Boys Under 18s
| Manager: | Neil Jones |
|---|---|
| Team Colours: | Red & Blue |
| League: | East Lancashire Alliance |
| Home Pitch: | Lammack (Queen Elizabeth Grammer School) |
| Kick-off Time: | 10.30 am |
| Training Time: | St Bedes Wednesday 7.00 pm - 8.00 pm |
Clitheroe 0 Old Blacks 3
Posted on 23/10/2011 by Neil Jones
A good solid performance saw us return to winning ways against our close rivals.
We started off well and had most of the early play on a difficult pitch. The clitheroe keeper made a couple of decent saves and we should have done better from a couple of good shooting posiitons.
We did take the lead after half an hour when Arran Wilson's sweet strike from a corner found the bottom corner. Clitheroe ended the half better but we deserved our lead.
At half time we stressed the importnace of upping our levels a bit and we came out strongly. A fantastic pass from Jack Taylor saw Kieran Boyle bravely lob the keeper for a 2-0 lead. We then controlled the game without really creating too much. At the other end the return of Liam Holden gave us a more solid look and he and Adam Narramore looked stronger as the match went on.
We finished the match off with a late 3rd as Brandon Zinyemba capitalised on a defensive mix up to force home on the line.
Overall a pleasing result and the performance got better as the match progressed. On yet another poor pitch we did the scruffy things well - closing down and defending well which kept a clean sheet and allowed us to be confident that if we scored a couple we would win. Basic stuff but true.
Well done lads
AFC Darwen 5 Old Blacks 0
Posted on 16/10/2011 by Neil Jones
" A bad day at the office"
Yes it was; but to be honest we made it a bad day.
It was a nothing game on an extremely poor pitch. No chances were created in the first half hour although we had the upper hand in terms of possession . However Darwen looked lively on the break and were very well organised at the back. The in a mad 5 minutes we let in 2 goals. Firstly we left a long through ball to go out of play but it spun back in and their attacker broke through a couple of weak tackles to score. Then from a corner weak defending allowed a soft goal.
The 2nd half was almost identical as we had plenty possession but poor defending allowed Darwen to break 3 times to score.
Credit to Darwen they were very well organised and competitive. It was not a 5-0 match on the balance of play but on a pitch like that it was a case of defending well and staying solid and pinching a goal.
Anyway we need to move on and pick ourselves up and get back to basics next week. Its no use feeling sorry for ourselves - we have not suddenly become a bad team and we will be back.
Old Blacks 2 Clitheroe Wolves 4
Posted on 02/10/2011 by Neil Jones
A disappointing result against our close rivals in an even game.
We started slowly and conceded an early goal when a loose pass was seized on by the Clitheroe full back who struck low and hard from 25 yards. For the next 20 minutes we never really got going. Gradually we worked our way back into the game and should have at least equalised when we missed 2 gilt edged chances and saw a couple of other good chances saved or missed. We reamined positive at the break but 2 minutes into the 2nd half we gifted Clitheroe a 2nd. We continued to edge the game again wasting good opportunities but did pull a goal back with a well worked goal and good finish by Mitch McKenzie. We looked likely to equalise but agian shot ourselves in the foot when we presented the visitors with a 3rd. 10 minutes from the end a corner found a Clitheroe player unmarked 6 yards from goal: 1-4. To our credit we continued to press and Bobby Morris forced an own goal and hte same player saw a late 3rd controversially disallowed.
Overall on the play we deserved a draw but gave away 4 goals and missed good chances ourselves. Its no point feeling sorry for ourselves though we must pick ourselves up and apply ourselves better next week. Individual mistakes cost us but we lost as a team and we must move on.
Lostock 4 Old Blacks Lammack 1 (LFA Cup)
Posted on 25/09/2011 by Neil Jones
There are times in football when the result of a match is far less important than others. The most important thing in football is how your team and its supporters conduct themselves. I was proud to be manager of my team and parents on Sunday.
Missing 5 players all 12 players put in a real shift and I couldnt have asked for more. We scored 1st through a Bobby Morris header and the same player was denied a 2nd by an extremely close offside. Brandon Zinyemba had a good chance to add a 2nd and Jack Taylor saw a decent penalty appeal turned down. Lostock equalised before the break and added 3 more goals in the 2nd half to the delight of their spectators.
There is sadly still a lot of work to be done by the LFA in promoting the Respect campaign in parts of Lancashire
Whinney Hill 0 Old Blacks Lammack 4
Posted on 11/09/2011 by Neil Jones
We continued our unbeated run with a hard earned victory after a busy first week.
This was the 3rd match in 4 days for some players and with a few injuries and unavailabilty it was always going to be tough.
We started strongly though and pushed Whinney Hill back forcing some eraly corners. After 10 minutes we took the lead when a great cross by Liam Jones was powered home with a bullet header from Andy Hindle (both full backs). Bobby Morris then struck the bar and their keeper made a superb save from a defensive sliced clearance.
Whinney Hill were a decent side and kept playing good football but didnt trouble us much and we scored a 2nd when sub Brandon Zinyemba slid home a shot which the keeper seemed to dive over. Brandon nearly aded a 3rd soon after.
Kicking against the wind in the 2nd half promised to be tough but we started solidly with the defence excellent. On the hour mark, Brandons persistence saw him rob the keeper and slide home for a crucial 3rd. Soon after a corner was part cleared , Liam JOnes lobbed over the outcoming defence and Arran Wilson crashed home his 1st OB goal.
We tired in the last 20 minutes understandably and were pushed back but still looked dangerous on the break.
A really good win with a gritty performance. It sbeen a tough week with injuries and heavy fixture load but the lads showed good character to dig in and get the result needed. Good stuff.
Old Blacks Lammack 7 Brierfield Celtic 1
Posted on 08/09/2011 by Neil Jones
An excellent start to the league campaign as we comfortably beat Brierfield in a match in which both sides played some nice passing football.
Straight from the kick off it was obvious we were up for it with the whole side pressing Brierfield giving them no respite on the ball and passing it around nicely when we got the chance.
After 5 minutes Kieran Boyle shot home to give us an early lead which was followed shortly afterwards by a similar effort from Jack Taylor. We continued to press with many opportunities in and around the box being wasted. Eventually we made it 3-0 when Kieran Boyle nodded in after a rebound from the bar. Further great football followed – we completely dominated midfield through Adam Narramore and Jack Taylor with Jake Hummer finding space behind the striker. Two late goals from Matt Worthy and Jake Hummer gave us a decisive 5 goal lead at half time.
The target was to continue and keep a clean sheet but Brierfield pulled one back with a free kick from about 40 yards. The game was more scrappy but we still had the better of it and our front three of Brandon Zinyemba, Mitchell McKenzie and the excellent Bobby Morris created several good opportunities. The best goal of the night came 10 minutes before the end when Brandon beat his man and pulled back for Bobby to Stroke home just in the box. Jake Hummer ended the scoring with an easy 7th after a lucky bounce in the box.
Overall a very good nights work. A mixture of hard work without the ball and quality football when in possession meant we thoroughly deserved the winning scoreline. The bar has been set high and we must maintain the level
Ighten Leigh 1 Old Blacks Lammack 5
Posted on 04/09/2011 by Neil Jones
We progressed through to the 2nd round of the LFA cup after a battle away in Burnley.
We started well and looked the better team early on but after this bright start we became a little careless and seemed sluggish. Ighten Leigh scored a good goal out of the blue midway through the half and came close to adding a 2nd , with Liam Holden making a couple of vital blocks. The last 5 minutes of the 1st hlaf saw us up the tempo and we pressed forward. With a couple of minutes left we scored a vital equaliser when Andy Hindle curled home a great free kick from 20 yards.
This was the turning point and we dominated the 2nd half. Andy Hoindle scored from a penalty, won by the impresive Adam Narramore on his debut within minutes of the restart. Kieran Boyle scored a deflected 3rd to give us breathing space.
We then attacked at will; our job was made easier when Ighten Leigh were reduced to 10 men after their centre back was deservedly sent off for the worst tackle I have ever seen in junior /youth in 14 years of involvement. Nothing more to be said other than to be grateful that our player was not more seriously hurt.
Further goals folllowed through Adam Narramore & Bobby Morris and it could have been more.
After the early rustiness we came through strongly and there were encouraging signs for the new season with the competition for places hotting up