Fulwood Amateurs

Ground 12
Match 12

Admission £1.50 Programme Included Attendance 48 Distance 10 miles Can of Fosters £1.50 Hot Dog £1.20 .








Thought i'd make the short trip to Fulwood and as i approached the ground i noticed there were several Lightfoot Lanes . As i'm used to this area it was no problem but i can imagine many teams take wrong turns . A large entrance gate sign welcomes you to Fulwood amateurs and Preston Grasshoppers RU . The ground is situated at the end of a very large car park and a programme seller greets you at the gates . Admission includes a neatly published edition featuring statistics , league tables and teams . Today Fulwood are hosting Blackpool Wren Rovers who , according to the programme notes are bottom of the league . On the face of it , seems like an easy home victory is on the cards . Fulwood are in all blue and Blackpool Wren Rovers (BWR) are in all red . I'm impressed with the covered area stretching the whole length of one goal side and a neatly presented catering outlet . There's plenty of reasonably priced food and drink . AS i find my position the teams appear for the kick off . Its a dour first twenty minutes and neither side is taking charge . BWR settle in well as the away team and are comfortable on the ball . Not many chances although BWR 's forward inexplicably fires over from three yards when he seems certain to score with the keeper struggling . Neither side stamps authority on the game and chances are few and far between .No surprise when the teams go in 0-0 at half-time . Its pouring down and time for refreshments . At least its warm and cosy under the covered stand and its convenient for the food which is ideally situated . I'm expecting more in the second half especially from Fulwood who need to step it up .Tteams are out for the second half . Fulwood were on the back foot from the kick off but amazingly after 52 minutes , against the run of play , their forward got the better of BWR's defender in a one on one and finished exquisitely low into the corner . BWR didn't panic and began taking control , swift inter play and passing , moving forward briskly and with menace . Their right winger (7) was a constant threat and chances were being created . In the 69th minute BWR equalised with a ferocious shot from 14 yards beating the keeper to his left . BWR kept up the pressure while Fulwood had no cohesion . A right wing centre was headed in and Rovers were deservedly leading 2-1 . More chances went begging and on a breakaway Fulwood appeared to have a jusified penalty claim when the keeper seemed to bring down an opponent with a clumsy challenge . The referee didn't look interested and gave a goal kick .< BWR made a couple of more opportunities but to no avail . Final score Fulwood Amateurs 1-2 Blackpool Wren Rovers .Match officials . Made a few close calls and appeared to get some decisions incorrect , stamped their authority on the game adequately . 8.5 out of 10
Footage of the game .

Fulwood Amateurs August 20th , 2011

photos

Coppull United

Ground 11

Match 11

Blainscough Park

Attentance 85

Admission Free

Programme No

Distance  8 miles

West Lancs Premier

Coppull United Blue and white stripes blue shorts black socks entertain Burnley United , claret jerseys,shorts,blue socks .

Excellent sunny night as i made my way through Euxton and Charnock Richard towards Blainscough Park past the Springfield pub and onto Springfield Road North leading to Springfield Road and Coppull United .
Players were still arriving and others were warming up on the pitch which was surrounded by a three foot perimeter fence/part advertising boards .











 Made my way round the pitch to the far side were Burnley players were loosening up . There was a high netted surround behind the goal to stop the ball straying too far . I retrieved a few balls lining up next to a nettle infested hedge , scraping my legs in the process . The Burnley United contngent were in a jovial mood and we shared a few comments and laughed .

Coppull try to take the initiative as the home team putting a few good moves together in midfield but lacking the final ball . Forwards were moving into space but the service was poor . . Burnley were similar , not finding the illusive final pass . It was fairly even until Coppull managed to get the breakthrough with a simple tap in from six yards after 20 minutes .
Burnley seemed to lack a leader and were nearly punished again when the Coppull outside left created an opening but shot over and wide from 15 yards out .
Burnley's keeper stepped up to the mark and began shouting and taking charge . This seemed to put more urgency in the team and they began to look more confident despite being a goal down . Coppull were looking reasonably comfortable when their keeper miscued a clearance straight to a Burnley forward who capitalised on the error with a goal . This gave Burnley the initiative and before half-time their number 11 was brought down near the penalty area and was awarded a free kick . Coppulls keeper positioned his four man wall to his left and stood on the same side leaving a gaping hole for The Burnley forward to aim  and score their second .

Half-time 2-1 to Burnley United .

Ten minutes had cost Coppull who seemed to be in the driving seat before they created hard work for themselves .
Refreshments
Pint of Bitter £2.40 Tea/coffee/hot chocolate 60p crisps 50p - very reasonable indeed and pleasant staff . There seemed to be a large Burnley United contingent and the atmosphere was friendly , everyone laughing and joking , making the most of the fine weather .

 After the restart  Clarets were pushing forward and made several chances resulting in a one on one with the keeper which was elequently finished low and hard into the net .
At 3-1 Burnley were cruising and Coppull were in danger of capitulating and leaking goals but managed to graft back into the game . Tackles were 'flying' in just like the 'plane overhead and a mystery balloon hovering in the sunlit sky.
Coppulls number sixteen managed to get away with a few nudges on his opponents before he fell victim to a thumping tackle by Burnley's number four . The referee was quick on the mark to simmer the situation down as Coppulls number four appeared to poke a finger in the Burnley players face who just smirked and didn't take the ' bait .'
Both players (16&4) received yellow cards and the Clarets number four was in for more 'tasty' tackles before the game finished falling victim to a late challenge by Coppulls number six who received yellow .

Coppull couldn't find another goal and the game ended Coppull United 1-3 Burnley United .
Thoroughly captivating match for many reasons , cut and thrust tackles,goals,missesand a low flying aeroplane .
Match officials - had to cope with several affrays and were quick on the scene ,could argue a couple of players might have received red cards instead of yellows but did well to keep all 22 players on the pitch . Tough physical encounter and stood up to the task . Missed a few pushes and nudges and made some close calls on 'offsides.'
9 out of 10

Coppull will feel Burnley's two first half goals were preventable and be disappointed not to take at least a point . Burnley got over a lack-lustre first half an hour and never looked back after equalising .

Footage including scuffle and UFO incident .

Coppull United 16th august 2011">

Hesketh Bank AFC

Ground 10

Match 10

Hesketh Bank (yellow/gold/black)

v BAC/EE SPRINGFIELDS (all red)

West Lancs Division 1

Centenary Sports Ground,
Station Road,
Hesketh Bank,
Nr Preston, Lancashire,
PR4 6SE

Admission FREE
Programme obtained - Donation
Distance from home 7 m

Attendance fluctuated between 30 and 50




Set off to Hesketh Bank from Leyland fully expecting rain but i was in for a treat , the sun was beaming down as i approached Station Road . I saw the club gates to my right, Hesketh Bank FC leading to a subbuteo 1960's style pitch with circular fence poles and fence posts neatly surrounding the pitch .
I noticed two chaps near the dugout and proceeded towards them . I asked if they had any programmes , one was the Chairman and he politely opened a cigar style box and offered me a programme for a donation . i obviously grabbed a few . ! LOL .


An excellent acquisition i must say . I was highly delighted and even more in my element when i noticed a sports bar at the back of the car park .I could feel the sun beating on my brow and thought i'd buy a cool drink before the game started
I finished my drink and made my way to the pitch past the dugouts, the gamed had started .
Hesketh were colourful if not adept in their striking kit . It seemed to take ages to get in their stride , BAC were solid at the back , passing from one defender to the other . The assistant referee was BAC from the touchline . Appeared the assistants were provided by both clubs participating in the game so i would expect this was considered even and above board .I was alongside him and although vocal , he did appear to be doing a good job
Hesketh began to create openings and in a ten minute spell before half -time should have been leading only for a mixture of good golkeeping and defending . In-between BAC had a gilt edged opportunity when their striker was clear but failed to convert . Half - time 0-0 . Hesketh were probably the least satisfied with the scoreline , poor finishing letting them down . After a few refreshments i legged it back to the pitch . Hesketh seemed to be lacking the final touch and their play had become sloppy and disjointed . Suddenly a Hesketh forward found himself clear with only the keeper to beat , half expecting the 'BAC' linesman to flag him for offside but , to his credit , he shouted' onside , play on ,'still Hesketh could'nt find the back of the net .
A couple of lightning breaks and ten minutes into the second half BAC fired one home . Ten minutes later and another counter attack was finished off , BAC were 2-0 up and coasting . Hesketh tried to push up and suffered a booking before BAC capitalised on yet another long ball and shot into the bottom corner 3-0 . Hesketh's tall substitute forward came on and lifted the team resulting in a neatly headed goal past the BAC keeper .
Too little too late for Hesketh who must be wondering what hit them in the second half . In the interval they seemed perfectly capable of scratching a result from this game but BAC were clinical in their quick breakaways and punished their opponents slack defending .Final score Hesketh Bank 1-3 BAC
Tale of missed chances and rapid breakaways but an excellent venue and friendly .
Hesketh will play far worse and get points , i'm sure .Man in the Middle - did well and was quick on the mark when a scuffle broke out and dealt with players swiftly and firmly . 8.5 out of 10
Hesketh bank v BAC backpass
More photos Hesketh bank AFC August 2011">