U15′s v Stalybridge Celtic
This was a mid week game played on Blocksages with a 6.15 ko, after Sundays opening defeat we were virtually at full strength for this fixture, with the return of Conor Fletcher and Hayden Roberts, George Kenyon being a late withdrawal.
The conditions didn’t lend itself to open flowing football as the wind played havoc all game, we decided to kick into the wind first half which meant virtually everyone behind the ball trying to hold Stalybridge to a small, or level lead at half time, but an own goal from captain Elliot Blenkinsop, saw the home team take a 1-0 lead into the break.
Second half proved to be our own undoing as having the wind behind us, and lack of positional play and haphazard defending quickly saw us go 3 goals down, the withdrawal of our captain and centre half through a hamstring injury only made matters worst as the home side ran out 7-1 winners, with Cam Dooley scoring our goal after good work on the right from Conor Fletcher.
They were outstanding performances from Elliot, and Alex Philpot, in defence, Nathan, Cam, and Jacob in midfield, Conor and James Brooke who played most of the game with an ankle injury.
We have quickly got to learn that teams are not going to roll over and lay down in this division, we have to work hard to grind out results, there is no room for faint hearts, or passengers, in this side, every player that pulls on a Mossley shirt this year must give 100% and more.