This week in the 5-a-side, we had another 4 great games take place during the evening. Forget the thriller between Liverpool and Arsenal, all the drama and exhilarating football you need is in the 5-a-side league! This week we had a number of exciting games, with Halton Rangers facing Carnforth, Ingleton taking on Garstang, Capernwray playing Sam Dennis’ side and Light Church taking on Newbeginners.
The 8pm game between Halton and Carnforth was a fantastic game. Two completely different halves. Halton had keeper Pete back in nets this week and so Ryan was free to run out field! Halton ware quick to get going and new signing Lewis bagged two good goals in the first 12 mins of play! Carnforth were struggling to piece together their game to pressure Halton. With only a 5 man team tonight with Cal and Andy missing it was going to be tough! Good old John ‘Maierhofer’ Gorst was having a good game again this week. Carnforth’s keeper Andy was on fire tonight with some fantastic saves. Just before half time Alex scored a great right footer to see them lead 3-0 at half time! The second half was a completely different half. In the words of Michael Owen – ‘Football is a game of two halves!’. Dean scored straight after the restart and the found the net again soon after. Halton were having to up their game to meet the Carnforth comeback, with the game finely balanced at 3-2. And Ryan did do with Halton’s fourth goal soon after. Carnforth were battering at the door of Halton keeper Pete but he was batting some good shots away. Dean managed to connect with a well hit strike from Kitch to claim the third Carnforth goal as his own! 4-3. The game was anyone’s to take but after another goal from Lewis for Halton and Kitch finding the net for Carnforth the game ended in a close well battled game at 5-4 to Halton. Both teams battled to the end with a good effort from John ‘Maierhofer’ Gorst saved by Pete. Halton cruised away home with 3 points but it was by no means easy!
In the other 8pm game, Ingleton faced Garstang in what promised to be a back and forth game. Garstang started the better of the two sides, marshaled by Matt Sowerby from the back, they were a tricky proposition for Ingleton to contain. This came true as Garstang soon went into a 2-0 lead. Garstang were playing much better this game and were proving to be a real handful to contain. The game was back and forth, with both keepers proving to be quite busy, Ingleton forcing a few good saves of out keeper Tom Whitaker. Garstang were going nicely and scored a couple more goals to put themselves in a strong position. Ingleton managed to pull a couple of goals back to bring the score to 6-2 but Garstang ran out convincing winners.
At 9pm, Dan Belshaw from Light Church shared with us, sharing a story from a time he was travelling on a long haul bus journey, how he drunk lots of water early on in the trip, resulting in him being in dire need of the toilet, but the bus wasn’t stopping anytime soon and to his knowledge, there was no toilet on the bus. This situation continued for some time and soon became urgent. Dan shared how a lady then turned to him, having overheard about his situation and told him there was a toilet at the back of the bus, if he wanted to use that. He went onto to say how it can be the same in our lives, that the thing we are in need of is right in front of us, but we just need someone to point it out. It is same with Jesus. We are all searching for something but we don’t always realize what it is we are searching for – but many hear the word each week and that is what people are searching for to fill the gap in their hearts. Jesus.
In the first 9pm game, Light Church faced a difficult game against Newbegginers, who had a strong squad out. Newbegginers set of well, soon taking the lead through front man Dan Hallam. Soon after, Light Church levelled the scores back up though, Josh Hogarth netting for them. However, in this back and forth game, Newbegginers soon roared back and took a three goal lead, with two through Alex Baines and another from Dan Hallam. However, Light Church weren’t going to let Newbegginers have it all their own way and they grabbed another goal, firing past keeper Gorst in the nets. 4-2. This game was really back and forth and there was another four goals shared between the teams before half time. Col Sowerby weaved his way through the Light Church defence with his silky feet and fired home to put Newbegginers 5-2 up. However Light Church got the next two goals, taking it back to 5-4, through Josh and Kieran. What a game this was turning out to be! However, the crucial moment in the game came when Newbegginers brought on John Kelsall, who steadied the ship and made them much more defensively sound, whilst allowing the attackers to flourish. Dan Hallam fired home again to make it 6-4 at half time. That would be the closest Light Church came to drawing level in the game as in the second half, Newbegginers pulled away from Light Church, scoring 7 unopposed goals during the second half. Paul Capstick came on at half time and instantly proved to be a real handful upfront, turning his defender inside out before slotting coolly past the ailing Light Church goalkeeper. Dan Hallam was having a great game and he netted again, his fourth goal of the game. Paul netted again soon after to put Newbegginers in real control of the game. John Kelsall was vital in this Newbegginers charge and he grabbed a couple of goals for himself to ensure Newbegginers of the victory, taking them 11-4 up. Once John had done that, he demonstrated even more of his abilities, swapping outfield for the gloves, allowing Sam Gorst a couple of minutes out of net. Gorst tried his hardest to find a goal, but it was Alex Baines and that man Dan Hallam who netted again for Newbegginers, taking them 13-4 up and taking Dan’s tally to five and Alex’s to 3 for the night. What a great performance from the side! Other teams in the league should watch out for these performances from Newbegginers, as they are going to be a real handful to play against.
Capernwray vs. Sam Dennis’ side match report to follow….
