Saturday 2nd June - Market Drayton Tigers Tournament

This was another tournament that we’d entered last year. It is very well organised so we were pleased to enter again, on arrival this year we found that we had a half mile trek to our pitch but it was a lovely sunny day and there were plenty of activities going on all around (though just a bit too far away from the bar this year!). We found that we were to play 3 group games of 12 minutes. Unfortunately we were up against 3 very good sides including Bocca Juniors. We came close several times and could have got a result against both Shiffnal and PSV in particular who had just one player who scored a spectacular goal. In the second round we were paired with the winners of another group, Oakengates Rangers. Suprisingly this team seemed weaker than any of the previous teams we had played and we were quite unlucky to go down 2-0 in the end. We welcomed Jack as a guest player for us and he did well in all the games. All the boys gave a good account of themselves and seemed to enjoy the tournament. As at the last tournament they were all treated to a burger or hot dog after which rounded off the day nicely. Hopefully the boys are gaining from the experience of playing on grass as we face a new tournament in a week’s time at Biddulph.

Sunday 20th May - Sandbach Tournament

We entered this tournament last year and enjoyed it so decided to enter again this year. On arriving we found that we were on a pitch slightly away from the main area but we set up camp alongside and enjoyed the early morning sun. We played five games, our best performance was against Sandbach United who we beat 1-0 but we should really have won that game by more goals. We were joint second in the group for most of the matches until we lost 3-0 to Macclesfield Boys, who were a lot more physical than us and who went on to finish second in the group. Our first game was against the eventual unbeaten winners of our group, Broadheath Sharks, who seemed a very well organised team. The other two matches were drawn 0-0 with chances coming to both sides. All in all we put in a creditable performance, finishing fourth overall in our group, especially as our squad was down to seven so we had no substitutes to call on. Nathan made his debut for us and made a great contribution. All the boys played well but Rhys was named as man of the tournament after a particularly good game against Sandbach. We finished off the day with a lads and dads match (I think the dads won but not sure how much they twisted the rules!) then each of the boys had a turn on the bouncy slide and were treated to a hot dog (or two!). The eventual winners were Middlewich Town with Sandbach United runners up.

Sunday 13th May v Alsager Town Panthers

With no game last weekend the boys were raring to go against the newly crowned champions of Division Two, Alsager Panthers. The conditions were hardly what you’d expect as we near summer either as the match was played in torrential rain which made football difficult and watching only suitable for ducks! Brookfield got off to a great start, playing some lovely football, and Tom J came very close to scoring. It was hard to tell which team were the new champions as we were outplaying Alsager and put together several very good passing moves but without being able to score. But it was Alsager who took the lead against the run of play. Shortly after James got us right back into the match with a magnificent goal from the right hand side. Alsager then got in front after we failed to clear a loose ball in our penalty box (as has happened so many times this season). We then squandered plenty of chances to get back into the match with some really good through balls from Tom J and Lewis. We then had to pay for all our missed opportunities as Alsager grabbed two quick goals to make the final score 4-1 which was really not a true reflection of the game as we played very well for long periods but, once again, couldn’t make our chances count. So that brought the League season to a close and also our time at the Alex Soccer Centre, next season we shall start playing on grass as part of the South Cheshire Youth League.

Sunday 29th April v Nantwich Town Diablos

After being thrashed 5-0 by Nantwich the last time we met, the boys were out for revenge today. The game started at a fast pace and both teams had good shots saved. Brookfield came close to scoring several times but had no luck before Nantwich took the lead, against the run of play. As the game went on, both keepers were playing superbly and the score remained at 1-0 and it looked like nothing was going to get past either goalie but then in the last period we finally got back into the match with an equaliser from our top scorer Ally to pull us back level to 1-1 with only a few minutes remaining. But then disaster struck in the very last minute of the match when Nantwich were awarded a free kick and managed to score a great goal to leave the final score at 2-1 in a match we really deserved to at least come away with a draw for. Nevertheless, it was pleasing to see how well the boys had played and to note the really good football they played for large periods of the match. We shall have to keep this form up for our next match against the league leaders Alsager Panthers.

Sunday 22nd April v Betley FC

We were back at full strength this weekend after being short of players last week and so we started off quickly hoping to end our recent run of defeats, both teams came close but then we found ourselves a goal down from close range when we failed to clear a corner kick. Worse was to come as Betley increased their lead to 2-0 before we got back into the game with a goal from the penalty spot by Ally when he sent their keeper the wrong way, this being our first ever penalty and brought the score to 2-1. Betley came back into the game though and restored their two goal lead before we scored a great goal through Tom D to put us back into the match at 3-2. The boys piled on the pressure and with only seconds to go Lewis C came up with an equaliser to bring the scoreline to 3-3 with a great goal and even better celebration! Then as the game restarted we very nearly snatched a winner but had to settle for a 3-3 draw which was a result we were very happy with after twice being behind by two goals.

Sunday 15th April v X Team

We started the match with a disadvantage, having only six members of the squad available due to people still being on holiday etc. With no chance of fielding any subs it was not suprising, with our luck, to find the weather was one of the hottest ever April days! However the first period started at a fast pace with X Team having several good chances which Lewis S, in goal, did well to deal with before Ally came closest to scoring with a terrific volley which was kept out by a super save from their keeper. In the second period we let X Team get the better of us with two goals which left them in control. As our boys started to tire in the heat, and with no subs available, it was hard to find a way to get ourselves back into the match. The boys kept going and had a few chances but couldn’t summon the strength to convert our chances into a goal. The match ended with a final score of 2-0 to X Team and they leapfrog above us into second place in the League.

Sunday 1st April v Wistaston Utd Cougars

We started the game one point behind Alsager at the top of the table, so hoped for a good result so that we might regain our place at the top of the table. The conditions were, for once, bright and sunny and the match started off at a fast pace with both teams having a few chances, though we had most of the ball and were putting Cougars under some pressure, including a couple of good chances from Ally. However the period ended with the score still 0-0. This soon changed at the start of the second period when Cougars went a goal up and then disaster struck as Cougars pounced straight from the kick off, as our defence fell asleep, to get another goal and put themselves 2-0 up. We got back into the match with a nicely taken goal from Tom but then Cougars went further ahead to make the score 3-1 before Ally pulled one back to make it 3-2. We tried hard to get the all-important equaliser but couldn’t put the ball in the net. So we missed the chance to go top of the table but Alsager are still only one point ahead so there’s still everything to play for.

Sunday 25th March v Wistaston Utd Lions

After two defeats in a row we needed to get back to winning ways and today gave us an ideal opportunity to close the gap on Alsager as they didn’t have a match. Things started brightly too as we took a very early lead with a goal from Ben. Wistaston kept us busy at the back though before a superb second goal from Ben put us 2-0 up. The goal coming after some fine passing which ended up with Ben firing in the net hard and low. TJ then came close with a very good drive which left us in a good position at the break. However, in the second period things soon changed for the worse as we conceded three goals, two of them own goals after we failed to clear the ball from corners, which left us losing 3-2. With everything to play for in the third period, we pushed up further to try and put Wisaston under some more pressure and this paid off as with only minutes remaining Tom fired a shot in hard and low, which nutmegged their goalkeeper, to bring us back level at 3-3. As we waited for the final whistle, up came super sub James to tap in the winner at the far post to make the final score 4-3 and a very creditable win.

Sunday 18th March v Alsager Town Panthers

The boys were raring to go in this top of the table battle, especially after the disastrous result in our last match which led to Alsager taking our place at the head of the table whilst we didn’t play last weekend. The weather conditions were very cold and windy as the boys took to the pitch and the match got off to a flying start with both teams creating chances at both ends and soaking up spells of pressure but then Alsager got a breakthrough when they scored a good goal to take the lead 1-0. Both defences were playing superbly and chances were at a premium though Ally and Tom both came close to a goal but then Alsager went 2-0 up with a lucky goal as the ball rebounded off the crossbar on to one of our players and then into the net. The boys showed their spirit though as they came back to put Alsager under sustained pressure and we eventually pulled one goal back through Ally. We then fought desperately hard to get an equaliser but couldn’t get the ball in the net and the match finished 2-1 to Alsager.

Sunday 4th March v Nantwich Town Diablos.

Each team started the match with a 100% record, us having won every game and Nantwich having lost every game to date so it’s perhaps unsuprising that both records went with a bang as we slumped to a 5-0 defeat. Unfortunately all the good team work of previous weeks went out of the window as we struggled to find our form and, indeed, an onlooker might have thought it was us rooted at the bottom, rather than our opponents, judging from the display we put on. After our good attacking play of the past few weeks, we hardly had a shot all match and Nantwich strolled into a comfortable 4-0 lead with us hardly having troubled their keeper. The final nail was put in the coffin when the ref awarded a very harsh penalty, for what it wasn’t clear, but it gave Nantwich a final score of 5-0. With not having a game next weekend we shall have to hope the boys can turn things around before the following week’s top of the table clash with Alsager.

Sunday 25th February v Betley FC

Starting the match with our 100% record still intact against a team who been in Division One with us last season it seemed very possible that our good run might come to an end but the boys proved us wrong with another fighting display to come out with a 5-2 victory. We started the match in brilliant form, attacking straight from the kick off and were rewarded with an early corner which Lewis C headed into the net, possibly our first ever headed goal from a corner! With Rhys playing sweeper it allowed Lewis C to help TJ in supporting our forwards and from this Tom D and Ally worked the ball well to give Ally a shot on goal which went in and put us 2-0 in front. In the second period we sat back a bit and let Betley back into the match when we conceded a goal to make it 2-1. However, shortly after Ben set himself up brilliantly to score the goal of the match with a great volley to make the score 3-1. Betley came back again with another goal to bring the score to 3-2 then Lewis S, in goal, had to make a great save with a kick out as their star player closed in fast on the goal. Shortly after we wrapped up the victory with a goal first from Ally and then Ben to make the final score 5-2 and leave our 100% record intact. Another superb all-round team performance.

Sunday 18th February v X Team

We went into the match top of the table, against X Team who were lying second so we knew this was going to be a difficult game and so it proved. The game got off to a flying start with both team’s coming close to scoring before X Team managed to take the lead. The boys didn’t lose heart and kept on the pressure coming close several times before X Team struck back and scored another goal to make it 2-0 to them. The game was now getting quite physical but the boys kept their heads and kept trying to play good football, pushing forward from the back. They were rewarded when Lewis C scored with a great goal from a corner. Rhys and Tom J were being kept busy at the back but were linking up well with Ben and Tom D. Ben pulled us right back into the game with an equaliser before first Ally and then Ben again found the net to send us into the lead 4-2 with only minutes to go. Right in the last minute we conceded another goal to make the final score 4-3, a superb win to maintain our 100% start to the season: 3 games, 3 wins and now 3 points clear at the top of the table!

Sunday 11th February v Wistaston Utd Cougars

After James’ nasty injury last weekend, we were down to seven fit players but with a win already under our belts against the other Wistaston side we were raring to go and the first period started off at a fast pace with chances at either end but it was us who took the lead when top scorer Ally notched us in front with a well taken goal. As we looked for a second goal, Wistaston scored a great goal to equalise from a free kick, which was scored by one of our old team mates Josh. However, the equaliser didn’t rattle us and we pushed forward again and, after some good passing between Rhys and Ally, the ball found Tom D who put it away to make the scoreline 2-1. We continued to push forward, and made sure of the win, when Ally found the back of the net for his second goal of the game, making the final scoreline 3-1, taking us clear at the top of the table with two wins from two games. We shall have to hope for more of the same next weekend when we play our friends from X Team but, for now, we can bask in the glory of being top of the table.

Sunday 4th February v Wistaston United Lions

Today marked the start of the summer season, though there was nothing summery about the weather, as it was one of the coldest day’s for the boys to play in so far, but it was important for us to get off to a good start to increase confidence. We did just that starting off playing some great football which eventually saw us take the lead with a goal from last season’s top scorer, Ally, putting us in the lead for the first time in a few month’s. Unfortunately, soon after James was fouled which made him fall awkwardly on his arm and, after some first aid, it was apparent that a trip to the hospital was necessary. As reported elsewhere it was subsequently discovered that James has broken his arm. It would have been understandable if the boys had become unsettled by this incident but they put it behind them in great style by continuing to put pressure on Wistaston which finally paid off when Ben latched onto a loose ball and drove it hard into the net to make it 2-0. Near the end, Wistaston came close a few times and we were fortunate not to concede but, for once, lady luck was on our side and we hung on for a great win.