Poynton FC Under 15's Match Reports 2007-08

Wednesday 12th September 2007 - Poynton FC Under 15's 0-8 Reddish Vulcans Typhoons Under 15's - Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

Poynton started the game slowly and conceded after only two minutes. Things got worse very quickly and at half time they were 4-0 down. In the second half they held their own for a quarter of an hour, but upon conceding a fifth heads went down and another three were scored by an in form Reddish team.

Sunday 16th September 2007 - Poynton FC Under 15's 2-5 Richmond Rovers Under 15's 'A'- Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

A better display in the first twenty minutes saw an even game but once Poynton conceded heads dropped and by half time it was 3-0. A better second half display saw goals by Andy Belcher and Dominic Yates but it wasn’t enough to pull back the deficit, Richmond having added two further to their first half score.

Sunday 23rd September 2007 - Signol Athletic Under 15's 1-1 Poynton FC Under 15's - Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

Poynton battled hard against a strong, physical Signol team and at half time neither team had managed to break the deadlock. Early in the second half Jonny Cooke opened the scoring for Poynton with a well taken goal. Other opportunities arose but weren’t converted and Signol equalised when a loose ball in the area dropped favourably for their forward. Both teams could look upon the result as a point lost and a draw was probably a fair result.

Sunday 14th Ocotber 2007 - Poynton FC Under 15's 1-5 Hazel Grove United Under 15's 'A' - Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

Poynton again started well and created a couple of half chances but with their first opportunity Hazel Grove took the lead. After the recent run of results a couple of heads dropped and before quarter of an hour had passed it was 0-3, both additions comng from basic mistakes. At this point the lads stopped feeling sorry for themselves and started to play footall. They began winning their individual battles and putting series’ of passes together but couldn’t make the breakthrough. At the start of the second half the under 15’s season was summed up as a shot from Hazel Grove was well blocked and the deflection rolled to their centre forward who mis-hit his shot and it rolled into the goal. Grove got a fifth via an own goal at a corner. However the best goal was left to Poynton, the ball was won in the midfield and played out to Alex Cox on the right near the half way line. He controlled the ball, pushing it into the Hazel Grove half and then shot Beckhamesque into the top corner of the goal over the advanced keeper. Another improved performance and hopefully a result will come soon.

Sunday 21st Ocotber 2007 - Poynton FC Under 15's 2-1 Cheadle Heath Nomads - Stockport Metro Cup (Preliminary Round)

Preliminary round of the cup and the first time we have had a full squad all season. Poynton started very positive and should have taken the lead when through one on one with the keeper but a last minute lunge saved Cheadle. Opportunities were created by Poynton but not converted until twenty five minutes had passed. The ball was won on the right and played across the pitch until it got to the left wing and a great run and cross by Dominic Yates saw Andy Belcher leap at the far post and place an unstoppable header into the net. The second half continued in a similar vain, again without further goals until Jonny Cooke again got through one on one but this time didn’t give the keeper the opportunity to save by smashing the ball into the top corner of the net from the edge of the area. Cheadle made it a nervy last few minutes by scoring but Poynton held on.

Sunday 11th November 2007 - Poynton FC Under 15's 1-4 Wilmslow Albion Under 15's - Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

Poynton started brightly but a bullet of a shot gave Wilmslow the lead after quarter of an hour. Poor tackling allowed them to increase their lead and at half time it was 0-3, which would have been greater had it not been for some excellent keeping from Tom Nixon.. Poynton’s game was much better in the second half, Andy Belcher and Mike Pearson being stronger in the tackle and altogether playing a smarter passing game. The goal when it came was a scruffy affair, Liam Berry stabbing home following a corner. Poynton then pressed strongly in an attempt for a second, which would give them the opportunity of the draw but a lapse in concentration at the back gave Wilmslow a fourth and all but finished the game.

Sunday 16th March 2008 - Cheadle & Gatley U15's 2-1 (aet) Poynton FC Under 15's - Stockport Metro Cup (Semi-Final)

Poynton went into the semi final having lost at this stage to the same team last year but feeling confident, even though they lost to this team last week. From the start it was a very even game and both teams had opportunities, the best having been made by himself by Jamie Adam when he shot first time from outside the area and the Cheadle and Gatley keeper managed to push the ball round the post when it should have ended in the top corner. As half time approached Alex Dodgson scored a goal to give Poynton the lead. In the second half the game continued on an equal level until ten minutes from the end Cheadle and Gatley equalised. What appeared a concrete penalty in the dying minutes wasn’t given to Poynton and the game went into extra time. In the second half of extra time a hopeful cross into the area was caught by the wind and went in off the far post to give Cheadle and Gatley a win which really disappointed the Poynton team.

Sunday 6th April 2008 - Poynton FC Under 15's 2-3 Hollingworth Juniors U15's - Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

A very even game where both teams had opportunities during the first half. Poynton played probably their best half of the season, knocking the ball around on the floor with first time passes on a difficult, wet surface. Unfortunately the first chance that was converted was a mis-hit shot by Hollingworth but Poynton continued their slick football and got a justified equaliser before half time, when Alex Dodgson scored after some good work by Matt Astbury. In the second half Hollingworth started strongly but both teams continued to create chances, being thwarted by good keeping and last ditch defending. Again after strong tackling by Matt Astbury, the loose ball ran to Gareth Peacock who poked it under the advancing keeper. This seemed to galvanise Hollingworth, who pushed hard and eventually got their reward with around five minutes left when they equalised. They then had the momentum and Poynton's confidence was shattered after such a good display, which gave Hollingworth the opportunity to snatch a winner from a free-kick in the dying minutes. A draw would have been a fair result, all things considered and it was disappointing that such a good display gave the team no reward.

Sunday 13th April 2008 - Richmond Rovers U15's 1-1 Poynton FC U15's - Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

Poynton began the game knocking the ball around with great composure, belying their position in the League, against local rivals, who are still in with a chance of being Champions. Tight defending from both teams allowed few chances although the early ones fell to Poynton but they could not convert them. Midway through the first half, Richmond were awarded a free kick which was put into the area, missed by everyone and went in directly at the far post. Both teams pressed in the second half and Poynton did not abandon their footballing ethos, still playing the ball on the floor and passing fluidly and should have equalised but for a great reflex save by the Richmond ‘keeper. They got their reward ten minutes from the end, when a corner was converted by Dominic Yates. The last ten minutes petered out without further incident and the game ended a draw.

Wednesday 16th April 2008 - Reddish Vulcans 3-1 Poynton FC U15's - Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

Always a close game between these two rivals and this game was no different. Both teams created chances without taking a lead until Poynton were awarded a penalty midway through the first half, which was converted by Gareth Peacock. Reddish came out in the second half and pushed hard for an equaliser, which they eventually got. They were then awarded a penalty, which they converted and Poynton heads dropped, allowing Reddish to get a third and a scoreline which didn’t give a true reflection of the close game.

Sunday 20th April 2008 - Poynton FC U15's 5-0 Ryecroft Rangers - Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

A game between the bottom two clubs in the first division showed what Poynton are capable of on their day. Some quality passing and movement was interspersed with goals from Dominic Yates, Gareth Peacock, Alex Dodgson, Jamie McPike and Joe Wooding Quality defensive play and keeping was also on display when necessary and the lads were deserved winners.

Friday 25th April 2008 - Poynton FC U15's 1-1 Cheadle Heath Nomads U15's - Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

The final home game of the season saw Poynton have an opportunity after twenty seconds which the Cheadle ‘keeper saved, and a second great chance a few minutes later, which was put over the bar and further chances before half time, which were not converted. In the second half Cheadle took the lead but Poynton continued to push and were rewarded with a penalty, which was converted by Gareth Peacock. The team pushed for an equaliser but chances were spurned by several players and the game finished all square.

Sunday 27th April 2008 - Wilmslow Albion U15's 0-0 Poynton FC U15's - Stockport Metro League (Division 1)

A depleted team (on both sides) saw Mike Pearson make a return as goalkeeper and Tom Nixon play centre forward. At times the football played was of a high quality by both teams and at times the tackling was frenetic, but fair. Neither team created any obvious chances and the game was played out to a 0 – 0 draw, but in a manner that I think parents and players wished they could see every week.