This week, we had a full complement of games, with some really good and close games taking place. In the 8pm games, Sam Dennis’ side faced Newbegginers in a intruiging and tight game, whilst Chipping faced off against Wray. At 9pm, two unbeaten teams faced each other as an early title decider took place, with Crown Lane playing Capernwray. Another big game took place as two other teams in the hunt for the title faced each other, with Halton Rangers and Roeburndale Rascals playing each other.
Tonight’s 8pm game was set to be a belter. Sam Dennis’s team were looking to find their first win and Ryan Capstick was looking to add three more points to their previous wins! Sam Dennis managed to draft in Dan Tyrer from dad duties at home and what an important part he had to play in the game. And set to impress he did, playing along side the three Dennis brothers he managed to find the net 3 times in the first half, one an absolute pearler from inside his own half, that floated beautifully from his boot into the top left corner of the net, looking as comfortable as ever back playing in the league! Newbeginners were missing some key players tonight though in the first half. John Kelsall was away at Hawes tup buying, they missed his organisation and ability to read the game on these short pitches at Carnforth. Big DJ Capstick was missing also but to replace these lads was Jonny ‘carpenter’ Capstick and the Ousby brothers Ste and Mouse! They settled into the game well and soon got down to work. Despite the efforts of hard man Dan Hallam running as captain tonight he was unable to break the defence of Sam’s team in the first half and it finished 3-0 at half time!
The second half needed something more from Ryan ‘Razzle dazzle’s’ team to keep them in it and to keep Dan Tyrer quiet wasn’t an easy job. Same as previous weeks both teams set off well after the turn around and not long into the game Ryan made a switch which proved vital to the game. Ste Ousby made way for veteran, well capped Paul Capstick. Suited and booted and ready to go he came on and did the job. Jonny Capstick’s first game was going well, finding space well and when having the ball in at feet he was able to find his team mates every time. Dan Hallam was stuck knocking at the door of Sam’s defence and with new target man Paul up top to help out it was looking likely a goal was somewhere close! It was into the 25th minute for Newbigginers to score from young Rob and then soon after Hard man Hallam got the second. The game was back in sight for Ryan’s team now but a 4th goal came from John Dennis to help them keep ahead. Dan Tyrer was kept quieter this second half. Young Mouse Ousby came on for the last 5mins to give some energy to his side. Rob was having a good half and at 38mins he found his second goal to give hope to the well traveled side. Two mins on the clock just wasn’t enough enough though and the game ended 4-3. A delighted Sam Dennis managed to get a first win for his team. In the post match interview manager Ryan Capstick was happy with his teams second half performance, and suggested he maybe should have played his wild card a-bit sooner – his dad Paul Capstick. We might have seen a different outcome to the game if so. He was looking forward to getting his full strength side back in action next week.
In the other 8pm game, Wray faced Chipping. It was a tight start to the game, with neither side able to take hold of the game. However, Wray soon began to take hold of the game, with Harry Gorst, Martin Huddleston and James Burr all grabbing a couple of goals to put them 4-0 up at half time. Gorst and Huddleston were causing Chipping plenty of problems, whilst the defensive solidity of Burr and Wallbank was keeping Chipping out. Wallbank was winning every header in the air, to the detriment of his bottom lip, splitting that winning a good header versus Joe Kelsall! Moving into the second half, Huddleston and Gorst completed their hattricks, taking Wray further in front to 8-0 up, with the mercurial Gorst getting four goals in total. There was some consolation for Chipping as Ste Cornall fired home to make it 8-1 to Chipping. The big man had his goal, after firing the ball over the bar many times before hand. If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try, try again! However, it was to little, to late as the game ended 8-1, for Wray to continue their perfect start to the season.
Before the 9pm games, we had Matty Wraight from Capernwray share with us. He shared his testimony with us, how he grew up in Burnley, got mixed up in the wrong crowd but found his way to Christ. He spent time back on the estate he grew up on, however now he is sharing the gospel with those there. It was a powerful testimony that will have resonated with a number of people there.
In the 9pm games, a strong looking Crown Lane side took on an energetic, tough Capernwray side. Neither side started the game particularly dominantly, but Crown Lane soon caught Capernwray on the counter attack and Ol Parkinson fired home to give Crown Lane an early lead. They soon doubled that advantage through Dan Parkinson. A dream start for Crown Lane! However, this Capernwray team is a tough one to contain and they soon found a way through a tough Crown Lane defence to half their advantage. Half time was coming and with the game finely in the balance, a goal now would be a massive bonus. And three goals moments before half time would be an enormous bonus. That is just what Crown Lane got. 3 very quick goals before half time sliced through Capernwray and put them 5-1 up at half time. That was massive for Crown Lane in the context of the game as going in at half time 2-1 up or 5-1 makes a massive difference! It gave them real breathing space in the tie and put them half way to the vital 3 points. Into the second half it was still a really tight game, but both sides were playing the ball about nicely. Crown Lane soon added to their lead with a fine finish from Sam Hogarth, putting them 6-1 up. However, Capernwray were soon allowed a route back into the game after a penalty was awarded to them, which was calmly dispatched by one of the students. However, it proved to be to little too late as Crown Lane found another goal, again through Dan ‘De Bruyne’ Parkinson. It was his magic again that took Crown Lane to a statement win against a strong Capernwray team. Crown Lane have made a great start to the season, winning five games out of five, though the argument has been made that they can’t be made title favorites yet as they have yet to play one of the stronger teams in the league. It can be argued that they are now title favorites, alongside Wray, having swept Capernwray aside with such ease. If both sides keep up their early season form, the game to watch out for is on the 15th January as the top unbeaten two face each other. The potential for it to be a real humdinger of a game!
In the other 9pm game between Halton Rangers and Roeburndale Rascals has been the talked about game around Carnforth for a couple of weeks now. Two good teams fighting their way to the top of the table and if both teams want to be in with a chance of winning the league these three points might prove vital at the close of the season! Both teams had a good team selection out but still Pete the manager for Halton was missing again. Ryan once again claiming the gloves and responsibility for the Halton lads. Halton set off well and were soon down to scoring with Nathan sending home a powerful well struck shot. Nathan is proving to be a handful to teams this season as his strength and ability to hold off defenders is first class! Rascals were getting on the ball though and were putting in a good game with Will Preece up and down the pitch all game. Rascals manager Matt ‘dynamo’ Dawson was in nets for his team tonight, with Rascals down to only 5 players tonight and no subs to come on to add energy to the side. With the run up to half time Levon got a goal to send his Halton team on but Rascals were helped with a goal by Will Preece, and what a goal it was! An absolute screamer of a goal. Left footed top bin job. The score at half time was 2-1. The second half was met with more goals from front man Levon, he bagged himself 3 more goals in the second half, with Will Preece popping up yet again with another goal. Both teams were helped out immensely tonight by both goal keepers! Ryan for Halton was like a cat and Dynamo Matt Dawson was…..well true to his name… a dynamo. The game finished 5-2 to Halton. Rascals have missed out on three points tonight that may prove important later on this year. In the post match interview with ITV Carnforth, Halton goal keeper Ryan was well and truly made up with the win and happy with the performance of the whole side. Pete will have to pull of a good game on his return to secure his place between the sticks in coming weeks!
There are a number of exciting and tight games lined up for next week, with Ingleton facing Garstang, Halton Rangers taking on Carnforth, whilst at 9pm, Capernwray will look to bounce back from defeat facing a revitalized Sam Dennis side, whilst Light Church face a tricky test against Newbeginners.
