Under
8's Comets Match Reports
Match 1
Sunday 11th March, Carr Farm (Kick off 11am)
Hoylake Comets 3 Heygarth Wasps 0
This much anticipated competitive match took place on a muddy, waterlogged pitch that proved heavy underfoot and affected the quality of the game. Hoylake dominated from the whistle and the whole team looked strong and confident. The captain Matty Pipe opened the scoring in the first half with a crisp right footed half volley from around 12 yards that gave the Heygarth goalie no chance. The second and decisive strike came following several corners as Hoylake turned up the heat with Leon Barnard turning neatly in the box to fire the loose ball home.
The second half saw a rock solid defensive display by Hoylake with Thomas Cavanagh leading the way with a good strong tackling display and Lewis Ryan picking up lots of the ball and feeding the midfielders and strikers, leaving George Mottershead in goal with little to do. In midfield Josh Burden gave a gritty display showing the Heygarth players a clean pair of heels with frightening pace on several occasions from either wing, assisting with the first goal. Joe Duffy remained busy in midfield and showed a combination of flair and determination in helping Hoylake to dominate the match. The final goal saw the busy Ben Lamb skip past a lacklustre Heygarth defender to lay the ball on a plate for the deadly accurate Mathew McClean to blast the third home. The moment of the match had to be a 15 yard sweetly hit half volley by Lewis Ryan that looked goal of the month until the Heygarth keeper acrobatically tipped it around the post for a corner.
Matty Pipe was the well deserved man of the match with a fine display of power, pace and skill rounded off with a goal in a polished performance. Well done the lads!
Match 2
Sunday 18th March, St Werburghs School (Kick off 11am)
Olympic Lions 0 Hoylake Comets 1
A bitterly cold strong North-easterly wind hugely affected this game that was dominated by resolute defending and few chances during the 40 minutes. Hoylake contolled the game from the start and passed the ball as well as the conditions allowed. Matty Pipe and Joe Duffy looked lively in midfield providing a good defensive screen for Hoylake whilst Ben Lamb made some lovely skilful moves terrorising the Olympic defence. Despite Hoylake being in the ascendancy throughout, with Thomas Cavanagh’s fine man marking and tackling display, Olympic created a clear cut chance exploiting a Hoylake error and drawing a fine diving save from the agile George Mottershead between the sticks, before hitting the rebound against the post.
With this brief scare behind them the Hoylake midfield pair of Leon Barnard and Josh Burden decided to push on, displaying a hunger for the ball and an appetite for a much deserved victory. Their tenaciousness in midfield gave the somewhat isolated Mathew Mclean the opportunity to use his well known guile and masterly touch to carve out two half chances, one just wide and the other neatly saved by the keeper. Early in the second half a bullet free kick by Matty Pipe shaved the post and had the crowed on their feet! Despite all the pressure and chances created it appeared that somehow Hoylake were to remain frustrated and goalless. Then, finally following a series of corners and pressure from Hoylake, Lewis Ryan latched onto a loose ball and lobbed (intentionally of course) the stranded Olympic keeper, sealing a well deserved and hard fought victory for the Comets.
Man of the match, chosen by the opposition for one of the first times, was Joe Duffy who showed great skill and energy in midfield and appears to improve each game. Up the reds!
