Football - SFC Juniors

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St Peters 5-a-side tournament

A combination of teamwork, attitude and skill saw Southport F.C. Juniors under 8's emerge victors in the St Peters 5 aside invitation at Formby. The tournament was run on a league basis with the victors recording 4 wins and a
draw.

It was pleasing to see passing and turns being used so confidently by boys of such a young age. Excellent finishing by Craig Matthews and the vastly improved Kyle Lewis set SFC on their way. Oliver Chantler added to the tally with a skillful inswinging corner. Resolute defending by Alex Howard, Ben Gautrey and Jonathan Foster resulted in only a single goal being conceded. 'Port 'keeper Matthew Jolly deserves special mention for a spectacular fingertip save in the game against Ainsdale.

Teamwork and skills has always been the cornerstone in coaching these young players. 'Some of the techniques being learnt have modest benefits now but these can be huge in the longer term' said team manager Dale Chantler. These boys have the benefit of 2 FA coaches and highly supportive parents. 

The future is bright with Yellow! Pictured are:
Back Row            Alex Howard,  Kyle Lewis,  Matthew Jolly,  Jonathan Foster
Front Row            Ben Gautrey,  Oliver Chantler,  Craig Matthews

Parma Tournament--U16 Sunday 17th June

On Sunday 17th June, Rays U16's attended the strong Parma FC tournament in Parbold where they met stiff opposition as is normal for this event.

The lads played exceptionally well eventually winning through to the event final where they came up against Redgate Rovers. In a tough match, our lads took the lead and held on against concerted pressure with some good defending. In the last minute, however, our keeper was (apparently wrongly), adjudged to have placed a foot outside the penalty area whilst diving to parry a shot. This harsh decision resulted in Redgate equalising from the spot with the last kick of the game. The resulting extra time yielded no goals and Redgate finally went on to win the tournament in a penalty shoot out.

Our congratulations and thanks to all our lads, for which this was their last game as U16s, some of whom have been with the club through the ranks for several years and we wish you well for next season, hopefully with our new Youth Squad.

Redgate Rovers Tournament--U11's Sunday 17th June

The U 11's attended this tournament in Freshfield as their last match of the season and continued their meteoric success of this season. With two five-a side teams playing in the two separate groups, the Gold team proceeded to despatch all comers winning 4 of their 5 league games, plus one draw against hosts Redgate.

The Black team started off with 5-1 win but a couple of hiccups resulted in them needing to win their last game to enter the semi final stage. They again turned on the class, winning their game 4-1 which ensured that they achieved secind place on goal difference. The downside of this was that the two teams had to meet in the semis, the result of this match being a narrow win by the re-vitalised Black team on a one goal margin.

Our boys entered the final against a spirited Hesketh Casuals side which had had a very good afternoon but, eventually, the constant pressure, aided by some superb football, saw SFCJ run out winners by 2 goals to nil.

The strength and skill from both teams throughout the afternoon was awesome, as has been the rest of their season and we applaud and congratulate the boys, their coaches, Duncan and Chris, and all of the parents whose regular and invaluable support has made this years U11's  probably the most successful side in our history (either SFCJ or the old YMCA).

Southport FC Juniors Under 11's had a superb season.

• Town Green Boys Tournament Winners
  
  Harry Cope Cup Winners
  
  Redgate Rovers Tournament Winners
  
  Trisconi Cup Winners 

The Final of the SFCJ organised U13 LEAF sponsored Cup was played out between Chapel House and Holborn recently. Click here for more details.

The U10's were invited to enter one team in the Lancashire FA mini soccer competition at Leyland where they gave good account of themselves coming joint top of their league without conceding a goal. Ribble Wanderers however went through to the final on a one goal difference and finished winners of the cup.

Congratulations to all of the boys for a great effort and football.

Second Cup Win for Under 11's

Back for the second Cup Final, this time at the theoretical GHQ of Haig Avenue, where a fine spring morning saw the Under 11's team face up to Birkdale United, whom they had already beaten in the semi final of the Trisconi cup.

The game started smartly with SFCJ attacking from the outset and, with Luis Jones and Mike Blundell dominating the midfield, the Birkdale defence was frequently breached by strikers Ben Sykes and Josh Mifsud, the formers pace often leaving him 1 on  1 with the keeper and several times the ball flew agonisingly wide of the posts. Josh's through balls were telling and he himself was frustrated when the Scarisibrick End post denied him a goal. It was a measure of SFCJ's dominance when their keeper got his first touch of the ball after 16 minutes. The team almost appeared to be copying the first team insomuch as the ball refused to go in at Haig Avenue, and the teams went in at halftime to a goal-less draw.

Birkdale restarted the second half with renewed vigour and pressed forward but the efforts of the defence absorbed the pressure well with Jon Davidson tidying up well at the back. Birkdales efforts to push forward inevitably led to them exposing themselves for quick break attacks and the jinx appeared to continue as shots went narrowly wide. The pressure was, however, soon to tell, as, with 14 minutes to go, Ben Sykes turned provider and slipped  a neat ball through to Josh Mifsud just inside the penalty area. Beating on defender he calmly slotted the ball passed the advancing keeper into the bottom corner.

Five minutes later SFCJ went two up when the never tiring Ben Sykes drew the ball onto his left side on one of his repeated breaks and chipped the advancing Birkdale keeper who, despite getting his fingertips to the ball, was unable to prevent it reaching the back of the net.

A tiring Birkdale gave their best to redeem the situation and, with the last kick of the game, scrambled a free kick into second half keeper Sam Wilkinsons, net after a push on the edge of the box.

A season of very hard work, by both the boys and their coaches, was justly rewarded with the uplift of this cup and we look forward to seeing them in action as the Under 12's next season.

Cup Win for Under 16's

The last match for the Under 16s for both the season, and their time as Junior Soccer Players, fittingly saw them appear at Haig Avenue to battle for the Ken & Les Cup against their old adversaries, Ainsdale.

Southport started strongly in perfect conditions with King and Stafford continually threatening the Ainsdale back line.. As the SFCJ midfield controlled the game, Ainsdale resorted to trying to hit back on the break however the SFCJ defence held fast and maintained their control throughout the game with the keeper always being on hand to tidy up when needed.

The evenly matched sides continued to struggle for overall supremacy but the team retired at half time goalless, despite efforts from both sides.

As the second half progressed, SFCJ continued to pile the pressure on a tough Ainsdale defence until the 60th minute when a sweeping move down the left flank allowed Adam Corlett close into the Ainsdale area. The resulting shot was well parried by the Ainsdale keeper but the rebound fell back to Corlett whose unbalanced second attempt struck the luckless Ainsdale right back on the arm. The match referee deemed the incident handball and promptly awarded a penalty which Corlettt neatly tucked away into the bottom corner of the Scarisbrick Road End net.

Ainsdale rejoined the fray and threw everything forward to redress the balance, allowing SFCJ to settle on their one goal cushion and play some incisive football, unfortunately being unrewarded by further goals.

On the day, the lads were the better side and the club would like to thank them for all of the years devotion they have given us "through the ranks" and we wish them well in their future football, hopefully with the SFC Youth Team next season.

Finally a vote of thanks to Ray & Paul for looking after what has been one of the clubs most successful teams.

6.00pm on Monday 23rd April, saw the kick off of the Under 11s first Cup Final on a splendid rain free evening at Burscough against an Ormskirk side who had reached the final courtesy of knocking out League Champions, Formby.

All of the boys were new to this sort of venue and occasion but SFCJ immediately went on the attack and were rewarded in the second minute by a penalty after a decisive run by Josh Mifsud resulted in him being brought down by the last Ormskirk defender. The resulting spot kick was neatly lofted into the roof of the net by James Raynor. SFCJ continued the pressure directly from the kick off and before 4 minutes were on the clock, Ben Sykes side stepped the defending goalkeeper to neatly sidefoot into the open goal to give SFCJ a 2-0 lead.

Ormskirk came alive from then on, but, apart from a dangerous lob, expertly cleared off the line by Josh Isles, realistically, never looked like scoring though their defence tightened considerably to reduce the omnipresent SFCJ attack.

Continued superb play from the SFCJ central midfield, Captain Mike Blundell and Luis Jones ensured the strong back four were rarely exposed, goalkeeper Danny Chubbs being well capable of mopping up when the situation arose.

Ormskirk came out for the second half and immediately went on the offensive but the SFCJ team, by now incorporating their other keeper, Sam Wilkinson, who made some fine saves, continued to nullify any threat from the Ormskirk attack, the team now hitting back on the break with regularity and only some stalwart defending by Ormskirk kept the scoreline unchanged.

Eventually, however, Mike Blundell latched onto a ball on the centreline and powered his way around three tiring Ormskirk defenders before unleashing a low drive into the right hand corner of the net. With 5 minutes to go, a clever ball from substitute James Green found Mattie Swash free just outside of the Ormskirk area and the natural left footer produced an awesome strike with which the goalkeeper had no chance, to elevate the score to 4-0.

Late substitute Craig Billington almost got the chance to increase the score in the last minutes, the through ball just eluding him before gratefully gathered by the Ormskirk keeper.

Stalwart performances were also given by left back Luke Hanoman, central defender Jon Davidson, midfielder Danny O'Malley and Striker Josh Mifsud who held up play and distributed the ball well, to round off a good overall team performance.

SFCJ's first trophy was won deservedly and out congratulations go to both the boys, who worked and played, so hard, and to their coaches, Duncan Swash and Chris Sykes who have helped considerably to make this milestone possible

On Easter Sunday, 15th of April, Southport Football Club Juniors, fielding a combined team of Under 11s & 12s and their U16s, played in the East meets West fixture at The Rookery in Southport. against the Eastern Academy from Connecticut.

Both games were thoroughly entertaining with the U11/12, against much larger opposition, generally, succumbing 3-1, though, apart from a bad five minutes, (where have we seen that before Southport ?) they more than held their own against a, technically, strong USA side. The Final third of the game saw theg young lads attack repeatedly though good goalkeeping from the American side prevented a score advance.

Despite letting in an unwatched opening goal, a depleted U16 side gave good account of themselves with, again, the second half being largely one way traffic in favour of SFCJ, some good football resulted in a Goal of the Month equaliser from the U16s, though a moment of madness allowed Connecticut to steal a 2-1 advantage. From then on, the Easterns were put under the cosh but a goal did not materialise, largely, again, to defiant goalkeeping (And The Horse !).

Southport FC Juniors would like to warmly thank Eastern Academy for a great days football, and indeed to both Everton FC for arranging the ties, and Southport Trinity for hosting the event. We trust that all of the boys involved enjoyed the experience and that a similar event can be arranged sooner rather than later.

We hope that the club from the the Good Ol US of A has enjoyed their time in Southport and we wish them a se and speedy journey home.

Firstly, congratulations to Southport for meting out due revenge at Woking last evening despite ending the game with 9 men due to Shaun Teale and Phil Bolland being dismissed for 2 bookable offences apiece. Hopefully we will end the season on a roll.

The Juniors League Cup Final dates and venues have at last been ratified, with the U11s playing their first Final against Ormskirk at Burscough FC on Monday 23rd April at 6.00pm.

Their second final against Birkdale will be held at HQ, Haig Avenue, on Sunday 6th of May, kick off 10.00am.

The U16s will play their League Cup Final, also at Haig Avenue, on the 7th of May.

This week, a Junior Soccer Club from Boston, Massachusetts, have been based in Southport playing matches against clubs from as far away as Hackney in London. The events, organised by Everton FC, have, generally, been staged at The Rookery, home ground of Southport Trinity, and, this coming Easter Sunday, 15th of April, their U16s will play Southport FC Juniors U16s, whilst, at the same time, a combined team of their U11s and 12s will play a similar SFCJ team.

Both games will commence simultaneously at 11.00am, again at The Rookery in Roe Lane.

Southport FC Ladies have now commenced training and are looking to recruit players for the teams, which play double age groups at U10s, U12s and U16s. Any girls who would like to go along, especially aged 8 or 9 as this will be a vacant age group the previous team moving up a group, should contact Chris Lang, care of Southport FC at Haig Avenue.

They train on a Wednesday Evening at Greenbank School from 7.00 to 8.00pm.

If anyone is interested in mixing a flutter with a good night out, then the SFCJ are holding a Race Night at the Grandstand Club, Haig Avenue, on Friday 27th  of April starting at 8.00pm.

All welcome.

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