absence, it was good to see Declan Hickey kitted up again for another comeback.
The first half was a very tight affair, both defences being on top for much of the time and play condensed into the middle third and with little width. An excellent corner from Eifion Jones saw Dave Pritchard head wide at the far post but soon after, Northop Hall lost player-manager Dave Henrys when a stray elbow left him with a bloodied nose and brought in Kev Higgins slightly earlier than planned, but as a straight replacement it merely strengthened the back-four further.
With chances at a premium, the better of them fell to the Old Boys, Graham Wilks again the recipient of some well-crafted moves but unable to find the goal that is eluding him at the moment, one particular cross from Richie Moore giving Graham a particularly good heading opportunity in front of the posts that he couldn't finish.
The return of Declan Hickey up front midway through the half saw him immediately in the fulcrum of a few good passing moves, one of which he prodded goalward but the effort lacked power. At the other end, Nomads best chance saw them get a striker in one on one with the keeper, but Wilton Evans saved well with his legs to deny the opportunity. He was also handling everything else well that found its way into his penalty area.
Half-time 0-0
The second half began as tightly as the first and with Matt McGuire slotting in just behind the main striker, more of the play was condensed into the midfield. The Old Boys back four continued to hold up pretty much everything being thrown at it, shots from distance going wide of the mark. Northop Hall were playing some good football at times but just couldn't quite craft the decisive opening. Matt McGuire and Declan Hickey both had shots on goal to no avail.
However, it was the away side who came within a whisker of opening the scoring and from a most unlikely source. As John Edmunds picked up the ball from left back on the halfway line the home side seemed to back off him and, allowed to progress, John eventually let fly from 30 yards, desperately unlucky to see his right foot effort dip late but onto the crossbar and over with the keeper stranded and injuring himself in his efforts to get back to it.
More changes on the three quarter hour mark saw a cleaned up Dave Henrys amongst others back in the action and opened up the formation a little. Kev Higgins and Darren Molyneux continued to frustrate the home strikers, the latter also able to get forward and blast a shot high and wide from a corner. Good work soon after between Richard Moore and Matt McGuire led to a clear chance for Dave Pritchard on the edge of the area but his goalbound shot was well saved. Graham Wilks also made a good chance for himself but screwed the shot wide.
As time ticked by, it looked for all the world as if the Old Boys were going to be involved in their first ever goalless draw. However, a free kick from Kev Higgins changed all that. Slung deep into the Nomads penalty area, Pete Dessington gambled on it getting through to him and got a touch in front of goal. As he set himself to finish, the defender came across him and inadvertently completed the job deflecting it into the corner of the net.
Although this galvanised the Nomads to attack more, there were still half chances for the Old Boys to add a second goal, but a couple of rushed efforts went well wide. As time was running out another Northop Hall free-kick towards the Chester goal broke down and a very quick breakaway got the striker in down the right wing. Wilton Evans rushed from his line and closed down the angle well but the attempted cross seemed to be mis-hit and span goalward instead, just beating Paz Maletta's last ditch effort to clear off the line to equalise.
That should have been that, but the referee seemed to have forgotten what time we kicked off and with darkness descending deep into injury time, the home team almost got a second, Paz Maletta just doing enough with his challenge to stop another right wing cross from being stabbed home. In the end, a mixed reaction, the late equaliser denying victory. The draw had seemed on the cards for much of the game, despite the Old Boys creating the better chances and probably coming closest, but in the end it was a good result against a good side and consigned last season's results to history.
Man-of-the-match was a close call between centre backs Kev Higgins and Darren Molyneux who both put in tremendous performances at the heart of the defence, Kev just getting the final nod probably for his goal assist. However, it was another really good team performance with everybody working hard for each other again.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta, John Edmunds, Darren Molyneux, Dave Henrys (Kev Higgins), Eifion Jones, Dave Pritchard (Declan Hickey), Steve Buckley, Matt McGuire (Pete Dessington), Graham Wilks, Richard Moore (Steve Bodey)
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22 November 2009 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 2 BRICKFIELDS VETERANS 3
Northop Hall Old Boys embarked on their first ever Sunday fixture only after a morning inspection had confirmed the conditions as playable, but couldn't predict the downpour at kick off in the afternoon that left the pitch overly muddy. On the day, the Old Boys were without both leading scorers Matt Lucas and Richard Moore and a late withdrawl by Mel Barnes left only one recognised striker with one of the club's goalkeepers, Steve Davies, stepping in up front. Dave Pritchard pushed up to fill the gap in the midfield left by other unavailabilities.
The visitors, Brickfields Veterans from Wrexham, started brightly making the better of the heavy conditions whilst the Old Boys struggled to adapt their normal passing game on an increasingly sticky surface. The home team had a tendency to overplay in midfield at times, but did manage to create early shots for Phil Ward and Matt McGuire that failed to trouble the goal.
However, it was Brickfields who took the lead, capitalising as the ball stuck under Paz Maletta's feet as he tried to clear from the back to chip over Wilton Evans in the Northop Hall goal. Once they worked out their passing range, Phil Ward and Matt McGuire twice got Graham Wilks in on goal only for the end result to finish wide, the second time after cleverly getting past the last defender.
The missed chances were being rued as the half went on though as a sweeping move by the away side down their right ended with a deep far post cross to find the left winger stalking unmarked to convert.
Lots of midfield endeavour was matched by some surging runs down the wings and it was from one down the left that Graham Wilks played in Matt McGuire to produce the perfect cross for Dave Pritchard to arrive from midfield and slot home close in.
Both sides forced several corners that came to nothing, whilst Wilton Evans had to react sharply to keep out a couple of well-struck shots. Several attacks were well covered and snuffed out by the home defence as they looked like getting dangerous, while Pete Dessington, Phil Ward and Matt McGuire all shot wide at the other end as Graham Wilks kept their defence on their toes as the Old Boys finished the half strongly.
Half-time 1-2
The away side provided a referee to take over from Phil Southern at half-time and it wasn't long before he was in the thick of things for all the wrong reasons. In a week when Thierry Henry got away with a handball that led to a dubious goal and subsequent outrage, the decision of this referee not to give an offside against the Brickfields striker, who had put so much daylight between himself and the last defender that everybody stopped waiting for the inevitable whistle, was always going to be contentious.
When it led to the cross being turned in from close range, that outrage was so widespread amongst the home side that the embarrassed referee would have realised his mistake but his response unfortunately was to "spit out the dummy", leaving Wilton Evans having to come out of goal to take over the whistle, Steve Davies replacing him. To be fair to the Wrexham team, they offered to wipe off the goal, but the decision had been made and the Old Boys decided reluctantly to stand by it.
It took a while for the game to get going again after the controversy, but when it did it was the home team that stepped up their efforts determined to claw back the injustice. Kieran Whelan and Darren Molyneux drove forward at every opportunity and it was Kieran's run and pass to find Pete Dessington on the right that led to the Old Boys pulling a goal back, Dave Pritchard once again on hand to turn home Pete's cross for his second of the game.
It was all Northop Hall for a spell after that and it seemed like only a matter of time before the equaliser would come. The visiting keeper made a number of good saves, most notably from Graham Wilks and Darren Molyneux, and watched shots from Phil Southern and a header from Dave Pritchard pass by the wrong side of the goal, but it was the Matt McGuire / Darren Molyneux link down the left that provided the best opportunity, Graham Wilks shooting agonisingly beyond the far post.
As the home side pushed up, there had to be some smart defending to keep out a couple of breakaways and one or two shots went wide of Steve Davies' goal. The closest they came followed a left wing cross that Steve failed to catch cleanly, but Paz Maletta was on hand to clear off the line.
The game ended with more huffing and puffing from the Old Boys but time ran out without the deserved leveller and there was an obvious sense of injustice around the dressing room in the aftermath, although Brickfields offered resilient opposition on the day and the game was played in good spirits other than the problems surrounding what turned out to be the winning goal. Man-of-the-match was once again given to Kieran Whelan for another lively performance all round the pitch.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta, Kieran Whelan, Dave Henrys, Darren Molyneux, Pete Dessington (Steve Bodey), Phil Ward, Dave Pritchard, Matt McGuire, Graham Wilks, Steve Davies (Phil Southern)
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14 November 2009 - WIRRAL VETERANS 1 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 4
Torrential rain in the days leading up to this fixture had appeared to put the game in jeopardy, but after the referee passed the pitch fit to play following a bit of puddle forking in the goalmouthes, it went ahead as scheduled. With goalkeeper Wilton Evans away for the weekend, Dave Pritchard again took over the gloves, and a few other absentees reduced the recent supersized squad to a more manageable fourteen.
For most of the first half the ball drifted around the midfield areas taking some unusual bounces, which took both teams a while to get used to, the defences coping better with conditions and the home team's offside trap proving frustratingly effective. Chances were at a premium, the best for the Old Boys coming when Graham Wilks set up Matt Lucas to cross dangerously, Richard Moore just unable to apply a finishing touch. It took twenty minutes for the home side to get a shot in and then it was well over the bar. Following this, Darren Molyneux broke from centre back and his mazy run beat the offside line and took him to the edge of the home penalty area before he was unceremoniously brought down. Although the free-kick came to nothing, a short corner soon after led to a shot from Darren that Richard Moore managed to steer goalwards with his head only to see it come back off the post.
Northop Hall were having just about the better of exchanges without producing too many more chances when a long ball from the home team and an unchecked run from midfield produced a one on one chance that was stopped by Kieran Whelan's clumsy challenge, the referee left with no alternative but to point to the spot - the third penalty conceded in three weeks. Whereas the last two were missed, this one sent Dave Pritchard the wrong way to give Wirral the lead, which they held to half time despite some decent football from the Old Boys keeping the home defence on their toes.
Half-time 1-0
The second half continued in much the same way, the Old Boys defence being well marshalled by Kieran Whelan and both full-backs getting forward at every opportunity, but attacks being limited to long shots, particularly from Matt McGuire trying his luck from range unsuccessfully. Wirral put a few shots wide but posed no real threat, stubbornly holding their lead as the away side tried to find a way through, Pete Dessington blazing the best of the chances high and wide. Eventually the goal came, Graham Wilks and Richard Moore pressurising the defence for the ball to fall nicely for Dean McGuire to hammer home the equalising goal. Finally a reward for the efforts.
And it wasn't long before Northop Hall had a second. Kieran Whelan made the interception at the back and set off on a trademark run forward, picking out Pete Dessington running free on the right wing. His pass inside fell perfectly into the path of Matt Lucas and a precise right foot finish took him to leading scorer for the season. Wirral Vets put their best efforts in at that point, again without coming too close to breaching the defence, just one shot trickling through to Dave Pritchard as the only one on target, and the keeper punching well to keep out a dangerous corner.
Darren Molyneux was pushed forward down the left and continued to get forward to good effect as Pete Dessington was down the right, but it was down the middle that the next chance presented itself, Richard Moore getting on the end of another good passing move to turn in front of goal but hit his shot straight at the keeper. However, with extreme fortune, the keeper's parry struck the oncoming defender and the ball deflected back into the Wirral goal to give the Old Boys a good lead.
The Old Boys were now in total control and another through ball from Kieran Whelan put Matt Lucas away down the left. His cut inside beat the full back and another precise right foot cross shot buried itself beyond the keeper into the far corner for his tenth goal of the season and cap a remarkable second half turnaround.
Man-of-the-match was given to Kieran Whelan for a solid defensive display and two assists going forward, but again Darren Molyneux will have been close to the award himself for similar reasons. However, it was another good all-round team performance that was the basis for this ninth match of an unbeaten run, together with a defensive resiliance and a positive attitude to get back in the game by playing football on a difficult pitch.
Team: Dave Pritchard, Paz Maletta, John Edmunds (Dave Henrys), Kieran Whelan, Darren Molyneux, Matt McGuire, Steve Buckley (Dean McGuire), Richard Moore, Pete Dessington (Eifion Jones), Graham Wilks, Matt Lucas
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07 November 2009 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 1 EASTHAM VETERANS 1
With another large matchday squad to manipulate through 90 minutes, the Old Boys welcomed back Kieran Whelan, Kevin Hoyland, Dean McGuire and Pete Fielder-Shaw who were unavailable the week before to replace three absentees for this week. A week of rain had forced cancellations of games around the area, but the Northop Hall pitches were in remarkably good condition and held up well under further showers during the game. Eastham Veterans, always a hard team to beat, came into the game with a good recent record just like the Old Boys.
As expected, it was a tight affair from the off with plenty of battling in midfield and both defences coping well in the early exchanges. It was several minutes into the game when Matt McGuire was the first to get a shot on target, easily saved on this occasion. Eastham came close with a cross shot from the left that zipped wide and Dave Pritchard headed over his own bar to keep another shot out. Another cross from the right was superbly cut out by Paz Maletta with strikers waiting unmarked behind him.
The home team were creating the clearer chances though, particularly down the right wing where Kevin Hoyland's pace was causing all sorts of problems to the Eastham defence. Played in by Pete F-S for a run on goal, the finish let him down as he got one on one with the keeper and it was Kevin again who couldn't convert as the ball ran loose from Graham Wilks challenge with the goalie. Another break away down the right saw Kevin Hoyland in again but this time his shot went wide right.
One of Kevin's crosses was met by Matt Lucas but his header went straight to the keeper's arms and he was able to start a break at the other end that ended with a shot narrowly wide after a dangerous left wing cross. It was a rare chance for the away team, despite having plenty of possession in the middle, with the Eastham goal most under threat. Graham Wilks got Dean McGuire in but his shot was deflected just wide and Kevin Hoyland was unlucky to see a goalbound shot following a corner blocked on the line by a defender. Kieran Whelan was then unable to get his header on target as he met a corner just before the keeper's punch.
Eventually, as half time approached, the pressure told with a deserved goal for the home side. A throw in on the left found Dean McGuire who wriggled through a couple of challenges before his shot was blocked, but it fell nicely in front of goal for Matt Lucas to slide in his eighth goal of the campaign.
Half-time 1-0
The second half was a bit more even, still with plenty happening in the middle of the park in the main. Kevin Hoyland had another shot wide and Matt Lucas ended a good run with a shot at the keeper. A couple of Eastham attacks ended with shots that Wilton Evans handled well or that went well wide.
A long ball to the Old Boys back post saw the Eastham winger challenge for the ball with Pete Dessington and as Pete eased him off the ball in the area the winger went flying and the referee awarded the penalty. For the second week in a row Wilton Evans stood tall and watched the resulting shot fired past his left hand post to retain the lead.
At the other end, Pete came within a whisker of attoning as he met a far post cross with a shot that came back off the crossbar from an acute angle. Several other crosses into the area, particularly from Matt McGuire from the right, were causing a few problems and another Matt Lucas effort was saved as the Old Boys, driven on by Richard Moore and Steve Buckley down the middle, looked for a second goal that would probably have killed the game off, forcing a succession of corners that unfortunately came to nothing.
However, as the minutes ticked by to the final whistle, it was Eastham who started to exert the most pressure and Wilton Evans had to get down well twice to hold shots that bounced nastily just in front of him. The defence was coping fairly well until a stray goal kick caught them on the back foot and two passes put the opposition striker in to equalise and draw the match.
Man-of-the-match was given to Kieran Whelan for another solid performance at the back, with Darren Molyneux a close second for his own centre back display and Pete Dessington also catching the opposition's eye on the left flank. All told, probably a game the Old Boys should have won on chances created.
Team: Wilton Evans, Paz Maletta, John Edmunds (Phil Southern), Darren Molyneux, Dave Pritchard (Kieran Whelan), Kevin Hoyland, Steve Buckley (Richard Moore), Dean McGuire (Dave Henrys), Matt McGuire (Pete Dessington), Graham Wilks (Steve Bodey), Pete Fielder-Shaw (Matt Lucas)
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31 October 2009 - RHEWL VETERANS 1 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 1
Another sizeable Old Boys squad descended on the village of Rhewl near Ruthin for the first ever game against their newly-formed local veterans side, several of whom were already well-known to us from their previous associations with the Northop Hall Nomads side. Despite missing last year's player-of-the-year Kieran Whelan and injury to player-manager Dave Henrys restricting him to a touchline role, leading scorer Richard Moore was back, along with Mel Barnes (eventually!).
It became apparent early in the game that this was going to be a tough physical battle and the referee drawn from the home substitutes bench had no intention of clamping down on any dodgy challenges. The home side had soon crafted a couple of early chances, Wilton Evans getting well behind the first and the defence rescuing Dave Pritchard as his back header inadvertently fell to the opposition.
At the other end, the Old Boys started to put some of their passes together and carved out a few chances of their own, hitting the net with regularity - unfortunately it was the one behind the goal stopping the ball going on the road, the "proper" one behind the home keeper remaining stoically unruffled. Not for the want of trying though. Richard Moore scuffed a shot wide as he gambled on a right wing cross and Graham Wilks twice shot wide, firstly latching onto a defensive back header, then crafting a chance through all his own work on the left.
The opening goal of the game came a little against the run of play, a left wing corner for Rhewl was floated over and Wilton Evans misjudged the catch and could only fingertip the ball over the line. Another corner soon after saw Wilton stop back and watch the shot over the bar whilst a mazy run from midfield could easily have added a second instead of ending up just wide again.
Again, the Old Boys hit back, Richard Moore heading at the keeper and Matt McGuire causing him greater problems from long range as the ball bounced up and over him but wide again. Graham Wilks also had a right foot goalbound shot headed over the bar by the centre half. However, it was Rhewl who should have doubled their lead. A long ball was won by the home striker narrowly ahead of Wilton Evans (who may have had a free kick awarded on another day) only for him to be pulled down in the box by Kev Higgins. However, the resulting spot-kick was fired high over the bar to keep the deficit at one.
Half-time 1-0
Straight form the kick-off, Phil Southern was caught in possession and relieved to see the resulting shot go over the bar. The Old Boys started to exert themselves much better from there though, with Dave Pritchard and Kev Higgins looking more solid at the heart of the defence and a number of chances being fashioned at the other end. Firstly, a header from Richard Moore was flicked on by Graham Wilks to put Mel Barnes clear and his shot was tipped wide. From Matt McGuire's low corner, Richard Moore scuffed another shot wide and soon after, Graham Wilks couldn't hit the target from Mel Barnes left wing cross.
Eventually, the pressure told as Graham Wilks made space for himself on the right corner of the penalty area and cracked his right foot shot past the keeper for his fourth goal of the season. A rare Darren Molyneux shot soon after went high and wide, while Graham again latching onto a Matt McGuire through ball could only shoot wide across goal. A couple of shots from Phil Southern also failed to hit the target and a cross from Graham ended up goalbound and needed to be tipped over.
A trademark run around several defenders from Matt Lucas ended up with a weak shot at the keeper, who also just reached a through ball with Mel Barnes bearing in on goal again. At the other end, a rare chance for the home side from a left foot cross went wide off the striker's knee when well-placed to remind Northop Hall not to leave the back door open as they searched for the winner.
A second goal was certainly beckoning the Old Boys and it almost came from one of two unusual sources. Firstly, right back Paz Maletta made a tackle on the edge of the Rhewl area to set himself up one on one with the keeper, but with a first goal for the club in his grasp his finish lacked composure and from the angle he blazed wide. Then from a similar position, supersub Steve Bodey outmuscled the defender and blazed a shot into the far corner over the keeper. It looked a goal all the way but somehow hit the far post and came back across into play and was cleared.
If the Old Boys bemoaned their luck at failing to find that winner, they were thankful at the very death to keeper Wilton Evans who made up for his earlier error to tip a header over the bar after the referee had missed a blatant offside against the winger as he received a long ball before crossing. It would have been extremely rough justice against Northop Hall but it showed how those earlier missed chances could have come back and haunted them on Halloween.
Man-of-the-match went to goalscorer Graham Wilks, a constant threat up front who on another day might have had three or four. Again though, it was a good all-round team performance with plenty of effort throughout to match the physical challenge presented by the home team.
Team: Wilton Evans, John Edmunds (Paz Maletta), Darren Molyneux, Dave Pritchard (Steve Bodey), Phil Ward, (Kev Higgins), Matt McGuire, Steve Buckley (Phil Southern), Richard Moore, Pete Dessington, Graham Wilks, Matt Lucas (Mel Barnes)
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24 October 2009 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 6 SANDBACH VETS 2nds 4
With a World Cup sized squad at their disposal, the Old Boys hosted Sandbach Vets 2nds on a blustery autumn afternoon that got more windy as the game progressed. Kevin Hoyland and Pete Fielder-Shaw were back after missing the last few games and John Edmunds made his long-awaited return from injury to push the average age back up!
Straight from the off, Matt Lucas combined to put Graham Wilks through but his first time shot went narrowly wide, setting the tone for an afternoon of chance after chance with both defences again stretched. Matt Lucas followed up last week's four goals by stabbing home his first opportunity to get the scoreboard moving today.
Sandbach were posing a threat themselves with several shots fired wide and a right wing cross held on the wind grazing the crossbar. It wasn't long before they equalised when the Old Boys were punished for not clearing their lines. As the wind picked up behind the home team though, several opportunities were created at the other end, Phil Southern amongst those testing the keeper and Kevin Hoyland getting a good deal of joy down the right. In the end it was a free kick on the left that allowed Matt McGuire to put one of his trademark kicks goalwards on the wind and straight over the keeper's head for his fourth goal of the season.
Again the lead was short-lived as Sandbach got in down the right. The cross-shot was very well saved by Wilton Evans only to drop straight at the feet of the oncoming striker who made no mistake from close range. Wholesale substitutions from the home team on the half hour almost reaped immediate dividends as Pete Fielder-Shaw brought a sharp save from the Sandbach keeper with his very first touch. The blustery conditions also saw Wilton Evans register a bizarre shot on target as his kick from hands at one end momentarily worried the keeper at the other.
It wasn't long before the Old Boys were back ahead though. Another good team move got Kevin Hoyland in on the back post and he stretched well to reach it before the defender and register his first goal for the club. Just before half time it was four as the ball fell for Matt Lucas on the left edge of the penalty area. His left foot volley had far too much power for the keeper as it smashed into the far corner.
Half-time 4-2
Further changes after the break gave the home side fresh impetus again, despite the strong wind now being straight into their faces. Matt Lucas was looking for his second successive hat-trick knowing his substitution was pending on the hour. It didn't take long to come, although he wouldn't have expected it to arrive in the circumstances it did as the Sandbach keeper allowed a rather tame shot under his body.
Further pressure in the opening minutes of the half saw Pete Fielder-Shaw force the keeper into the save of the match and Phil Ward came very close to opening his account with a strong header from a Kevin Hoyland corner. Soon after, another one was well met by Steve Buckley's head and this time it squeezed in off the post.
If the Old Boys thought they were going to coast to victory though, two Sandbach goals in a minute gave them other ideas. Firstly, possession was given away cheaply in the Northop Hall half and they were made to pay by a smart finish. The very next attack saw a wind-assisted shot from distance fly over Wilton Evans for a fourth.
Still the home team created most of the chances, Pete Fielder-Shaw firing narrowly wide after another good interchange and Matt McGuire also coming close after a great one-two with Paz Maletta. As the game came towards a close though, it was Sandbach that finished the strongest. John Edmunds was caught out at the back post by a long ball and the resulting shot was deflected in off Kieran Whelan's head to make the scoreline an incredible 6-5.
It was almost all square moments later too as the Sandbach striker's left foot strike came back off the crossbar. Although there was still time for Paz Maletta to have a rare shot saved and Steve Bodey to have a goalbound shot blocked, the away side were pressing for an equaliser and the Old Boys were glad to hear the final whistle that meant the winning run was preserved for another week.
The man-of-the-match award from the opposition went to Matt Lucas for the second successive week and there will be few arguments as his seven goals have made up for too many going in at the other end. There have now been an incredible 44 goals in the last 5 games, great for anyone watching but a nightmare for the manager! However, we have remained unbeaten in them all and played some good football along the way, finishing well and sharing goals around the team. Having a large squad is great and a record nineteen players turned out in this latest game, but it requires lots of changes to give everybody decent playing time and that can upset the pattern of games as well as provide fresh legs. As long as we continue to score more than the opposition we'll remain happy!
Team: Wilton Evans, Darren Molyneux (Paz Maletta), Dave Henrys (John Edmunds), Dave Pritchard (Kieran Whelan), Phil Ward, Phil Southern (Steve Buckley), Eifion Jones (Kevin Hoyland), Dean McGuire, Matt McGuire (Pete Dessington), Graham Wilks (Pete Fielder-Shaw), Matt Lucas (Steve Bodey)
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17 October 2009 - UPTON VETERANS 4 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 6
A visit to Upton, scene of a 10-4 romp last season, saw the return in goal of Wilton Evans for the first time in more than 12 months following an extended spell of work in America. There was also a first appearance of the season after injury for Dean McGuire, with Darren Molyneux, Pete Dessington and Matt Lucas also returning to action after missing last week. Dave Pritchard who has stood in admirably in goal during Steve Davies' continued absence was able to return to his defensive duties but leading scorer Richard Moore was out injured.
Whilst nobody would have predicted another 14 goals this year, any thoughts of a dull nil-nil draw
were dispelled during a first half littered with goals and close chances. Both defences were under pressure from younger opponents and with mistakes aplenty, Wilton Evans was soon in the thick of things in the away goal as a couple of early shots went close. One effort from the edge of the area produced a smart save, but the Upton attack responded quickest to provide a simple tap-in at the far post for the first goal.
With Graham Wilks and Matt McGuire combining well for the Old Boys, several long range shots from the latter whistled wide before Graham latched on to Matt's through ball, rounded the keeper and finished well to keep his goalscoring run going. It wasn't long before Upton were ahead again though. A long speculative ball was misjudged by Dave Henrys and the striker was left unchallenged to score.
Changes on the half hour produced instant results for the Old Boys. Matt Lucas caused problems straight from his introduction and stabbed home the first half-chance that came to him for a second equaliser and his first goal of the season. Graham Wilks continued to cause problems up front and forced a corner that led to goal number three, Eifion Jones finding Phil Southern who matched his headed goal from last season by meeting the cross powerfully. Graham Wilks might have had another himself soon after, but had his heels clipped as he lined up a shot when through and it bobbled wide with the referee ignoring penalty claims.
Following raids forward by Kieran Whelan and Dave Henrys, it was the turn of Paz Maletta to venture from the back, a strong run and a few passes putting him close to goal before being cynically tripped on the edge of the box, for which the defender received a rare yellow card. It was only temporary relief for the home team though as Matt Lucas spotted a gap and fired the free-kick straight into the corner of the goal.
A two-goal cushion would have been useful to take into half time, but Northop Hall were a bit too adventurous for their own good. An attack broke down in the Upton half with three quarters of the defence joining in and when the ball broke forward it was two against one with Dave Henrys unable to match the speed of the young striker who rounded Wilton Evans to score a third Upton goal.
Half-time 3-4
The second half was another tough one for the defences, Upton at one point having a back four with a cumulative age of around 220 years encouraging the Old Boys to send their full backs raiding again and Darren Molyneux in particular was causing problems with his pace and spurned a good opening when put in on the left. This was leaving holes at the back though and a series of corners were forced from which Upton eventually equalised, a free header punishing more indiscipline.
It could have been worse not long after when Upton hit the crossbar from another attack, but it was Northop Hall who finished the game strongest and their continuing pressure eventually told when Matt Lucas was put in. Amazingly, his first effort came back off the post behind the keeper to fortunately allow him to slot home the one-two for his hat-trick.
The Old Boys started to look a bit more solid at the back finally with Kieran Whelan more commanding. At the other end, Matt Lucas ended another mazy run with a scuffed left foot effort wide but finished far better for his fourth goal of the game to round off a good team move late on and finally put the game beyond reach.
So another incredibly high-scoring game finished 6-4 to Northop Hall this time, much to the frustration of the defences, although it was generally agreed by both sides that it's becoming a fixture that would have the paying public turning up in their droves at any higher level!
The man of the match award from the opposition went to Matt Lucas, although there was a rumour that Steve Bruce had awarded it to Steve Bodey for his appearance for the last 15 minutes! On a day when the defence was rather stretched at times, Kieran Whelan and Darren Molyneux were both given honourable mentions. There were definite plusses from the returns of Wilton Evans and Dean McGuire who came through his first hour's play in a competitive midfield battle.
Team: Wilton Evans, Darren Molyneux, Dave Pritchard (Paz Maletta), Kieran Whelan, Dave Henrys, Eifion Jones, Steve Buckley (Dean McGuire), Phil Ward (Phil Southern), Pete Dessington, Graham Wilks (Steve Bodey), Matt McGuire (Matt Lucas)
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10 October 2009 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 5 WARRINGTON CROFT 2
The Old Boys welcomed back Steve Buckley and Pete Fielder-Shaw from recent injury, but lost the consistent Pete Dessington who was resting a niggling one of his own. Other players returned from missing last weekend to give the Northop Hall squad a strong look, despite unexpectingly losing Darren Molyneux from defence before kick off.
However, it was the visitors who started strongest with the Old Boys taking a little time to settle into the game as the changes took effect, by which time Warrington Croft had taken the lead with a really good long range chip that left Dave Pritchard, again standing in as goalkeeper, stranded off his line. The home team did eventually start to knock the ball around to good effect and after a few harmless shots a Kev Higgins headed clearance fell to Eifion Jones on the right. After cutting inside he unleashed a tremendous long range shot which dipped beautifully under the crossbar. A back pass inadvertently collected by the home keeper soon after led to another good chance for Warrington Croft which they failed to convert into a shot on goal from the free-kick inside the area.
With the home defence coping well with an aerial bombardment and Eifion and Steve Buckley pulling strings in midfield, chances started to be fashioned up front, but it was Steve himself who put the home side ahead with another dipping long range shot over Croft's shell-shocked keeper. Immediately from the kick-off, Mel Barnes and Graham Wilks put pressure on the away defenders and with Mel bearing down on the keeper he miskicked his clearance straight on to Graham's head just on the edge of the area. His reflex header had just enough power on it to beat the keeper's desperate rush back to goal and the Old Boys suddenly had an unexpected two-goal cushion. Before half time Eifion Jones had another long range effort, this time well wide as he tried to emulate his earlier effort.
Half-time 3-1
The second half began as the first had with Warrington exerting all the pressure. Kev Higgins and Paz Maletta both had to make last ditch tackles to keep them out and a succession of set-pieces and crosses into the box led to a couple of headers wide. In the main though the home side defended doggedly and continued to play some good looking football, albeit on the break. Graham Wilks miscued his shot when getting on the end of a good left wing cross but made up for it soon after when he beat the last defender to a long throw from Dave Henrys down the left, cut inside and finished excellently with a low shot into the far corner.
With other chances going begging as Pete F-S and Richard Moore saw good opportunities kept out, Croft got themselves back in it when a crossfield ball picked out the free man on the right and his cross was tapped home close in. The Old Boys continued to press forward and Steve Buckley almost repeated his first half goal from range, the shot this time dipping just over the bar, while another cross from the right found Phil Southern just short of enough height to convert a far post header.
In the end, despite tiring legs, Northop Hall grabbed a deserved fifth goal, leading scorer Richard Moore finishing another good move to claim his 8th goal of the season, although the choreography of the celebration is obviously going to need more work! Dave Pritchard survived a late scare when he was unable to hold on to a low cross shot, but unlike last week, was relieved to see his full back get there first to clear this time. All told, a good game for those watching with plenty of football played by both sides contributing to the spectacle and some good finishing being the main difference between the teams.
The man of the match award from the opposition went deservedly to Steve Buckley who was a livewire in midfield despite his recent injury. Close behind would have been Eifion Jones who is rolling back the years just now and capped a fine performance with a tremendous equalising goal when it was needed. Again though, with plenty of rotation to give everybody playing time, it was a fine all round effort from every player from front to back which was the foundation for the comprehensive result.
Team: Dave Pritchard, Paz Maletta, Dave Henrys, Kieran Whelan, Kev Higgins, Eifion Jones, Steve Buckley (Richie Moore), Phil Ward (Phil Southern), Matt McGuire, Mel Barnes, Graham Wilks (Pete Fielder-Shaw)(Steve Bodey)
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3 October 2009 - WATERSIDE OLD BOYS 4 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 4
Although billed as the battle of the old boys, we know from last season's experiences (and one hammering in particular) that Waterside put out a mixed team of older and young players. As it was, Northop Hall were deprived of several regulars again, Phil Elder, Steve Buckley and Pete Fielder-Shaw through injury, others for different commitments, so for the second game running Phil Southern (jnr) and Andrew Pritchard played alongside their Dads, Dave Pritchard standing in goal yet again despite being hampered by a knee injury that on another day would have seen him rested. The end of the cricket season last month meant welcome returns for Darren Peters and Graham Wilks, the latter returning for his first game since fracturing his ankle in the Sealand Cup last April.
The home team have moved grounds this year, the new one being somewhat off the beaten track which caused several late arrivals from lost members of the visiting team. It also meant some very late changes to the starting eleven while the latecomers got ready. Despite this, and an extremely high wind blowing diagonally across the pitch, Northop Hall settled quickly into the game and Darren Peters sprayed some good early passes behind the home defence for Graham Wilks and Andrew Pritchard to cause early problems. Young Andrew in particular was a constant threat down the right wing and one move ended with a fine low cross which Phil Southern senior couldn't quite reach to turn in at the unguarded far post.
Not that it was one way traffic and the defence had a let off when Dave Pritchard was left exposed to a close range header but made a good reflex save. However, it was highly deserved when Andrew Pritchard left his marker stranded, came inside and hit an unstoppable right foot shot past the home team's equally young goalkeeper to open the scoring. As is the strategy to ensure equal playing time for everyone, several changes were made at the mid-point of the half and it seemed to backfire as straight away the home team were allowed to put a cross in from the left which enabled their giant striker to outjump Dave Henrys and power a header home for the equaliser.
However, it didn't stay level for long. A succession of corners were forced and from the latest, Matt McGuire gathered the ball short and his curling cross caught the wind and flew in over the keeper. He may not quite have meant it as a shot but he gave it every chance with the height and weight put on it. Unfortunately, two horrific errors at the other end turned the game on its head soon after. Firstly Dave Pritchard dived low to his left to make a save from a harmless enough long range shot, seeming to have it held. Somehow the ball squirmed from his grasp and hampered by the knee injury he was unable to get up and haul it back in before their smaller striker nipped in to equalise against the run of play.
Then a long ball over the top had Kieran Whelan in trouble as the ball headed towards the visitors goal. Although he got there first he couldn't clear it and in the ensuing confusion, Dave Pritchard hauled back his opponent before he could score and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick, which was duly dispatched low in the corner to put Northop Hall behind for the first time. The visitors continued to press though and just before the end of the half they levelled up following the move of the match. Richard Moore and Matt McGuire combined to put Darren Peters through in the inside left channel and a terrific left footed strike found the far corner.
Half-time 3-3
If anything, the wind seemed stronger still in the second half and the home side were using it to their advantage to launch a number of offensives on the home goal. For the most part, some dogged defending kept them at bay for long periods, each of the back four making timely blocks and challenges and Dave Pritchard putting the first half indiscretions behind him to handle a number of long shots immaculately. The pressure told in the end though when a free kick was awarded 20 yards out and Dave had no chance with a perfectly placed left foot shot that cleared the defensive wall and curled in the bottom corner.
The visitors performance deserved more and they pressed forward again to try and get behind the home defence, Andrew Pritchard again causing problems down the right and Richard Moore in a more advanced position putting pressure on the opponents back line. In the end it was Richard who latched onto a through ball to calmly stab home his seventh goal of a remarkable season so far for him and bring the scores level yet again.
Both teams had chances to win it but it was Northop Hall who came closest when Phil Southern the younger went on a run that took him one on one with the keeper. Despite jinking back inside past him and sending in a goalbound shot, a remarkable piece of last ditch defending by the retreating back man somehow blocked it and kept it out. In the end, play condensed into midfield somewhat and both sides settled for a draw in the difficult conditions.
The man of the match award from the opposition again went to Kieran Whelan who once more demonstrated his importance to the defensive cause with another strong display. Both the youngsters also put in good performances, especially Andrew Pritchard. Other plusses included the return of Darren Peters (we hope his other commitments won't limit his future appearances too much) and Graham Wilks posed a very decent threat up front on his comeback. Once more, another good team performance with everyone working hard for each other produced a good result against decent opposition.
It seems superfluous to rant again about the young players that play for Waterside (especially as we have used a couple ourselves of late, albeit out of necessity), but it still ceases to amaze many of us who fail to see what the attraction is for young lads to regularly play in veterans football where many of the players are in their 40's and 50's. They should be embarrassed really.
Team: Dave Pritchard, Darren Molyneux, Pete Dessington (Paz Maletta), Eifion Jones, Dave Henrys, Andrew Pritchard (Phil Southern (jnr)), Richie Moore, Darren Peters, Matt McGuire, Graham Wilks, Phil Southern (Kieran Whelan)
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19 September 2009 - NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 5 STATIONMASTERS (Buckley) 3
With both sides considerably under-strength, Phil Southern (senior) made up the numbers for the young lads from Stationmasters, while his son Phil (jnr) along with Dave Pritchard's son Andrew, reduced the average age of the Old Boys nearer to the opposition. Dave himself was required to stand in again for injured goalkeeper Steve Davies and Phil Ward, Mel Barnes and Matt Lucas (himself a late doubt for the game) all made welcome returns. There was also a first game in Northop Hall colours for Steve Abrahams.
Stationmasters took a little time to settle into the game and the Old Boys took the chance to grab a quick lead. Matt McGuire was given too much space in the middle and he quickly set up Richard Moore to tap in his third goal of the season after just 5 minutes.
Midway through the half, Northop Hall were on it again, Mel Barnes teeing up Richie Moore for his second, closely followed by a great solo effort from Matt McGuire who controlled the ball on his chest then from one foot to the other before hitting a lovely shot into the top corner to make it three.
Before the break, Richie Moore had his hat-trick, finishing off a well worked move from the midfield.
Half-time 4-0
Stationmasters were the better side at the start of the second half and were soon on the score sheet after some sloppy defending by the home team. This gave them the boost they needed to kick on and they made the Old Boys work hard to keep them at bay. However, it was still somewhat against the run of play when they took advantage of some tiring legs to grab a second.
At the other end though, a long throw into the box from Phil Elder was headed in by Richie Moore for his fourth of the match, effectively sealing the result. By the end, the Old Boys were struggling with injuries, Phil Elder (calf), Kev Higgins (ankle) and Richie Moore (ankle) all unable to see out the game and Stationmasters took advantage to grab another consolation goal with the last kick of the match.
Richard Moore unsurprisingly took the man of the match award from the opposition for his four-goal haul, but all round another good performance from Northop Hall Old Boys. Hopefully the two-week gap to the next fixture will enable some of the injured players to get fit again.
Team: Dave Pritchard, Phil Ward, Kev Higgins, Kieran Whelan, Pete Dessington, Phil Southern (jnr) (Steve Abrahams), Richie Moore, Matt McGuire, Andy Pritchard (Phil Elder), Mel Barnes, Matt Lucas (Steve Bodey)
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12 September 2009 - NORTHOP HALL NOMADS 0 NORTHOP HALL OLD BOYS 2
The Old Boys made the shortest of trips to the "away" dressing room as the first derby of the 2009/10 between Northop Hall's rival veterans teams was played out under one of the brightest and warmest days of the late summer, little help to two teams short of players and only just able to put together a squad of twelve each. The Old Boys options were worsened pre-match by the late absence of Eifion Jones and a cracked rib sustained in the week by goalkeeper Steve Davies, our own "Frank Spencer", replaced in goal by Dave Pritchard again but bravely taking a substitute's shirt in case he was needed outfield.
Fortunately, 15-year old Jamie Elder had accompanied his dad, Phil, to the match and was pressed into emergency action almost 12 months on from a similar situation at Eastham last season and, as then, didn't let anybody down with some spirited running and challenging. Kieran Whelan and Kev Higgins were back to shore up the defence and a slight knock to Darren Molyneux meant a last minute switch in full back positions with Dave Henrys switching to the left.
The first half was one of containment for both sides, much of the play concentrated in a tightly fought midfield and not many speedy breakaways in the heat. Shots were at a premium, shots on target even rarer. Matt McGuire was the only striker to make the home goalkeeper work with a long range effort whilst at the other end Dave Pritchard was rarely pressed into action, but late in the half made a smart goal line stop to keep out a header from a corner.
Half Time 0-0
No changes in the Old Boys ranks at half time meant the starting eleven playing on into the second half for a change, sharp contrast to last week's revolving door from the bench. The pattern of the game changed slightly with the wind now behind the Nomads and several crossfield balls got their wide players moving, only for the defence to snuff out the crosses or Dave Pritchard to sweep up competently behind them.
The Old Boys were still putting a few moves together themselves as legs on both sides started to tire. One of them found the ever-willing Pete Dessington running in from the left. His shot went wide across goal but Richard Moore didn't give it up and hooked back for his centre midfield partner for the day Steve Buckley to run onto and slot home his first goal of the season.
Other half chances led to shots off target from range, notably Kieran Whelan marauding forward from the back as he loves to do. It took an inspired substitution to finally put the game beyond the Nomads! Steve Bodey replaced Phil Elder for the last fifteen minutes and almost immediately, last season's "Club Man of the Year" put the home keeper under pressure as he received an awkward bouncing throw in from his left back, which ended up dropping over him to leave supersub Bodey with the simplest of tap ins for his first of the season and second ever goal for the Old Boys.
There was still plenty of work to do to preserve the lead and clean sheet as Nomads pushed hard to get back in it, but despite losing Kieran Whelan to injury late on (Steve Davies making his first outfield appearance for the Old Boys as emergency substitute), the defence held firm to reward a really hard-working effort across the whole team with the first win of the season.
Man of the match was awarded by the opposition to centre half Kieran Whelan for another solid performance, but the whole defence can take credit for the shutout, as well as Dave Pritchard standing in assuredly in goal again and the rest of the team who ensured that we defended high up the pitch too.
Team: Dave Pritchard, Darren Molyneux, Dave Henrys, Kev Higgins, Kieran Whelan (Steve Davies), Jamie Elder, Steve Buckley, Richie Moore, Pete Dessington, Matt McGuire, Phil Elder (Steve Bodey)
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5 September 2009 - Northop Hall Old Boys 2 Woolton Veterans 4
After a week's enforced break following last week's postponement, the Old Boys had an almost full squad to choose from for this one, although man of the match from the last game, Kieran Whelan, was unavailable. The visitors from Liverpool were playing their first game of the season and had a trio of younger players making up their numbers.
And it was they who were up and running first, their first attack down the left wasn't closed down and the resulting cross to the far post left Phil Elder needing to make an interception. Unfortunately he could only place his header inside the near post to give Woolton a very early advantage.
However, as the half went on from there, the Old Boys continued to steadily get better and had a myriad of chances to equalise. Phil Southern was laid in for a great chance by Mel Barnes but could only screw a left foot shot wide, while Steve Buckley's near post glancing header was very well saved by the Woolton 'keeper. Several opportunities presented themselves to Pete Fielder-Shaw but went wide or at the goalkeeper. At the other end the defence was caught out once or twice but some smart clearing up from Steve Davies quick off his line, added to some wild shooting kept the score to one.
Four changes on the half hour breathed new life into the Old Boys and it was one of the substitutes, Matt McGuire, who struck a deserved equaliser strolling in from the left wing to hit a dipping right foot shot from distance that their goalkeeper could do nothing with.
This signalled a spell up to half time when Northop Hall were practically camped in the opposition half, but Steve Buckley, Pete F-S and Richard Moore all missed further chances as the visitors back line somehow held firm under the pressure.
Half Time 1-1
Looking for a strong second half showing and a continuation of the first, disaster struck early again, a long ball from the left catching the defence flat footed. Steve Davies was quickly off his line again but could only watch the lobbed shot drop over him and in for 2-1. It could have been worse soon after. A number of long shots from the Liverpool team were pitching awkwardly in front of the goalkeeper and from one, Steve spilt one goalwards before a last fling dive stopped it on the line (or so it was adjudged - consensus afterwards was that the ball had actually gone in, so that was one we got away with).
At the other end, the Old Boys were looking for another equaliser and with second half substitute Matt Lucas mixing it up front, Kevin Hoyland clipped the outside of the post with a cross shot while Richard Moore headed another good opportunity wide. The away goalie also made smart saves from both Pete F-S and Richie. It was a little bit against the run of play when a hopeful ball into the Northop Hall box saw their striker go down under pressure from Phil Ward and the referee pointed immediately for a penalty which was duly dispatched into the corner of the net.
About three quarters of the way through the match, the contest was effectively settled by a seemingly harmless long range shot which took a deflection that caught Steve Davies out and crept in under his despairing dive for a fourth away goal. In fairness, the Old Boys continued to make chances and none more so than when a fine left wing run and cross from Richard Moore found Pete F-S in front of goal just a few yards out. He (as with the rest of us) will still be wondering how he managed to head it wide, but it summed up what was one of those days.
Northop Hall pulled one back late on when Matt McGuire sent Richard Moore in on the left and he finished neatly for his second goal in successive games. There was still time for him to turn well on the edge of the box but shoot wide, for Kevin Hoyland to hit another cross shot wide and for Phil Southern to hit another decent opportunity high and wide as the Old Boys finished strongly a game which we should really have got something out of.
On the plus side, the whole squad all got a good run out that should see us well for the forthcoming weeks. Man of the match was given by the visitors to Matt Lucas for a strong second half performance, with Steve Buckley narrowly edged out for the award, whilst Richard Moore must have been in with a shout too.
Team: Steve Davies, Darren Molyneux (Paz Maletta), Phil Elder (Kevin Hoyland), Dave Pritchard (Phil Ward), Dave Henrys, Steve Buckley, Richie Moore, Phil Southern (Matt McGuire), Pete Dessington, Mel Barnes (Matt Lucas), Pete Fielder-Shaw (Steve Bodey)
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22 August 2009 - Northop Hall Old Boys 4 Halkyn Veterans 5
This season’s first game played at home in the heat of summer proved to be a closely fought affair. Halkyn were the visitors and although they are renowned as one of the stronger sides Northop Hall were the better team at the offset settling down quicker than the opposition and causing them several problems particularly in midfield and testing the visitors’ keeper with several long range efforts.
However once into their stride Halkyn slowly got back into the game and half way through the first half they made the breakthrough via one of their two tall strikers heading unopposed past the Northop Hall keeper.
Despite this set back, Northop Hall stuck to the task but came under increasing pressure with the two big lads up front for Halkyn causing problems. This pressure finally told when just before half time a move down the left from Halkyn saw a cross to the right and the subsequent shot from outside the penalty area which was initially going wide cruelly struck Kev Higgins and completely wrong footed the home sides keeper resulting in a two goal lead for the away side at half time whistle.
Half Time 0 - 2
Following the break a few inspired substitutions by stand in manager for the day Phil Southern saw the scores level after five minutes of the re-start.
Pete Dessington the ever youthful left winger caused all sorts of problems for the home defence, and after a superbly flighted corner from the left by Matt Lucas that was met with a strong header from Richie Moore a goalmouth scramble ensued in the Halkyn penalty area with Pete prodding home Northop Hall’s and his first goal of the season from close range.
This sudden attacking spirit from the home side seemed to upset the away team, and when Pete Dessington robbed the Halkyn right back sending in a searching cross a few minutes later new boy Pete Fielder-Shaw smashed home a volley from close range giving the away keeper no chance at all.
With both teams now back on level terms there was a good ebb and flow to the game with neither team on top but it fell to Halkyn’s big man up front once again to break the deadlock after some confusion in the home defence let him in to head a simple goal past the home keeper.
Once again Northop Hall responded well and after 5 minutes were back on level terms with a superbly struck 30 yarder from midfield man Richie Moore that took a slight deflection and looped over the Halkyn keeper’s head and in under the bar.
With the final quarter of the match commencing and the scores 3 - 3 there was all to play for and the home side finally got the breakthrough they deserved when yet another corner from the left put the away sides defence into all sorts of problems and Pete Fielder-Shaw bagged his second with an audacious back heel that left the keeper bemused and picking the ball out of the net.
The lead however did not last long as the Halkyn keeper sent a long goal kick upfield which was met with a neat flick on and the big striker chipping the ball over Steve Davies the quickly advancing keeper.
With less than 5 minutes to go it looked as though the game was going to be a well fought draw but a clearance from the home defence fell to one of the Halkyn midfielders who smashed a shot from just outside the penalty area into the top right hand corner of the Northop Hall goal giving the keeper no chance and the home team no time to respond.
Final score in a cracking opener for the season Northop Hall Old Boys 4 Halkyn Vets 5 with man of the match as voted for by the opposition going to Kieran Whelan.
Team: Steve Davies, Darren Molyneux, Kev Higgins, Phil Ward (Kieran Whelan),
Damian Molyneux, Richie Moore, Phil Southern (Eifion Jones), Steve Buckley, Pete Dessington, Matt McGuire, (Matt Lucas), Pete Fielder-Shaw (Robbie Bellis)
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19 August 2009 - Northop Hall Old Boys 0 Moneysupermarket FC 3
This time one year ago the Old Boys played their first game together and suffered an 8-3 defeat at the hands of budding Cheshire League side Moneysupermarket.com. A year on and a repeat fixture with the youngsters, who although they have given up league status after just one season have some very good players in their ranks, provided a very good pre-season test for Northop Hall. The Old Boys included one youngster of their own in 17 year old Phil Southern jnr. as well as being able to have a look at Kevin Hoyland making his first appearance and welcome returns for Steve Davies and Pete Fielder-Shaw. For the rest of the returning oldies it was the chance to blow away the summer cobwebs in readiness for Saturday's season opener with Halkyn.
As would be expected, the younger side dominated the early stages but other than a few long range efforts that were well dealt with by Robbie Bellis in goal for the first half they had to wait until halfway through to make the breakthrough. It came from a well worked move down the left where their speedy winger was causing problems and his cross was well converted. A second was soon coming, the defence a bit flat-footed allowing the striker to nip in.
The home side had a couple of long range efforts from Matt McGuire and Anthony Woosey couldn't quite beat the keeper with a neat chip when put through. At the other end, Robbie Bellis made a couple of fine saves to tip over goalbound efforts and it looked as if it would be a two goal half time lead when their midfielder hit a stunning unstoppable volley from the edge of the area to meet another left wing cross.
Half-time 0-3
The second half saw chances at both ends but there were to be no further goals. Both sides hit the woodwork, Anthony Woosey very unlucky to see a direct free-kick rebound out with the keeper beaten.
Steve Buckley also had a header cleared off the line at the far post with the clearance luckily going straight into their keepers hands as Northop Hall more than held their own with further shots from Kevin Hoyland and Pete F-S going wide.
With Steve Davies, second half goalkeeper, fairly untroubled and the defence looking more solid it was left to the Old Boys to miss the best chance of the match, Anthony Woosey with a fine left wing run and cross for substitute Steve Bodey right in front of goal and only he will know how he managed to shoot wide!
All in all, an excellent work out that compares favourably to the performance and result against Moneysupermarket last season and in readiness for what promises to be another cracking season to look forward to.
Team: Robbie Bellis (Steve Davies), Phil Southern (Kevin Hoyland), Darren Molyneux, Kieran Whelan, Kev Higgins (Eifion Jones), Steve Buckley, Richard Moore (Anthony Woosey), Dave Henrys, Pete Dessington (Steve Bodey), Matt McGuire, Phil Southern jnr. (Pete Fielder-Shaw)
(Shotton Steel Veterans Cup)
This season Northop Hall Old Boys were invited into the Shotton Steel Veterans Cup for the first time and made their bow with a home tie against a strong Eastham Vets side that had already made it through to the semi-finals of the Northern Cup the previous week. Strict rules over age limits meant that it was a proper over-35's veterans game and limited to four substitutes per side. Any resulting selection problems for Dave Henrys disappeared during the week as a string of injuries, holidays and work rotas left just 15 players available and even then there was time for a late drop out just before kick-off and a late arrival after kick-off to disrupt the manager's plans.
(by Phil Elder)
(by Phil Southern)