Woodbank v Lytham (12th Jan)

Our 2nd game of the new year, and a tough one. Top of the table clash with Lytham. Our last encounter ended 3-0 to them. We were hoping for a better result this time, and with us being in their backyard this time out, it wasn’t going to be easy.

Paul and myself have seen a vast improvement in the team over the last month or two, and we were hoping that this would become more apparent today.

The weather wasn’t the best, we were practically playing on the beach, and the wind was pretty strong coming in from the sea. 1st half and Lytham had the wind in their favour. That didn’t put us off though, we very quickly got hold of the game and with a move down the right hand side, a cross in from Megan F, and a final touch from Jenny, we were 1-0 up. What a start to the game, and I don’t think Lytham were expecting that.

The wind was picking up and Lytham started to punish us for the early goal, keeping the ball in their half and banging in 3 goals. We didn’t drop our heads and the girls battled on getting a couple of chances, one of which counted. Megan F getting a very valuable goal just before half time. 3-2 and a great way to start the 2nd half with the wind in our favour.

2nd Half, and I think Lytham realised they were not playing the same team they had played earlier in the season, the improvement was apparent. We had the wind behind us, and we were hoping to take advantage of that.

Lytham didn’t let up, and played some good defensive football, their goalkeeper also quick off her line to pick up our through balls. Some way in and Lytham struck again, not the best of things to happen, but again our girls showed good spirit and made some good chances, Hannah doing some good footwork in front of goal, but stopped by the goalie and also an offside decision which was unlucky. Amy also hitting the crossbar again, same as the previous week. One’s going to go in for Amy sooner or later. Time I’m afraid beat us to it, the final whistle and 4-2 end result. We gave them a very good game, hopefully opening their eyes to an improved Woodbank team that is improving all the time. Megan F picked up the opposition vote, and we gave ours to Liv S. All the girls played outstanding, please keep up the good work, you are all playing great football.

Woodbank Warriors vs Rossendale Mavericks (6th Jan 08)

This was our first game after the Christmas break and traditionally our Warriors have been caught still in holiday mode on this fixture. However, after a lively training session, our girls were certainly up for this game.
Rossendale had cancelled this fixture last year due to a couple of Academy players not being able to play for them!! Not fair really but Academy players or not, our girls were out to prove a point.

A lively start resulted in Jenny running clear and blasting the ball only to be saved by their goalie. Good defending by Anna and Megan W started another attack. Ele slotted a through ball again into Jenny’s path for her to run clear. This time the goalie had no chance with a thunderous shot hitting the back of the net. One nil.
With Rossendale shell shocked, we mounted another attack. Hannah and Emily passing and moving (the training is working!!!). Emily shot from distance. The goalie managed to stop the ball only for Hannah in true ‘Robbie Fowler’ style to finish off the rebound.
Two nil.

Emily and Liv ran the game from midfield with some great interplay. Megan F took no prisoners tackling hard and causing no end of trouble for Rossendale.
In true Warriors style we then decided to give the visitors a chance. Failing to clear the ball from defence we allowed Rossendale an easy goal giving Bertie no chance at all.
Half Time. Two one up.

After admiring the East Lanc’s Steam Train, our Warriors got to work. Bronya, Mya and Frankie combined well in defence to stop anything Rossendale to throw at us. Anna was a tower of strength. Megan W capped a great game by starting the next goal. Sending Ele on one of her bounding runs down the left wing before passing to Megan F. A combination of skill, strength and determination and it was 3 – 1.
Again we let Rossendale back into the game. 3 – 2.
Bertie however was outstanding again. With a combination of stunning saves and intelligent ball distribution she must be one of the best goalies in this League.
Mya, Beth and Frankie gained confidence and played some great football.

The Warriors again took control. Amy playing down the wing created the next chance with excellent speed and skill to send a through ball to Jenny. Showing incredible speed she skinned the defence and blasted the ball into the back of the net.
The final goal was a created with some brilliant individual skill from Emily. Taking on three players before releasing an inch perfect ball into Megan F’s path. Megan scored her second to make the final score 5 – 2.

Amy was so unlucky not to make it six with two efforts hitting both the post and the cross bar.

A great game and a great result. Some stunning football and good desire to win.
Keep up the good work girls. St Annes next this weekend.
Bring it on!!!!

Rubbish

I suppose you all saw that pantomime on Wednesday night, what did you think?
Here is a bit of fun for you, come up with a funny quote that Mac could be saying. Here's mine to start with.

And here is a blank one for you guys.

Woodbank Warriors vs Westbury (Friendly 4th Nov 07)

Games against Westbury are always taken seriously and even though this game was a friendly, our Warriors were in no mood for charity. The pride of being the best team in Bury was at stake.
Although we allowed Westbury to score first, the result of this game was never in doubt. Liv crossed to Amy who sent a pin-point cross over to Ele who then slammed an unstoppable shot into the left corner to level at 1- 1.
Superb play in midfield from Liv, Hannah and Jenny created chance after chance but could we score? Ten corners later and the score was still 1 – 1.
In the second half our Warriors had a determined look to them. With Westbury pinned in their own half, it was only a matter of time before our domination resulted in further goals.
Megan F started an avalance of goals with a brilliant run finishing with a great strike. Ele quickly made it 3 with a rocket of a shot into the right corner.
Crusher Wrigley and Beth KW stopped any Westbury attacks in their tracks while Bronya and Frankie joined the onslaught.
Amy was next to score. This was a team goal with Amy finishing after great passing between Hannah, Beth S and Jenny.
With Westbury facing defeat our Warriors were rampant. Next to score was Beth S. Again on the end of a great passing movement Beth finished in style. Two goals in two games!
Liv created the next goal. Her determination in winning the ball was followed by a brilliant pass for Ele to run onto to make it 6. A hatrick for Ele.
Megan W and Mya joined the attacks and caused Westbury no end of trouble.
Amy soon made it 7 with another great strike after great play from Hannah on the wing.
This was now exhibition football and with Westbury totally beaten our girls passed the ball around with Brazilian style. Beth KW joined the attack and created the last goal. Ele ran down the left wing shooting only to see her shot saved. Hannah in typical goal poaching style slammed the ball home to make an emphatic score line of 8 – 1 to our Warriors.
Ele was awarded our Managers award for her total unwavering determination, great ability and a brilliant hatrick.
Today however was a team performance for you all to be proud of.
Who is the best team in Bury now eh????
Bring on Fleetwood……..

Woodbank Warriors vs Thorton Cleveleys (4th Nov 07)

This was an early start for our girls. We arrived at Thornton Cleveleys to a warm welcome. A club house with hot drinks and food, clear blue sky and a perfectly manicured pitch to play on. What could be better? Then to our surprise we were directed to another pitch to play our match! Dodgy area, slopping pitch, large lumps of grass and not very picturesque.
We started slowly. I think our girls were still suffering from the early start. Thornton hit us early with a quick goal. Spurred into action our girls attacked at pace with Megan scoring into the right low corner.
Again our defence fell asleep allowing Thornton to score again to take the lead. This time it was Jenny who leveled the score. Collecting the ball on the left she turned and ran across the edge of the box until releasing her trademark rocket to make it 2 – 2.
Beth S dominated the midfield creating attacking chances and stopping Thorntons counter attacks. Bronya, yet to score this season, was next to score. Running forward onto a cross from Hannah she let loose with a thunderbolt of a shot. Megan quickly made it
4 – 2.
The next goal was a peach of a shot from Emily. From the edge of the box she stroked the ball into the right hand top corner to make a healthy scoreline of 5 – 2.
The half time speech went something like “ score another goal and the game is over”.
Beth S did exactly than capping a surperb performance with a lovely taken goal to make it 6 – 2. Game over????? So we all thought.
The next twenty minutes of football are best forgotten. Our defence when to sleep and allowed Thornton to score making it 6 – 3. This gave Thornton confidence. Another defensive error. Another Thornton goal. 6 – 4. Another defence error and yet another goal. 6 – 5.
For the last five minutes we hung on to our slim lead only by the incentive of a trip to Mega Bowl if we won. We did win but only by the skin of our teeth.
Beth Smith was on top form and earned a well deserved Managers Player of the Match. The Opposition Player of the Match went to Hannah for a great display.
Mega Bowl here we come!!!!! But only just.

Woodbank Warriors v Bromley Cross

I think that Paul and myself knew this was going to be a tough game, Bromley and Lytham both sitting on equal points above us at top of the table. We had heard that Bromley liked to shoot on sight and would attack us straight from the off. We had noticed that our Warriors took at least 15 minutes to warm up and get into 1st gear, so this concerned us a little.

Thankfully our girls made a good start and the 1st 20 minutes were good and we seemed to be holding them off well. They were a very physical team, strong and competitive, which in the end started to get the better of us. They scored a couple of goals before half time giving them the edge for the second half.

We have been down 2-0 twice before at half time and come back well, and we hoped this might have been the case again. But again this team showed much more determination than we did and managed to control most of the 2nd half.

We did feel that their referee wasn't up to standard, giving many decisions in favour of Bromley, and also I think his stopwatch was slow, playing well over the 30 minutes in both of the halves. This was noted and sent to the league for their records.

In the end the final score was 5-0. I think that our girls can produce a better result next time we play this team, as long as they fight for the ball, and never give up. We have to match them in competitiveness, we have the quality that's for sure.

Woodbank Warriors vs Westbury (7th Oct 07)

This was our local derby against rivals Westbury (formerly Radcliffe Girls). The rivalry goes back over three or four seasons during which we have twice knocked them out of the Seaside Tournament finals to win plates. Also a lot of our girls go to school with each other. You could feel the tension as soon as the match began.
During the first half we have the majority of play only to be denied scoring by some extraordinary goalkeeping by their goalie. Jen had at least three rocket shots saved and Hannah went close with further attempts.
On there only two attacks they managed to score two goals which amazingly left us 2 – 0 down at half time.

The second half was all Woodbank. Attack after attack ended in brilliant saves from the goalie. Meg F worked tirelessly linking superbly with Liv. Any attempts from Westbury were quickly stopped by our strong defence.

Finally a free kick on the left side. Meg F stepped up to hit a ‘Beckham Like’ shot which brought gasps from the supporters. It was going to take something amazing to beat their goalie and this was special.

With new found believe our one sided attacking continued until another shot of brilliance from Ele. Left footed and from distance this as also a goal to savour.

During a frantic last five minutes it was quite unbelievable that we didn’t clinch a winner. Amy (who improves with every game) and Meg F both came so close but it wasn’t to be.
Westbury cried out for the final whistle while we cried for extra time.
Final score 2 – 2. Great game and excellent to watch. Our team gets better and better.
Another amazing come back from 2 – 0 down showed great character. What we want know is to try not to give away a 2 – 0 start to the opposing team eh!!!!
Well done again girls.