Holker Old Boys Seniors
HOLKER OLD BOYS’ AFC V FORMBY FC
Sat 21/01/12
SORRY HOME FORM CONTINUES
HOLKER OLD BOYS’ AFC 1 FORMBY FC 2.
THE NWCFL FIRST DIVISION 21/01/12.
Holker fielding one of their strongest sides for some time with the return of influential mid fielder Kev Watkin from a three match suspension again failed to get to grips with a side from the lower half of the League whose recent record was worse than Holker’s and paid the penalty losing to an added time winner from Formby after taking a second half lead just after the break through Brad Hubbold.
Holker lost the toss and chose to play down the Rakesmoor slope with a force eight at their backs and after the kick off the meagre crowd shuffling about trying to keep out of the wind and keep warm were treated to 15mins of inept football made worse by the conditions. Then the game suddenly exploded into life for the wrong reasons when Formby midfielder Connor Belger took exception to Glen Warburton lying on the ball off the field of play and kicked out at him in attempting to get the ball for a throw in. the Referee, Jim Laflin, had no hesitation in showing Belger a straight red for violent conduct. With a man advantage and wind assistance Holker were expected to kick on and take control of the half but it never materialised. Watkin’s indecision when put clear in the 24th min left him with a shot come pass that was neither and a Mike Kewley free kick which ended with a corner saw Holker reduced to 10 men as Warburton was pushed about on the goal line waiting for the ball in he kicked out at a defender and joined Belger in the dressing room. When the corner was eventually taken the ball came out to Mark Daly on the edge of the 18yd area but his shot was blocked and the ball span away to Brad Hubbold whose first time drive was tipped over by Formby keeper Graham McLoughlin for another corner. This time the ball eluded everybody and fell for Guy Heffernan beyond the far post where he crashed the ball off the underside of the bar and out from a narrow angle. McLoughlin was in action again in the 36th min this time saving a back header from his own fullback, Lee Smith, at full stretch under his bar. On the whole Formby defended well and maintained a lot of possession or were given it by Holker and Holker’s only really constructive move of the half came in the last 5mins when Holker keeper, Ben Morsby, put Watkin away up the middle where he played a nice one two with Billy Moss on his left and then laid the ball out left again for Kewley to do a step over allowing Hubbold room to fire his shot beyond McLoughlin and goal bound but for the splendid reaction of left back Connor Murphy who hooked the ball out from off the line to leave the game still goalless at half time.
Half time: - Holker Old Boys’ AFC 0 Formby FC 0.
Fearing the worst after being unable to break the deadlock in the first half and having been second best in terms of possession Holker kicked off the second half into what appeared to be a strengthening gale expecting to be pinned down in their own half. However McLoughlin was called upon within the first minute when Billy Moss broke into the area and he couldn’t hold his rasping drive but beat Watkin to the parried ball. Then an amazing run by Hubbold in the 50th min put Holker in front. He picked up the ball just inside the Formby half and mesmerised three defenders before rifling a shot past McLoughlin from the right hand edge of the 18yd area. From here on in it was all Formby as they pressed for the equaliser and play hardly ever got beyond Holker’s half. Holker lost the services of left back Gareth Smith in the 70th min in controversial circumstances when 2nd Assistant Karel Konecny signalled a foul on Smith near Holker’s left hand corner flag and indicated an elbow was involved. The Referee awarded Holker a free kick but only cautioned Formby forward Mark Kirby as Smith left the field with blood streaming down his face from what turned out later to be a broken nose. The equaliser came not long after this event when after a succession of corners and half clearances one ball fell right for midfielder John Cass and his volley from just inside the 18yd area came off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net in the 73rd min. Holker looked like they had held out for a draw as the game entered added time but once again they fell foul of a poor clearance when the ball swirled away to Morsby’s left and James Bonner relinquished possession to Formby substitute Mark Toohey, he sent it back into the 6yd box where Cass, not the tallest player on the park, beat Morsby to the ball with his head to nod home from 2yds out with 93mins on the clock and seal all three points for Formby to the delight of their players and bench.
Another abysmal performances from Holker. Admittedly the weather didn’t make a spectacle of football likely but Holker seemed to have surrendered before they started. Poor passing, lying back off the ball, lack of concentration and most of all the lack of the will to win and force the game to their opponents as several players appeared to be just going through the motions. Having seen Formby reduced to ten men they failed to grasp the game by the scruff of the neck and instead shot themselves in the foot and fell for the roughing up treatment dished out by the opposition and finished up with ten men themselves with petty retaliation. There’s now only one League game left, at home to current League leaders Abbey Hey next Saturday, to try and sort out the persistent problems that are plaguing the side before the Divisional Cup Quarter Final at Irlam as this Competion now appears to be the remaining salvation for a season which has come off the rails big style.
Full time: - Holker Old Boys’ AFC 1 Formby FC 2.
Attendance: - 33
Holker Old Boys’ AFC: - 1, Ben Morsby 2, James Bonner 3, Gareth Smith (Sub 70mins) 4, Mark Daly 5, Guy Heffernan (Capt.) 6, Craig Redhead 7, Bradley Hubbold 8, Kevin Watkin 9, Glen Warburton 10, Mike Kewley (Sub 79mins) 11, Billy Moss. Substitutes: - 12, Chris Brown (On for 10) 14, Glenn Capstick (DNP) 15, Craig Rutherford (On for 3) 16, Connor Erdis (DNP).
Formby FC’s Man of the Match for Holker Old Boys’ AFC, Brad Hubbold.
Cautioned: - Mark Kirby of Formby FC.
Sent Off: - Glen Warburton of Holker Old Boys’ AFC.
Connor Belger of Formby FC.
Officials: - Referee, Mr. Jim Laflin of Preston.
1st Assistant Referee, Mr. Rhys Ryder of Lancaster.
2nd Assistant Referee, Mr. Karel Konecny of Heysham.
HOLKER OLD BOYS’ AFC V ASHTON TOWN FC
Sat 14/01/12
SCRAPPY POINT TAKEN
HOLKER OLD BOYS’ AFC 1 ASHTON TOWN 1.
THE NWCFL FIRST DIVISION 14/01/12.
With the return of four prodigal sons much was expected from a strong line up with home advantage against one of the Division strugglers but again Holker failed to deliver and appeared to by firing on three and sometimes only two cylinders as they spluttered to a 1 – 1 draw
After a scrappy opening quarter of an hour where neither side got to grips with the game it was Ashton who drew first blood in the 18th min when a free kick from inside the centre circle taken by fullback Dave McElnay dropped like a bomb two or three yards from the goal line. Ben Morsby failed to make a decent contact with his fist when blinded by the low sun and the ball flew to James Banawich on the left hand side of the 6yd box 3yds out and he rifled his drive into the roof of Morsby’s net to put Ashton one up. Holker had chances to equalise but Ashton’s Reserve Team keeper, Kevin Fairbrother was in top form as he finger tipped a venomous Mike Kewley drive from a narrow angle on the edge of the 18yd area onto his far post and away to safety then dived full length to save at the foot of his left hand post from a Kewley free kick that he had curled round the wall from just outside the 18yd area. As half time approached Ashton had a couple of chances to double their advantage and this time Holker had their keeper Morsby to thank for keeping the score down as he went full length to save from Ashton’s centre forward Harry McGill in the 40th min then in added time he got enough on another McGill shot to allow Gareth Smith to sweep up the remnants after a Guy Heffernan slip had allowed him through.
Half time: - Holker Old Boys’ AFC 0 Ashton Town FC 1.
Within 90secs of the restart Holker were level when a speculative 40yd drive by Smith eluded Fairbrother and went under his body into the bottom right hand corner of his goal however that was a false dawn for Holker. Kewley hit the side netting in the 58th min but from then on both sides produced some mediocre football for the remainder of the half and even the introduction of three pairs of fresh legs couldn’t raise Holker’s game and anything that Holker managed to get on target including deflections was ably dealt with by Fairbrother. Ashton for their part did try to pass the ball to each other but they lacked anybody up front who could trouble the Holker defence and were probably happier to settle for the draw than were Holker.
Looks like we are going to have to go on a bus trip before a home game as Holker’s away form can’t be replicated at home. Poor passing, lack of ideas and concentration led for a poor spectacle for the frozen few on the terraces but a word of thanks must go to the ground staff who got the pitch in such good condition after all the rain and now the frost for the game to be one of only two played in the Division. Let’s hope the players can make better use of it next week with the visit of Formby.
Full time: - Holker Old Boys’ AFC 1 Ashton Town FC 1.
Attendance: - 36
Holker Old Boys’ AFC: - 1, Ben Morsby 2, James Bonner 3, Gareth Smith 4, Mark Daly 5, Guy Heffernan (Capt.) 6, Craig Redhead 7, Billy Moss (Sub 81mins) 8, Glen Warburton (Sub 70mins) 9, Chris Brown (Sub 50mins) 10, Mike Kewley 11, Brad Hubbold. Substitutes: - 12, Craig Rutherford (On for 7) 14, Glenn Capstick (On for 8) 15, Jordan Nicholson (On for 9).
Ashton Town FC’s Man of the Match for Holker Old Boys’ AFC, Mike Kewley.
Cautioned: - Craig Redhead of Holker Old Boys’ AFC
Joe Hutchins of Ashton Town FC
Sent Off: -
Officials: - Referee, Mr. Ian Walsh of Clitheroe.
1st Assistant Referee, Mr. Chris Banks of Barrow.
2nd Assistant Referee, Mr. Scott Leslie of Barrow.
ROCHDALE TOWN FC V HOLKER OLD BOYS' AFC
Sat 07/01/12
ROCHDALE TOWN FC 2 HOLKER OLD BOYS' AFC 2.
Unfortunately my laptop is in for repair and I'm having to do this on my daughter's less than useless "Acer" laptop so it'll be a short summary rather than a full report .
A much improved performance to that of Monday saw another much changed Holker side take a point at the Mayfeld Sports Centre. After a goalless first half where Holker rode their luck with Josh Rose making an important save at his near post when the ball spun off his body across the goal and beyond his far post. Rochdale also shaved the post and wasted several oppportunities to take an advantage into the second half. Holker's best chance came from Brad Hubbold when he hit the side netting. Rochdale took the lead in the 55th min when midfielder Micheal Harling found himself on his own some 35yds out on the right and launched an unstoppable rocket which gave Rose no chance as it flew into the top right hand side of his net. Holker drew level in the 66th min after a prolonged spell of Holker pressure ended with Brad Hubbold firing across Rochdale keeper Lewis Bishop into the bottom left hand corner of his net from the angle of the 18yd area. Holker went in front in the 75th min, again, through Brad Hubbold when he toe poked home after keeper Bishop dropped a simple header at his feet. Marc Curtis had a chance to sew up he game in the 82nd min with a free header from 4yds out in the middle of the goal but looped it over the bar. Holker looked to have secured all three points as the game entered added time but lived to regret Curtis's miss when Rose made an outstanding save from Jason Hill by palming the ball over his bar for a corner in the 3rd min of added time but from the resultant corner a poor clearance saw the it only reach the edge of the 18yd box where midfielder Scott Highton hooked the ball through a ruck of players past the unsighted Rose to give Rochdale a share of the spoils.
Probably a fair result on the evidence of the day's play by both teams with good performances from the Holker players brought in to replace the numerous "unavailable" regulars. Tom Howlett, Josh Rose, Steve Forbes, Jordan Nicholson, Marc Curtis, Martin Grundy helping out and Billy Moss making a debut return all made significant contributions. Holker now have three consecutive Saturday home games beginning with the visit of Ashton Town next Saturday.
HOLKER OLD BOYS’ AFC V AFC DARWEN
Mon. 02/01/12 (Bank Holiday)
BLEAK NEW YEAR AT HOLKER
HOLKER OLD BOYS’ AFC 0 AFC DARWEN 7.
THE NWCFL FIRST DIVISION 02/01/12.
Having gone over 3 weeks without a game Holker probably wished it had been a bit longer in order to detox from the Christmas and New Year festivities after this disaster. With several players unavailable Dave Smith was forced to shuffle his squad around with some players playing out of position but its no excuse for the diabolical display of defending that allowed basement Club AFC Darwen to score 7 goals almost at will and complete an unlikely double over Holker after their 3 – 0 victory at the Anchor Ground in late August. Rob Bruce got a start at No 9 on his return debut and Martin Grundy stepped in for the suspended Kev Watkin with Ambleside United having no game. Ian Swarbrick went to centre back replacing the absent Glenn Capstick, Nathan Reid started on the left of midfield and Craig Rutherford made a welcome return at left back.
Holker started up the Rakesmoor slope against the inevitable strong wind and found themselves a goal down after 3mins when Darwen’s centre forward Steve Lee latched on to a loose ball strolled unchallenged across the 18yd. line then cut the ball back under keeper Ben Morsby for the softest of goals. Holker still hadn’t come out of the dressing room when fullback Tony Hodges doubled their lead on 19mins. The defence failed to clear a free kick properly and Hodges, unmarked, volleyed home from 10yds. Worse was to follow when midfielder Gary Brown found himself in acres of space and drove home Darwen’s third in the 25th min. Holker finally woke up to the fact that the game was slipping away from them even taking into account the wind effect and Brad Hubbold had a cross pulled out of the air by Darwen keeper Adam Chester as they mounted their first serious attack in the in the 27th min, Hubbold tested Chester again with a 20yd drive and 10yd side footer by Gareth Smith was meat and gravy for Chester as Holker began to look a little more dangerous before the break.
Half time: - Holker Old Boys’ AFC 0 AFC Darwen 3.
Hopes of a second half revival were dashed in the 52nd min when the back four were caught flat footed and Lee raced through, then rounded Morsby to clinically slot in his second goal of the afternoon and virtually kill the game off as a contest. Holker weren’t utilising the strong wind. They constantly gave the ball away or lost possession as Darwen closed them down and Darwen could have increased their lead earlier than they did but first Morsby and Mark Daly denied substitute Jon Hession then Morsby made a good save at the foot of his left hand post as the ever dangerous Lee was looking for his hat trick. The nearest Holker came to scoring was directly from an inswinging corner from Guy Heffernan that eluded everybody bar the Darwen left fullback, Tony Harkness, on the line at the far post. A tiring Holker finally capitulated in the last 7mins. when the fresh legs of the Darwen substitutes found more holes in an already shredded defence. Substitute Ben Stanford bore down on goal but his shot was half cleared to Jon Aspden and his effort from 10yds took a deflection to wrong foot Morsby as he went left and the ball rolled into the right of his goal on 83mins. 5mins later it was 6 – 0 when Stanford again drove on goal and Morsby could only parry the ball into the path of Hession who had a simple tap in and Stanford had the last say as he poured more misery on the Holker tale of woe when he played a neat one two with Hession to finish the scoring in the 90th min
An absolute disaster from start to finish with shameful performances in a Holker shirt that would have saddened many who have worn one with pride. Several players were obviously guilty of overindulgence during the last two days and it showed in their play as balls went astray, possession was squandered, concentration levels were at low ebb and then tired legs kicked in to allow Darwen a New Year feast of goals at the end as they were the only team competing on the day. Saturday sees the only away game this month when Holker go to Rochdale Town. They then have three home League encounters before the away tie in the Quarter Final of the Divisional Cup at Irlam on the first Saturday in February and they need to turn the season round now or by the second week in February it will be all over.
Full time: - Holker Old Boys’ AFC 0 AFC Darwen 7.
Attendance: - 40
Holker Old Boys’ AFC: - 1, Ben Morsby 2, James Bonner 3, Craig Rutherford 4, Martin Grundy 5, Ian Swarbrick (Sub 69mins) 6, Gareth Smith 7, Mark Daly 8, Guy Heffernan (Capt) 9, Rob Bruce (Sub 50mins) 10, Brad Hubbold 11, Nathan Reid (Sub 62mins). Substitutes: - 12, Glen Warburton (On for 5) 14, Danny Sawyer (On for 9) 15, Basil Olabi (On for 11).
AFC Darwen’s Man of the Match for Holker Old Boys’ AFC, Gareth Smith.
Cautioned: - Mark Daly of Holker Old Boys’ AFC.
Jon Aspden of AFC Darwen.
Sent Off: -
Officials: - Referee, Mr. Robert Walsh of Preston.
1st Assistant Referee, Mr. Chris Banks of Barrow.
2nd Assistant Referee, Mr. Scott Leslie of Barrow.