Boys Team 1997

U15's v Batley

Sunday 5th May 2013
Uppermill U15's 0- Batley 1
MOM- George Kilgour

On SUNDAY we were at home again but to Batley...this time with a bare 11 and without a goalkeeper. Ben Pullen pulled on the gloves for the first half and though relatively untested put in a positive and commanding performance on a pitch which was thankful for the rainfall. With less bobble and bounce, both teams tried to play football from the start and to be fair it was probably one of the most enjoyable games to watch of the season. Sean Bergin excelled in his new role at right back and Danny Holmes matched him on the opposite side, linking up well with Elliott Connor who had his best game of the season. Determined to win the game, Uppermill dominated throughout, George Kilgour putting in a midfield master class performance. Chances came and were missed, so to be 1-0 down at half time was disappointing when we should have easily been 6 up!

Jack Buckley went in goal for the second half and again made some excellent stops, two which would have been clear goals without his sharp reactions, saving once with his feet de Gea style! Wave after wave of Uppermill attacks and shots at goal failed to produce the goal they needed. This was due partly to a Batley defence who put their bodies in the way of the ball and closed down quickly around the penalty area and sadly, our nemesis, not being clinical enough in front of goal. Josh Barlow had a couple of good efforts with one cleared off the line by a determined Batley defender. Adam Tither was cool at the back and when Uppermill started switching play and going on overlaps, all of the seasons training sessions fell into place. However with 80 minutes on the clock, the referee signalled the end of the game and sadly an unproductive weekend for the U15’s. The difference between the opposition and us was just the final finish in front of goal in both our matches.

Man of the match..GEORGE KILGOUR

U15's vs Howden Clough B

Friday 3rd May 2013
Uppermill U15's 0 - Howden Clough B 5
MOM- George Reeves

Feast or Famine?

On Friday night the U15’s took on league leaders Howden Clough at home. Earlier this season we had put in one of our best performances to earn a draw at their ground and knew they were worried about making the journey to face us. However the bank holiday robbed the 15’s of a few key players, so it was beg borrow and steal time! U14’s stars, George Reeves and Nathan Greenwood both stepped up a level to help with the numbers and admirably made an impression on the game.

The 15’s lost their Goalkeeper Tom Goodwin to injury after just 10 mins, an injury which left him helpless to save HC’s opener. With Tom Johnstone taking over and doing a solid job in goal, Greenwood led the frontline for Uppermill and almost had two goals himself as Uppermill ued the wind and the pitch ( which resembled a dried up African lake bed) to good effect. Football could not be played so direct football was the game and at half time and one nil down, Uppermill had a good first half. After the restart, we were pinned back a touch as they adopted similar tactics before their second goal was scored from an impossible angle near the corner flag and with wind assist flew into the top corner of the goal. Dejected , the U15’s struggled to get back in the game and although chances were made, the league leaders deadly finishing soon made it 5-0....a score line which flattered them, but still inflicting our heaviest defeat.

Man of the match....George Reeves, cool under pressure, good pace and distribution and a ball winner (can we have him next year?)

U15s v Upperthong

Friday 12th April 2013
Uppermill U15's 0 - Upperthong 1

Team - Tom Goodwin, Matt Partington, Danny Holmes, Adam Tither, Ben Pullen, Jack Harper, Josh Barlow, Lewis Barlow (C), Sean Bergin, Tom Johnstone, Jack Buckley, Danny Jones, Jordan Crossley, George Kilgour.

MOM - Matt Partington

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED!

We had to switch our fixture this week as due to Oldham Councils continued closure of pitches, facilities are now becoming hard to find in the borough. Travelling to Holmfirth to play a ‘home’ fixture against Upperthong is not ideal but left with no choice it was better than conceding the points. The game started in spring and ended in summer on a pitch, which by the end of the game looked like a battlefield from Bannockburn.

Starting with a different formation, the 15’s failed to get control of the game from the start with wayward passes, poor concentration and a lack of desire to win the second ball. With torrential downpours and deteriorating conditions, we failed to adapt our game, blindly trying to pass the ball on a muddy surface. Attacks at goal were seldom with Josh Barlow and Jack Harper shooting wide and then Tither also joining the guilty for missing the target. Upperthong almost scored with a breakaway from our corner but thankfully they also had the ‘wide’ disease and let us off the hook!

After several shuffles of the deck and formation, the game became a battle of wills, Matt Partington showing a drive and desire to get the 15’s in the game. Harper continued to suffer the ‘Torres’ disease, right place right time but the finishing touch short of being perfect. Tom Johnstone added his name before Partington headed over from a corner from a free header. Greying skies, light fading fast and Upperthong attacks caused moments of concern but none too much to worry about until Goodwin made an unusual blunder allowing the ball to go through his legs into the net. Disheartened yet lively the 15’s worked hard to get back in the game but all was in vain as the referee called time on a 1-0 defeat. That brought to an end a five match unbeaten run, a well battled game that was there for the taking but as the saying goes, “if you don’t score and they opposition do, they will win the game”......how true.

Man of the match...Matt Partington...defended well, great desire and energy driving forward and unlucky not to be a goal scorer from a corner.

U15s V Dewsbury

Sunday 7th April 2013

Dewsbury Rangers 0- Uppermill U15's 2

Team- Ben Pullen, Matt Partington (C), Danny Holmes, Josh Barlow, Jordan Crossley, Tom Johnstone, Sean Bergin, Jack Buckley, Oliver Gladwell, Lewis Barlow, Jack Harper, George Kilgour, Adam Tither, Danny Jones

MOM - Ben Pullen

SNOW JOKE but who is the bloke with the stick?

Finally, after cancellations due to the ridiculous Easter weather, we crossed the hills once again to play our most distant opposition Dewsbury Rangers. To their credit, even though they are propping up the table, they made a hard game for Uppermill. Similar to our last encounter we had a hard surface and a long ball game to contend with, yet despite warnings, the 15’s allowed that game to become the norm for the day. Aghhhh how frustrating!!

To be fair, we were never really tested at the back and with the one chance that really fell their way, PULLEN, deputising in goal, made a magnificent save to keep Uppermill ahead. At the Dewsbury end, we had numerous chances, Harper having several one on one opportunities but each time shooting wide. Partington headed over from a corner, Bergin wasted several chances by not hitting the target before JACK BUCKLEY finally got his body over the ball and his resulting shot bounced over the Dews keeper to make it 1-0 at half time.

After a team shuffle we lost momentum for 10 minutes but then started to play the type of football we like to display. From a resulting flowing move, Kilgour hit the side netting in the best move of the game. Lewis Barlow picked out Josh Barlow, Bergin and Harper but all were unable to capitalise on the final pass. Josh Barlow sent Johnstone free and his shot was met with a fine save from the Dews keeper to deny Mill another goal. Even our adopted supporter who was very vociferous, if not slightly eccentric, was getting frustrated! Strangely no-one owned up as to whose Granddad it was!! After Harper had been awarded a penalty, Lewis Barlow stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way and close the game off and put the 3 points in the bag.

The performance was disappointing but it moves us steadily up the table. The target set by the Coaches is now within reach after we have now gone 3 matches unbeaten. However a much more convincing performance will be needed on Friday if we are to disperse with Upperthong.

Man of the match...Ben Pullen, great talking and distribution, commanding presence and a fine save.

u15s V Marsden

March 17^th 2013

Marsden 1- Uppermill 2

Team - Tom Goodwin, Matt Partington, Danny Holmes, Adam Tither, Danny Jones, Jack Harper, Lewis Barlow(C), Josh Barlow, Ben Pullen, Jack Buckley, Ollie Gladwell, Elliot Conner, George Kilgour, Sean Bergin
MOM - George Kilgour

Shift the Sheep please!!

Once the sheep had left, we were able to get Sundays’ match underway, which quickly became a scrappy affair, as both teams struggled to get accustomed to the heavy surface. Uppermill to their credit tried to play their attacking football but once too often the final pass was woolly and the good work was unravelled. Goodwin was called to clear up the back lines a few times but was rarely threatened at goal whilst at the other end two of the Marsden villagers planted their spring vegetables in the back of the Marsden net, totally oblivious to the fact that Uppermill were attacking that goal!. However, the usual situation arose at the back and as both Partington and Tither became stranded from a long ball, Marsden made it 1-0 with a simple tap in.

At half time the boys were left in no doubt as to the mood of the managers and the question was asked if they wanted to do something about the good play and build up. Well they did, in fine style. Literally from the kick off the Marsden keeper had a simple catch to make, dropped the ball and Josh Barlow pounced to force the ball into the empty net...NOT! As the team celebrated the Marsden keeper ran back to retrieve the ball from the goal line, the ball stuck in the mud! To be fair to the U15’s, from that moment on it was one way traffic, their keeper tipping over the baa from the impressive Kilgour, whilst equally Josh Barlow worked hard to make amends for his earlier feeble effort. Pullen attacked strongly from full back and with Lewis Barlow and Kilgour dominating midfield Marsden were constantly defending attacks from through balls to Bergin and Josh Barlow. Indeed, as their defence was split open, OLLIE GLADWELL, made the scores level, bursting from midfield and shooting into the corner of the goal. The Marsden keeper was kept busy all second half as an avalanche of corners were hoofed away, time and time again. Goodwin helped the locals by planting a few seedlings himself in the back of his goal as the MILL set up camp in the Marsden penalty area. The winning goal came from JOSH BARLOW, this time from another corner. As the ball came over he rose unmarked to ram the ball home from 3yards, not only making amends for his earlier attempt but now celebrating in style. The game ran out 2-1 thanks to the Marsden keeper keeping the scores low but it was another three points in consecutive weeks to move us away from the wrong end of the table.

Next week we face bottom of the league......here’s hoping and fingers crossed!!

U15s v Batley

U15s v Batley

Sunday 10th March 2013
Batley 0- Uppermill 3

Team - Tom Goodwin, Matt Partington, Jordan Crossley, Danny Holmes, Adam Tither, Ollie Gladwell, Jack Buckley, Jack Harper, Josh Barlow, Sean Bergin, Tom Johnstone, George Kilgour, Danny Jones

MOM - Jack Buckley & Elliott Conner
Captain - Adam Tither

On Sunday the U15’s were away to Batley, a team below us in the league and who have conceded plenty of goals. It was important for us to win the game but not at the sake of a below par performance. However our effort was like putting your best whites in the wash and forgetting to set the correct temperature. A freezing cold day did not help matters and a strong wind would not help the sheets dry. That said, we got a good 3-0 win, great for confidence but sadly there were still some nasty stains left, so it is going to have to be a more concentrated solution in the next wash!

Jack Harper got the U15’s on their way to victory when he cut inside and his right footed shot somehow bounced over the keeper’s shoulder. Later in the half Josh Barlow made it 2-0 in what looked like it was going to be plain sailing, big mistake! Set plays gave the back 4 some concern and poor marking and bad decision making caused jitters in the U15’s defence, as a free header from Batley, thankfully went over the bar. Jack Buckley did well to break up lots of attacks as a sitting midfield player and was assisted by Elliott Conner who tried in vain to initiate play from the midfield. Goodwin made a fine one on one save near the end of the first half to keep a clean sheet at the interval but with the amount of pressure we inflicted on Batley, the score line should have seen us at least 5-0 up.

Big changes were made at half time but still the Clangers continued to be made. It took the intervention of the woodwork and a goal line clearance to save Uppermill from looking like embarrassed Ribena men! Too many battles were being lost in key areas and a lack of fitness started to show. Then Jack Buckley popped up again, breaking up play in midfield before sending Harper in the clear, who this time, struck the perfect shot across the goalkeeper and saw his shot go in off the far post to put the game beyond doubt. Johnstone and Jones should have made it 4 and 5 later in the game but neither had the killer instinct of a gunfighter. The woodwork saved Batley from more harm but eventually we ran out winners 3-0 and took a heavy haul of 3 points.