Garswood travelled to St. Helens in good spirits after a hard fought win the previous week, and with several of the squad returning after a week’s break were looking forward to having a full squad to choose from. The hosts had visited Birch Grove a few months earlier and had come away with a point in a hard fought contest so the lads knew that there would be no easy pickings gained at the Beeches, home of Penlake.

The weather was cold to say the least with a freezing wind and driving sleet making conditions tricky underfoot, Garswood needed to earn the right to play football on a narrow pitch. The visitors had the better of the early exchanges and could have gone a couple of goals up early doors but for some last ditch defending and snatched efforts on goal. The deadlock however was broken ten minutes before half-time as Liam Hilton raced down the left and unselfishly cut back for Jay Herring to apply the touch after getting to the near post ahead of the defender with a smart finish.

Five changes were made at the start of the second half and the next goal was going to be crucial to the outcome of this match. Thankfully it went the visitor’s way as Ollie Kennedy bravely headed home after a corner from Ryan Eden was only half cleared. Aaron Beavan then got his name on the score sheet as he prodded home from another great corner delivered from Ryan Eden. Alexi Mellor added a fourth soon after as he spotted the home keeper off his line and lobbed him with a tremendous shot from 30 yards out. The visitor’s were pouring forward at every opportunity and after another corner was cleared to the edge of the box Ethan Apter took a touch to get the ball out of his feet and curled home a beauty from just outside the edge of the box to put Garswood 5-0 up.

With ten minutes remaining Cameron Ashurst stroked the ball home from 20 yards out as he side-footed past the keeper from the edge of the box to put the visitor’s in dreamland. Penlake grabbed a consolation with almost the last kick of the game with a well taken finish.

Final Score – Penlake Juniors 1 v Garswood Hawks 6

Team – D. Finney, B. Wilson, J. A. Williams, C. Davies (Capt), J. Perrat, O. Kennedy, R. Eden, L. Hilton, A. Mellor, J. Herring, L. Dixon

Man of the Match – Ryan Eden – A constant threat down both lines and has a dead ball delivery as good as anyone in any league. Took his fair share of punishment but never shirked a tackle all day long, a tremendous display from the young man.

Credit to all of the lads on a gutsy performance in truly foul weather, a result like this will stand them in good stead for the remaining five games of the season.

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Near neighbours Newton were the visitors to Birch Grove for their early morning kick-off with the hosts looking to consolidate their position at the top of the league on a lovely winters morning.

Despite being without four regulars through half-term skiing trips Garswood adopted a 3-4-3 formation and looked to attack from the off. Whether it was due to the 10am ko or the lack of recent football (due to the weather) the game started slowly but the lead was taken when jay herring cut in from the left beating two defenders before firing low past the keeper. Five minutes later Alexi Mellor picked the ball up twenty yards out and fizzed a left foot shot low past the opposition keeper who did not move.  On the half hour mark a strong run from Ollie Kennedy saw him slip in Ryan Eden whose deflected shot fell to Ethan Apter who fired in from 12 yards out. Just before half-time Alexi Mellor broke free in the box and unselfishly squared the ball for Liam Hilton to tap home from the edge of the six yard box 4-0 at half time and looking confortable..

Within a few minutes of the restart the visitors got a goal back after some hesitant defending saw a left wing cross turned in at the far post. Unbelievably, a carbon copy followed soon after before a worldy of a free kick flew into the top corner from 25 yards out to make the score 4-3. With a quarter of an hour left Ryan Eden settled the nerves as he went on another mazy run and finished with a thunderbolt of a shot which flew in via the crossbar. Liam Dixon and Ryan Eden both rattled the woodwork in the last ten minutes but the hosts looked solid enough in the closing stages and saw the game out. We were all left wondering how we almost threw a game away that we had dominated virtually from start to finish apart from a mad ten minutes in the second half. Respect to the newton players who battled back gamely, it’s just a shame that the same cant be said of some of the comments from their side line. Another really good display from ref Philip Wilson, he communicates really well with the lads and always explains his decisions to them.

Garswood Hawks 5 v Newton-le-Willows 3

Team – D. Finney, R.Eden, J. Perrat, A. Mellor, E. Apter, C.Davies, L.Hilton, O. Roberts, A. Bevan, J. Herring, O. Kennedy – Subs – M. Marsh, L. Dixon

Man of the match – a shortage of regulars meant a few of the lads played in unfamiliar positions but Cam Davies was superb throughout at right centre back, good in the air strong in the challenge – a superb display.

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After a frustrating 9 week break due to the demands of the Great British winter, Garswood travelled to Wigan to play Winstanley Warriors Warriors (that’s right, I don’t keep repeating myself), in their re-arranged presidents cup match. The hosts were flying high near the top of the premier league whilst their opponents were placed thirty places below in the Warrington football pyramid at the top of division three.

Not surprisingly both teams looked a little rusty in the opening exchanges and Garswood suffered an early blow when midfielder Ryan Eden was forced off with a muscle injury. The hosts clearly had pace all over the pitch and the plan was to remain compact and look to play on the counter attack. All was going to plan until 25 minutes in as a shot from the edge of the box took two wicked deflections before bouncing off the post into the back of the visitors net. The goal spurred Garswood into action and sub jay herring almost equalised when shooting just wide when through one on one with the keeper and Alexi Mellor had another great chance just before half time before being ruled offside.

More changes were made after the interval and ten minutes in the hosts went 2-0 up with a superb overhead kick from a corner that was only half cleared to the edge of the box. Garswood refused to lie down and after Owen Roberts clipped a ball into the danger area, jay herring managed to get in between the centre halves to slot the ball home from 10 yards out to put the visitors right back into the game. Both sides had a couple of half chances with Garswood keeper and captain Dan Finney making a couple of great stops but despite giving 110% to the final whistle the visitors couldn’t find the equaliser that would have taken the game to extra time.

Despite the loss the lads can take great heart from a spirited performance against quality opponents. They all put a real shift in today but a special mention must go to the keeper and defenders who threw themself into challenge after challenge again and again.

Team – D. Finney, R.Eden, B. Wilson, J. Perrat, A. Mellor, M.Marsh, E. Apter, J.A.Williams, C.Davies, L.Hilton, L. Dixon – Subs – C.Ashurst, A.Bevan, O. Roberts, J. Herring, O. Kennedy

Man of the match – the keeper and defence! Could not single out one lad as Dan Finney, Josh Aubrey Williams, Brad Wilson and jack perrat all played superb and never took a backward step all game.

Filed under: Under 15 D3 Hawks | Comments Off on Sun 8th February 2015, Presidents Cup 2nd round – Winstanley Warriors Warriors v Garswood Hawks