Archived Under
9's Meteors Match Reports
Match 1
Eastham Rangers 3 A C Hoylake Meteors 2
The Meteors were very unlucky to lose out in a closely fought contest away against Eastham. Hoylake were the first to score with a predatory goal from Nial Hannah who latched on to a loose ball to stab home from close range. Eastham took a while to respond but had scored two goals before the break leaving Hoylake needing to work hard in the second half if they were to obtain anything from this game.
This looked unlikely when the dependable Jack Heywood was unfortunate to be substituted following a leg injury that meant he could no longer play a part in the remainder of the game. Things looked even bleaker when Eastham scored a third. The spirit and determination of the whole team was highly commendable and Hoylake battled to get back into the game. Special recognition goes to Jake Williams who worked doggedly to contain Easthams best player throughout the second period. The pressure from Hoylake was rewarded with a super goal from Kyall Fulton who picked up the ball on the right halfway line and, following a determined run, unleashed a rasping drive which nestled in the right hand corner of the net. The team continued to apply pressure but time was against them and the result was 3-2 to a relieved Eastham!
Overall a fine performance which should have resulted in at least even honours for Hoylake Meteors.
Team: Watt, Heywood, Crone, Williams, Champion, Gale, Goldston, Fulton, Hannah
Scorers: Hannah, Fulton
Man of the match: Fulton
Match 2
Comets 0 Victoria Colts 2 Mar 17th
Squad E Jones, Gale, Mcdonell, Smith, Williams, Corkhill, Allen
Motm Billy Gale
With a couple of players missing it was going to be tough game against a very tough Victoria side. For the first 10 minutes we only had 6 players, Victoria’s manager insisted on playing his full 7 which was a little unsporting. We fell 1 down after 5 minutes and soon after it was 2, a lovely chipped cross was nodded in, a great goal that Euan could do nothing about.
The second half was a much more even affair, we held our own at the back, Billy in particular played well and we had better possession. Will was keeping the ball well but we just failed to get the right passes in.Hoylake did go close a couple of times through Euan.
It was a very good battling performance from all the boys.
Match 3
Allport Hawks Black 1-2 Hoylake Meteors
Man-of-the-Match: Draycott
Team: Williams, Heywood, Goldston, Gale, Hannah, Draycott, Champion
This was a battling display from our Meteors who were short of at least 4 regular team members. The first half was a fairly tight affair with not too many goalmouth chances. Both Jack Heywood and Daniel Goldston produced stirling work in the heart of the defence to deny Allports attacks. In the midfield George Gale and Niall Hannah worked tirelessly down the flanks and Man-of-the-Match Michael Draycott was always available to break down any threats and give attacking support to Lewis Champion up front. The first half remained 0-0.
The second half started well and goalmouth chances became more and more frequent. Champion came close several times but, as on many occasions this season, we were undone by a fortunate goal from the home team in which the excellent Jake Williams, ( deputising for Matty Roberts), was powerless to prevent. With just 10 minutes remaining substitute Ledgerton picked up the ball following great work again from Draycott and produced a searing shot that flew into the Allport net. 1-1 with just a few minutes left on the clock! Would Hoylake win? Yes they would! Again Ledgerton received the ball in an advanced midfield position and struck a powerful shot which nestled in the net off the post. Other chances came our way and we were certainly on top at this stage. A diving header from Champion would have given him a wonder goal that he really deserved but for the exploits of a good Allport keeper. A bigger score line for Meteors would not have been unjustified.
Well done the Meteors. A true team performance that was justly deserved. Excellent result.
Match 4
Hoylake Meteors 1 New Ferry Rangers 1
m.o.m: Draycott, Goldston
Squad: Williams,Crone,Goldston,Gale,Hannah,Draycott,Fulton,Champion
In a tight game played on a hard pitch,Hoylake weathered the early storm from the home team to assert their dominance. With some good attacking football Hoylake soon had the home team pinned in their own half. Micheal Draycott turned in a joint man of the match performance in centre midfield,and it was one of his interceptions that led to kyle fulton side stepping a defender and slotting home a low drive into the bottom corner.With Daniel Goldston superb at the back to share the m.o.m award with Mike Hoylake looked comfortable.
The second half started in the same way with Hoylake going close through Champion and Hannah,but they could not put the game to bed.They were made to pay for this soon after when a defensive Mishap let the opposing attacker in to toe poke past Jake Wiliams,who was deputising in goal. A 1-1 score line flattered our opponents and hoylake must learn to take our chances when they presented to us.
m.o.m Draycott, Goldston
Squad: Williams,Crone,Goldston,Gale,Hannah,Draycott,Fulton,Champion
Match 5
Divisional quarter final 25/03/07
Higher bebington 0 Hoylake meteors 5
m.o.m: Champion
Squad: Holmes,Crone,Heywood,Draycott,Hannah,Gale,Fulton,Goldston,Champion,Williams,Jones
On a pitch with a slope from end to end like a ski jump Hoylake kicked off going down hill.with Higher beb struggling to get out of their own half due to the slope and Hoylakes superior football,George Gale made them pay with a bullet shot from the edge of the box which nestled in the top corner.The rest of the half was played in the opponents half without Hoylake adding to their goal tally despite their best efforts.
With Hoylake kicking uphill and with only a slender lead we were expecting a tough second half.This did not materialise as our midfield consisting of Hannah,Draycott,Fulton and Jones controlled affairs releasing the marauding Champion up front at every opportunity.Matty holmes was rarely called upon in our goal but when he was he dealt with everything with great confidence.The levie finally broke with Hoylake grabbing four more goals through Fulton and a Champion hatrick,the pick of which was a stunning volley from a looping cross. Final score 5-0 and onto the semi final.
Match6
05/05/07 DIVISION CUP SEMI FINALS
Hoylake Meteors 2-1 New Ferry Rangers
Man-of-the-match: Daniel Goldston
Team: Roberts, Heyward, Goldston, Hannah, Draycott, Fulton, Williams, Gale, Jones, Crone, Champion
Venue: Carr Farm
This was the most important match in these young Meteors lives up to date! The expectation was high even though we had played two closely fought draws against the Rangers this season. The crowd turned out in their droves to support our Meteors and the weather was wonderful with a near perfect pitch.
The game started at an electric pace and both teams struggled to settle on the ball. The excitement from the sidelines was intensifying as the half wore on and neither team had taken a stranglehold on the game. If anything Rangers were slightly more dominant but the excellent pairing of Jack Heyward and Daniel Goldston in defence stood strong to deny them any clear cut chances on goal. Matty Roberts had little to do at this stage but would pull off some fine saves later in the match. The half was getting close to the end when, probably with Hoylakes only meaningful attack on goal, we broke the deadlock!
Kyle Fulton made one of his trademark surging runs along the right flank and was able to cross low for the waiting Lewis Champion to stab home from close range. Goooaaaaaaaallllllll! Would we actually win this match. What a roar for the goal! This was becoming some match.
The second half was a story of many chances for both teams. Rangers had goalmouth scrambles cleared off the line and some exquisite play from Lewis Champion in which he lifted the ball over two defenders and headed for goal was narrowly saved. Surely we would go on to win and reach the final........but the game was far from over. With approximately 10 minutes remaining Rangers scored to even up the scoreline. The defence managed to clear two goal attempts but it fell to their forward who stabbed home with Matty powerless to stop it. The Rangers supporters went nuts! In days gone by the Meteors may well have lay down and died...but not today! The spirit in this team is amazing and they battled for every ball. Michael Draycott in midfield along side George Gale, Niall Hannah, Adrian Jones and Andrew Crone ran and scrapped for every loose ball. Not a single man was able to pass the brilliant Daniel Goldston and with only a few minutes remaining we got our reward. From a corner by Kyle Fulton the ball was cleared back to him. He controlled it and from an acute angle shot a real beauty past the flailing keeper to win the match! A goal worthy to win any game and at any level! We had done it. Final here we come!
Final score: Holake Meteors 2-1 New Ferry Rangers
Well done to the mighty Meteors.
Match 7
20/05/07 DIVISIONAL CUP FINAL - LAZIO GROUP
Olympic Jets 0 Hoylake Meteors 3
Venue: Leverhulme Playing Fields, Bromborough
The day had finally arrived for Hoylake to put their names in the history books for Hoylake Athletic. No team from any age group in our short history had been able to win any silverware for the club. Would this be the day that would change all that? Certainly there was expectation from our home crowd which included all of the Comets team. Results against Olympic had been varied throughout the season so it could have gone either way on the day. It was glorious weather and the team were definitely ready to show what they could do.
The first half started at an electric pace and it took some time for both teams to settle into their game. Jack Heywood, Daniel Goldston and Andrew Crone showed how excellent they had performed throughout the season with yet another polished performance in defence. Everything that the Jets could throw at them was brilliantly dealt with and it is down to their skills that Olympic did not have a shot of note in the half. Kyle Fulton and Michael Draycott in the heart of the midfield seemed to be winning everything and both players were making surging runs to set up attacks on the Jets goal. Despite our Meteors efforts though, the first 20 minutes did not produce a goal and we went in at 0-0.
Following an inspirational and awe inspiring team talk from the Hoylake coaches, the lads were ready to give their all in the second period! The midfield quartet of Adrian Jones and Niall Hannah on the left and George Gale and Jake Williams on the right were now causing Olympic major problems with their work rate, effort and skills. Adrian and Niall with their darting runs and George with the determination to win every ball was having a real impact on how this match was going. Jake Williams was having what many considered to be his best game of the season and was showing some excellent wing play which surely was going to lead to a goal. By now the crowd was getting more and more excited and the supporters of both teams were willing their little heroes to score. Olympic had a few shots that were comfortably collected by the dependable Matty Roberts in goal and he never seemed phased or nervous throughout the whole match. His encouraging shouts to his colleagues urged them on to try and get that all important first goal.
It came from our striker Lewis Champion and was clinical. A cross came over his right shoulder and from an acute angle it seemed impossible to shoot......but not for Lewis! The shot was low and hard and beat the despairing Jets goalie....GOOOOAAAAAAAALLLL! 1-0 to the Meteors and the crowd went wild! The second came soon after and it was certainly a beauty! Kyle Fulton started with the ball near the half way line and shot down the left wing. He cut inside before unleashing a long range thunderbolt that flew in the top corner of the Olympic net...GOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! 2-0 to the Meteors and the whole team were now playing like winners. Olympic were a beaten side when man-of-the-match Kyle produced his second goal of the match which came from the now constant pressure from Hoylake. A goalmouth scramble fell to Kyle who prodded the ball home from close range. Amazing! 3-0 and we had won the cup. The final whistle was greeted with a great cheer from all the Hoylake faithful. What an achievement from these Hoylake Meteors players who thoroughly deserved their successful season.
The celebrations following the game were wonderful and Captain Jack Heywood proudly lifted the trophy to an ecstatic audience. Well done the players, coaches and supporters for a super day. Let us hope that this is the first of many!
Final Score: Olympic Jets 0-3 Hoylake Meteors
Man-of-the-match: Kyle Fulton
Team: Roberts, Heywood, Goldston, Crone, Williams, Gale, Jones, Hannah, Draycott, Fulton, Champion
