(10)0-1p, HT, (58)1-1Potter.

		Luke Harrison
Luke McGurn	Luke Shillito			Ethan Mahmoudi		Ayden Ward
James Underwood	Lachlan Quirke			Lucas Hebditch		Keon Williams
		Joe Potter
		Tom Coxon

14 mins Dan McFarlane (CM), Lachlan Quirke to (RM) on for James Underwood.

38 mins James Underwood (RM) on for Lachlan Quirke.

55 mins Lachlan Quirke (RB) on Luke McGurn.

A three quarter size pitch stopped Leeds using the width for Keon and Lachlan/James and balls to Tom ran through to the keeper. That meant that midfield became a tackling battle with no time or space to pass or receive the ball. Lucas, Lachlan/Dan did well in there, so did Luke S, Ethan, Ayden, Luke Mc and Keon as the game started to resemble hand to hand combat. Time and space limited for Tom and Joe. After ten minutes the ref gave a penalty following a strong block tackle, the ball was played on and then the game stopped for attention to Rothwell’s player, when the player was able to resume the ref pointed to the spot just as the players were preparing for a drop ball. The penalty was played into the bottom corner giving Luke no chance and denying him a well earned clean sheet that his decisive performance deserved. Rothwell were able to keep the pressure on as Leeds City kept giving hard earned possession away, however gradually Leeds started to carve out their own opportunities and relieve the pressure, a couple of Tom shots just going narrowly wide.

Second half and now going down the slight slope with the wind, Leeds started slowly but then wound up the pressure by dominating possession and forcing Rothwell to the point where they couldn’t get out of their half. Tom got free inside the box and crossed along the line only for Lucas and Keon to arrive just too late to tap the ball in, Ethan had a ferocious free kick cleared off the line (awarded against a Rothwell defender who was fouled by Tom), Lucas was throwing long throws into the penalty area and firing in corners which caused mayhem, an Ayden header was cleared off the line, Keon had a shot hit the far post, Lachlan had a goal bound shot blocked in the six yard box and just when it seemed as though the goal would not arrive Lucas played a great through ball to Joe who was five yards off side, held off a challenge and beat the goalkeeper to place the ball into the empty net.

The ref also managed to block four Leeds City passes and another player running to receive a pass during the course of the game. I sit next to a bloke at the back of the East Stand who intermittently bellows "it's not about you ref" he would have been spot on today.

Although a disappointing result because there were enough chances to have won the game comfortably, the players should be praised for their tenacity throughout the game and keeping their heads and having the imagination and skill to keep creating chances as the clock ticked down. Man of the match for being calm under pressure to slot the late equaliser home - Joe.

Saturday - training at Bedquilts 10am to 12 noon.

Sunday - Garforth Villa away. Please arrive for 9.45am for a 10.30am kick off.

The team will be from : Luke Harrison, Luke McGurn, Luke Shillito, Ethan Mahmoudi, Ayden Ward, Lachlan Quirke, Lucas Hebditch, James Underwood, Keon Williams, Joe Potter, Tom Coxon, Dan McFarlane and Hasen Retha.

Directions :

Head for Swillington Miners Club, 9 Wakefield Road, Swillington, LS26 8DT. A6120 Ring Road through Seacroft - Crossgates - Colton and onto the A63 Selby Road, over the junction (46) with M1-A1 link. Turn right at next roundabout onto A642 Wakefield Road (probably sign posted for Swillington/Woodlesford/Oulton). When going through Swillington the miners club is on the left hand side. Go down the side of the club to the rear car park, continue on a track to a further car park and park there, the pitches will be in front of you.

(5)1-0 Potter, (10)2-0 Coxon, HT (31)3-0 Coxon, (39)4-0 Coxon, (44)4-1, (50)5-1 Williams, (51)5-2, (60)6-2 Hebditch.

		Luke Harrison
Hasen Retha	Luke Shillito			Ethan Mahmoudi		Ayden Ward
	Lachlan Quirke			Lucas Hebditch
James Underwood		Joe Potter				Keon Williams
		Tom Coxon

20 mins Dan McFarlane(CM), Lachlan Quirke to (RB) on for Hasen Retha.

40 mins Hasen Retha (RM) on for James Underwood.

50 mins James Underwood (RM), Hasen to (RB) Lachlan Quirke to (CM) on for Dan McFarlane.

 

A good start but Leeds were lucky not to be behind from an in swinging corner which was cleared off the line only to hit Hasen on the legs, then cleared again onto Hasen’s chest, the rebound running along the line hitting the opposite post and finally cleared by Ayden. The next minute Leeds took the lead, James cutting in and crossing for Tom to head on and Joe reacted quickest to hit the ball at point blank range high into the net. Despite playing up hill and defending the boggier end of the pitch Leeds had the initiative, getting the ball through midfield to Keon and James who attacked the full backs aggressively. From that type of play the ball arrived in the six yard box for Tom to get to the ball first between central defender and keeper to stab the ball home. As the half wore on the initiative gradually passed to Colton and by the end of the half some outstanding defending by the whole team kept Colton out, defending several wind assisted in swinging corners.

Second half and with the slope, there was an instant goal, the ball played into the six yard box for Tom to twist open up half a yard of space and steer the ball across goal an inside the far post. The interplay between the team was flowing now with moves constructed between 4 or 5 players at a time with the ball being moved confidently forward and back, to go forward again. However Tom’s hatrick goal was about as route one as possible, defending a Colton attack Lucas came away with the ball on the edge of the box and played a thirty five yard ball over the Colton central defenders for Tom to run on to, over took the defender, cut across him, on entering the box switched the ball between his feet to dump the keeper out the game, controlled the ball on his left adjusted and stroked the ball right footed into the far corner with goalie and defender scrambling back. Colton got a goal back but the initiative remained with Leeds, Keon was an outstanding outlet for the team, pulling wide, tracking back, always available to Ayden and also Ayden received the ball back many times when Keon was boxed in. Meanwhile similar combinations were on the other side between James/Hasen and Lachlan, really confident teamwork. Keon had played the ball across goal most times but this time drove into the box went through a couple of tackles and put the ball into the far post from 10 yards. Almost immediately Colton got a goal back and for a while their long balls bypassing the midfield started to cause problems but Luke Shillito, Ethan and Ayden not only won the ball but had the composure to play the ball into feet across the entire midfield. In the last minute of normal time a ball from James found Lucas in the six yard box who was strong and pounced on the chance to force the ball over the line.

Outstanding team performance both in terms of determination to win the ball and then passing and moving, without doubt the best performance of the season. From Luke in goal with some great saves and dropping on the ball with boots coming in from all sides through to Tom up front, plus the return of Dan from injury, so many good performances, with Lucas edging man of the match award for a domination of midfield throughout. One of their assistants commented on how well our lads headed the ball and not one foul throw and possession retained from the throw ins, thanks Matt.

 

Saturday - training at Bedquilts 10am to 12 noon, an important session ahead of the game on Sunday.

 

Sunday - Rothwell Town away. Please arrive for 10.45am for a 11.30am kick off.

The team will be from : Luke Harrison, Luke McGurn, Luke Shillito, Ethan Mahmoudi, Ayden Ward, Lachlan Quirke, Lucas Hebditch, James Underwood, Keon Williams, Joe Potter, Tom Coxon, Dan McFarlane.

Directions :

From Rothwell's manager "Postcode to my house which is two roads down and will get your parents in the right place is LS26 8WG.
You will turn off Holmsley Lane at a small roundabout into a new housing estate onto Pymont Drive. After no more than 30m the first turn on the right is Keilder Way. The show house with flags outside is on the corner. The pitch is at the end (50m) of Keilder Way. Holmeslay Lane and Pymont Drive are on multi map, google maps etc but Keilder Way isn't shown because it is new.
Park on the road either Keilder Way or Pymont Drive.

Please ask your parents not to block drives and can the boys knock the mud off the boots before leaving the pitch rather than in front of someones house. We have had a couple of complaints."

Take the A61 south (Wakefield) turn off onto the A639, continue through the junction (44) with the M1-A1 link, still on the A639 Leeds Road, towards John O' Gaunts and Woodlesford, turn left onto Holmsley Lane, then see above.

Fixtures

Updates in Green since last issue.

13th February - Away vs Rothwell Town.

20th February - Away vs Garforth Villa.

27th February - HOME vs Farsley Celtic.

6th March - HOME vs Colton Juniors, Supplementary Cup Quarter Final, 12.30 kick off on Adel B.

13th March - designated Supplementary Cup match day.

20th March - HOME vs Ossett Town - 10.30am kick off on Pitch 7.

27th March - possible day for a re-arranged match.

3rd April - HOME vs Rothwell Town - 10.30am kick off on Pitch 4.

10th April - Away vs Castleford Town.

17th April - HOME vs Churwell Lions - 10.30am kick off on Pitch 7.

24th April - possible day for a re-arranged match.

1st May - possible day for a re-arranged match.

8th May - possible day for a re-arranged match.

15th May - possible day for a re-arranged match.

 

To be arranged

HOME vs Castleford Town.

HOME vs Garforth Villa.

 

 

Regards

 

Richard

		Luke Harrison
Hasen Retha	Luke McGurn			Ethan Mahmoudi		Ayden Ward
James Underwood	Lachlan Quirke			Lucas Hebditch		Keon Williams
		Joe Potter
		Tom Coxon

Seacroft unrecognisable from the opposition last year in two very tight wins with half their squad going to Whinmoor on the eve of the season and replaced with players who are in their first season, which puts some context on the game. Some of the new lads are big and strong but are learning their positions on the pitch.

A tight first five minutes when the game was even as Leeds started playing up the slope. First real attack resulted in Keon shooting at the keeper, then from a corner the ball fell to Lucas and he smashed it high into the net. Leeds had Seacroft on the ropes and a cross was handled as a defender challenged for the ball with his flailing arms above his head, Joe put the resulting penalty under the goal keeper who was dropping to the ground in instalments. Keon steered another chance in the box into the net to make it three nil again as a result of persistent pressure from the entire team. The build up play was working well with James U getting free on the right and to cross into the middle of goal for Joe to meet first time on the half volley and loop the ball over the keeper for four nil. James U got in on the goalscoring act with a smartly taken shot in the box. Although not scoring in the last ten minutes of the half the chances came and went with Hasen, Luke McG and Lucas all having shots from inside of the box. Towards the end of the half the lads started to overplay and not get the ball out of their feet and passed on to a man in space.

Now playing down the hill and the lads could dominate possession even more but did it by playing the ball down the channels (between the full backs and centre backs) or out wide to involve James and Keon. Tom’s pace really told as did his goal scoring instincts, put through in the thirty fourth minute he calmly placed his shot around the keeper and inside the post, a classic Tom goal. Five minutes later and the moment we’ve been waiting three seasons for, the ball falls at the feet of Luke McG in the box facing goal for him to lash into the net, even the ref wanted to punch the air. Next up Lachlan (man of the match) received the ball on the edge of the box and hits a low shot into the bottom corner passed the now disheartened keeper to make it 8-0, Lachlan coolly turns on his heel and walks back for the restart, although seen still smiling even when miss controlling a ball a few minutes later. James got his second inside the box stabbing home a great cross from Keon. Tom played through again one on one with the keeper and once again the ball ends in the same bottom corner and the keeper on his back. Final minute and Keon tries a chip from just inside the box, it hits the post then the keeper and then Tom pounces ahead of Joe to prod the ball over the line. Ethan had a great game at centre back as it wasn’t all one way traffic coming up with some timely interceptions and the ability to pass to a Leeds shirt and start a counter attack. Unfortunately Tom’s hat trick goal came too late and Ethan had a heady ten seconds at centre forward before the final whistle went. Along with Ethan, Ayden made sure the opportunities for Seacroft were limited not just his tackling but his positional play so that he spotted any danger early and could snuff it out. Luke in goal made a tremendous save diving in mid air to push a shot across him away from goal and keep a well deserved clean sheet.

A mature and clever performance by all eleven players who stuck to their principles, won possession by being strong and determined, passed and moved until the opposition were bewildered. Unchartered terratory now a Quarter Final.

 

Saturday - training at Bedquilts 10am to 12 noon, an important session ahead of the game on Sunday.

 

Sunday - Please arrive for 9.45am for a 10.30am kick off, Bedquilts Pitch 7. League match vs Colton Juniors.

The team will be Luke Harrison, Hasen Retha, Luke Shillito, Ethan Mahmoudi, Ayden Ward, Lachlan Quirke, Lucas Hebditch, James Underwood, Keon Williams, Joe Potter, Tom Coxon and Dan McFarlane.

 

Fixtures

Updates in Green since last issue.

6th February - HOME vs Colton Juniors.

13th February - Away vs Rothwell Town.

20th February - Away vs Garforth Villa.

27th February - possible day for a re-arranged match.

6th March - HOME vs Colton Juniors, Supplementary Cup Quarter Final, 12.15 kick off on Adel B.

13th March - designated Supplementary Cup match day.

20th March - HOME vs Ossett Town - 10.30am kick off on Pitch 7.

27th March - possible day for a re-arranged match.

3rd April - HOME vs Rothwell Town - 10.30am kick off on Pitch 4.

10th April - Away vs Castleford Town.

17th April - HOME vs Churwell Lions - 10.30am kick off on Pitch 7.

24th April - possible day for a re-arranged match.

1st May - possible day for a re-arranged match.

8th May - HOME vs Farsley Celtic. 10.30am kick off on Pitch 7.

15th May - possible day for a re-arranged match.

 

To be arranged

HOME vs Castleford Town.

HOME vs Garforth Villa.

 

 

Regards

 

Richard