aRCHIVED Under
9's Comets Match Reports
Match 1
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Match 2
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Match 3
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Match 4
Greenleas 1 AC Hoylake Comets 2
In a thrilling match Hoylake AC beat Greenleas 2-1 with Hoylake goals coming in each half. Hoylake took the lead with a slick move which began with a crucial interception by Luke Balmer who threaded a ball through to Emily McGowan. Emily continued the good work with a fine run down the left flank and looking up she spotted Luke, who had run the length of the pitch. She crossed the ball to him and Luke then scored with a side footed thunderbolt drilled past the Greenleas’ keeper.
Not wanting to loose their unbeaten home record Greenleas applied the pressure but some fine defensive and midfield performances by Lee Evans, James Niedzwiecki, Luke, Felix Jackson, Alex Alman and Adam Ledgerton kept them at bay, whilst Reece Magee was a continual threat upfront.
Finally the pressure told as a Greenleas player slipped by our defence and cracked the ball past our keeper Charlie Watt.
After some further pressure from Greenleas Charlie pulled off what was to be a match winning save parrying a shot from 5 yards round the post. From the resulting corner he again bravely leapt to catch the ball.
After half time Hoylake applied the pressure to Greenleas by not letting them settle on the ball and knocking them out of their natural rhythm. After a period of sustained pressure, Hoylake won a corner. Adam stepped forward and sent in a near perfect corner where Alex rose above the others to meet it with his head, Gooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaalllllll.
The tension was on and at 2-1 up with 5 mins to go Hoylake stood tall and resolute with Lee soaking up the pressure. Greenleas had one last chance with a free kick in front of goal but it was not to be. When the whistle finally went cheers from the crowd sounded the end to a perfect day.
Squad:
Watt, Evans, Balmer, Ledgerton, Jackson, Alman, McGowan, Niedzwiecki, Magee.
MOM: Emily McGowan
Scorers: Luke Balmer (Assist Emily McGowan) 14 Mins
Alex Alman (Assist Adam Ledgerton) 35 Mins
Attendance: 22
Match 5
Wallasey Wanderer Tornadoes 2 AC Hoylake Comets 1
Wallasey 11 November 2006 12:30pm
With the victory over Greenleas last week still as fresh in the mind as this morning's milk Hoylake made their first trip to Wallasey Wanderers Tornadoes home ground in Central Park Wallasey in what were extremely difficult conditions for both sides.
With its derelict Art school standing forlorn and definitely unloved over the field of play it was hoped that Hoylake would perform like an old master however it turned out that it was more a case of Jackson Pollocks!
Hoylake started the brighter of the two teams commanding the midfield with Felix Jackson and Luke Balmer in the the centre, Adam Ledgerton on the right and Alex Alman on the left. Some tireless tackling from Felix and some adroit ball skills from Luke combined with his natural balance and eye for the opportune ball helped to keep Hoylake on top. Adam was making some strong runs down the right wing and together with Alex on the left they applied pressure continually down both flanks.
With 8 minutes gone Adam and Luke linked up and Adam made off down the right taking the ball passed all before him, then with a deft change of pace he slotted the ball through the waiting Wallasey defence to Felix who needing no second invitation to swing the ball home with their keeper having no chance. Goooooooaaaaaalllllll!!!!!!!.
Both Adam and Luke came close to the second with some instinctive play and some intelligent positioning. Hoylake were playing a tight game, controlled and skilful, using the width of the pitch and not afraid to mix it in the middle.
On the 10 minute mark Felix and Alex made way for James Niedzwiecki and Reece Magee taking up positions in the centre and left midfield respectfully. Emily McGowan was a constant threat up front showing the boys how to do it with swift pace and assured ball control. Harry Ellis-Clark and Lee Evans cleared everything sent their way.
Wallasey however were not giving in and started to muster attacks. Surpassing his fine performance from the first meeting of these two teams at Carr Farm the Wallasey goal keeper with the wind at his back could launch the ball almost two thirds the length of the pitch, and three minutes into injury time one such ball cleared the Hoylake midfield and fell fortuitously for a Wanderer to equalise.
After half time Hoylake again came out strongly and went close on several occasions. Hoylake just lacked the killer blow in front of goal and this would leave them doleful later in the game. A number of corners won from long and sustained pressure led to little as the Wanderers keeper collected all.
With little more than 5 minutes to go a high kick again cleared the midfield and Wallasey sensing a momentary lapse of concentration pounced at the chance taking their break when they could. Hoylake made some adjustments and tried to get the equaliser back but all was in vain and when the whistle blew for full time: Hoylake were left to rue a host of missed opportunities.
Squad:
Watt, Evans, Ellice-Clark, Balmer, Ledgerton, Jackson, Alman, McGowan,
Niedzwiecki, Magee.
MOM: Reece Magee
Scorers Felix Jackson (Assist Adam Ledgerton) 8 Mins
Attendance 17
Match 6
24/02/07. Hoylake Meteors 2 New Ferry Rangers 2.
Conditions were always going to be difficult in what turned out to be a highly entertaining and hard fought match. Hoylake started the stronger and soon got into some flowing football with kyle fulton making excellent attacking runs into the Rangers half. This pressure soon led to the Meteors opening goal which was converted by the man-of -the -match Kyle during one of his many telling runs. This was quickly followed by the second, which was finally put away after two fine saves from the Rangers keeper, by drafted in midfielder Adam Ledgerton.
The second half belonged to Rangers and they have to be commended for a fine comeback. A strong run and finish from their man-of-the-match and an unfortunate own goal from Ledgerton evened up the score line. Only some excellent defending from Jack Heywood and Daniel Goldston and another fine display from the dependable Matty Roberts in goal prevented our tiring team from losing this battle. In the end it was a worthy draw for Hoylake.
Team: Roberts, Heywood, Goldston, Fulton, Ledgerton, Champion, Jackson, Hannah.
Man-of -the-match: Fulton
Match 7
03/03/07. Greenleas 3 AC Hoylake 1
Squad: Watt, Ellice-Clarke, Ledgerton, Niedzwiecki, Magee ,Alman, Gowan, Jackson
Man of the Match: Watt
at Leasowe Primary School CastleWay, Leasowe.
No boggy pitch, no long layoff, no inclement weather conditions, no excuses AC Hoylake were fairly and squarly beaten by a better footballing team today. If it were not for an outstanding man of the match performance by Charlie Watt it could have been much worse.
Hoylake started brightly and took the game to Greenleas, disrupting their natural flow. Hoylake nipped ahead with a well taken shot from Ledgerton which looped into the net over the head of the flailing Greenleas goalie. After that Greenleas applied the pressure which Hoylake initialy handled well. A free kick was given on the right hand flank and with the wind at his back the big centre half from Greenleas sent through a shot on target and while the entire hoylake team stood and stared it slipped in behind Charlie for an equlaiser. Greenleas second came from a corner and again Hoylake stood and watched as the ball fell to a Greenleas player who - unchallanged - poked it in from close range. Charlie made two excellennt saves during the first half to keep the score at a respectable, if somewhat undeserved 2-1.
After the break Hoylake came out strongly and tried to effect the equaliser but could not find their way through a very strong and well organised Greenleas midfield and defence. The third goal was a culmination of a peroid of sustained pressure which Hoylake failed to clear.
Overall Hoylake has to wake up to the fact that they cannot give teams of the quality of Greenleas the time on the ball and the space on the field that they did today.
Attendance: Sou'-Sou' West
Match 8
10th March 2007 AC Hoylake Comets 2 - 0 West Kirby Panthers Blue
Carr Farm 10th
Champions League Knockout Cup 1st Round
Hoylake controlled the game through assured passing and neat ball control. Hoylake never looked like being bothered by a team playing 2 Leagues below them. Felix and Adam both had early chances. It seemed an age before the ball finally crossed the line from a deflected corner from Reece Magee.
In the second half Hoylake controlled the midfield but again could not find the killer blow. James half way through the second half got on the end of a neat cross from Alex and took the opportunity to finally end West Kirbys hopes of a come back.
Squad:
Watt, Evans, Ellice-Clark, Ledgerton, Jackson, Alman, Niedzwiecki, Magee.
MOM: Jackson
Scorers OG, Niedzwiecki.
Match 9
17th March 2007 Irby FC 0 - 2 AC Hoylake Comets
Irby Park
Champions League Knockout Cup 2nd Round
Played on a beautiful day in Irby Hoylake hoped to progress against an unknown entity in Irby. From the Whistle Hoylake looked to dominate the central midfield with Felix lone up front. Lee and Harry continued to be solid at the back. After 10 Mins the Coach (Ledgerton) made a key substitution bringing on Luke who with almost his first touch of the ball showed his natural class and after spotting the goalie off his line deftly chipped him from the sideline, 1-0 to the Hoylake.
Hoylake soaked up whatever Irby could throw at them and neautrilised Irby's physical game by playing some nice flowing football around clumsy tackles. When it looked like Irby would score Charliie pulled off two top drawer saves which any keeper would have been happy with. Bravly he dived into a melee of thrasing feet to save an almost certain equaliser. Inevitably Irby piled forward looking for the equaliser and deep into extra time they got a corner, which Hoylake cleared and Felix picked up, running almost the length of the pitch he slotted a beautiful through ball to Luke who doesn't miss from there and it was 2-0 to the Hoylake.
With that the final whistle blew and Hoylake are through to the Next round. Come on you Reds!!!!!
Squad:
Watt, Evans, Ellice-Clark, Ledgerton, Balmer, Jackson, Alman, Nedzwiecki, Magee.
MOM: Watt
Scorers Balmer (2), Assists: Jackson (1)
Match 10
Hoylake Comets 4 Liscard 1
Team: Watt, Evans, Ellice-Clark, Balmer, Niedzwiecki, Ledgerton, Magee, Alman.
Man -of-the-Match: Magee
An excellent display saw one of the best first half performances from the Comets this season. From the first moment we seemed to be up for the challenge and after about 10 minutes of concerted pressure Comets took a well deserved lead through Alex Alman. From close to the half way line he launched a thunderbolt that the Liscard keeper was powerless to stop. This was quickly followed by the second from Luke Balmer who again was excellent in the middle of the park. The third came just a few moments later from the man-of-the-match Reece Magee. After a surging run down the left flank he cut inside to unleash a low drive past the flailing Liscard keeper. To top off a wonderful 20 minute onslaught Luke was again put through by Ledgerton to score arguably the goal of the game with a deft chip over the advancing goalie to make it 4-0!
The second half became a formality and it was difficult for our team to maintain the quality of the first half. Liscard advanced to try to reduce the deficit but were only able to produce 1 goal, mainly due to the ever dependable duo in defence of Lee Evans and Harry Ellice-clark.
What a great footballing display. Well done Comets.
Match 11
Final Score: Heygarth 1-2 Hoylake Comets
Man-of-the-match: Magee
Team: Watt, Evans, Ellice-Clark, Ledgerton, Alman, Niedzweicki, Magee, Jackson.
A fine display from Hoylake saw them come from behind to secure a well deserved victory which was the reverse result of when we were beaten last week. The Comets were well up for this game and desperately wanted revenge for the cup exit but started slowly and paid for their lack of awareness early on. Heygarth had scored within the first 10 minutes and Hoylake had it all to do. Lee Evans was yet again excellent in the heart of defence and after a shaky start Alex Alman was showing real determination and quality play on the left wing. Just before half time our efforts were rewarded by a well taken goal from man-of-the-match Reece Magee. Battling for the ball in the middle of midfield from James Niedzweicki and Adam Ledgerton gave Reece the opportunity to shoot from fairly close range and the keeper was only able to parry the ball into his net. 1-1 at half time and it was noticeable that Hoylake were coming more and more into this game.
The second half began with Hoylake having large percentages of domination and much of the game was now being played in the Heygarth half. Would it be the same as our previous match? would Heygarth soak up the pressure and hit us on the break to steal a win again? It was obvious that Hoylake were not going to let that happen again. They fought their way through this tense half. They were even verbally encouraging each other which is certainly new in this normally quiet team. Just a few minutes left and a forward pass form Harry Ellice-clark was stopped by a Hegarth defender. Reece and Felix Jackson quickly closed him down and stole the ball. Felix was able to produce a shot before being tackled and goooooaaaaaaaaallllllllll! We had won! The same result that they had inflicted on us at home! Well done lads. Good luck in the semi-finals of the divisional cup against the same opponents.
Match 12
DIVISIONAL CUP SEMI FINAL
Heygarth 3-0 Comets
Date: 16/05/07
Venue: Millfields Primary School
Man-of-the-match: Ellice-Clark
Team: Watt, Evans, Ellice-Clark, Niedzwieki, Balmer, Alman, Ledgerton, Jackson, Magee
The weather was atrocious for the biggest match of the season and unfortunately things didn't brighten up during the game! Hoylake were obviously geared up for the contest but never seemed to get out of the blocks in the first half in which we were unable to test the Heygarth keeper at all. A sizeable crowd had turned out to support the lads, including many players from the Meteors, but this day was not going to belong to Hoylake. Hard work from Reece Magee in attack and Felix Jackson,( in midfield and up front), still left us without any dividends A goal from Heygarth early in the game left the scoreline 1-0 at half time.
The second period started more positively and surging runs from Adam Ledgerton on the right wing and Alex Alman on the left were not enough to level the score. Luke Balmer and James Niedzwieki in the middle of the park worked tirelessly but all of our efforts were not rewarded and nothing seemed to fall for us. As Hoylake pressed and advanced in search of an equalizer we were dealt the sucker punch and Heygarth snatched a second to leave the lads devastated. Lee Evans and Harry Ellice-Clark, along with Charlie Watt in goal were unable to prevent a third after this and the match was over. 3-0 to Heygarth but we live to fight another day!
Even though we never reached the final this season it has to be said that this has been a very successful campaign for our Comets. Every player has excelled and up until the Christmas period we were unbeaten and had even turned over the mighty Greenleas, ( a draw and a win at their ground), which has not been achieved by any other team! You have a lot to be proud of Comets and we look forward to tournaments in the summer. Well done all of you.
