Coming into the second week of the season, there were another two good games taking place, with Great Ecc travelling up to Loko, who were playing their first game of the season and Fulwood making the short trip up the A6 to Scorton, to face Quernmore.
Loko 1 – 6 Great Ecc
Edmondson 72 // Greenhalgh 24, 33, Own goal 49, Ball 61, 79, Jeffries 89
Great Ecc game into this game in good form, following their big win against Fulwood the weekend before, but it was Loko who started the scoring, against the run of play after a failed clearance was charged down by Loko’s left winger only to see the rebound clip the top of the bar. Great Ecc’s patient build up play soon paid dividends as Loko failed to clear a long throw from Richard Booth. A headed clearance only went high in the air in the box. Daniel Ball was first to the second ball to head to an unmarked Simon Greenhalgh to head home over the keeper’s reach 0-1 (24). Great Ecc continued to press for a second, and after Houssem Dridi cut in from the left to see his shot blocked, Capt Simon Greenhalgh was on hand to smash home the rebound through a sea of bodies into the bottom right corner of the net 0-2 (33). Half time came with Great Ecc in control of the game and looking to extend their lead further.
Great Ecc started brightly and were soon 0-3 up after a cross turned into pinball in the area and an unfortunate Loko defender put the ball past his own keeper (49). Loko had no answer as Great Ecc continued to pin them into their own half. This pressure told as an unmarked Daniel Ball headed home at the back post 0-4 (61). To their credit, Loko could have let their heads drop, but they chose to chase everything down and they got their rewards when keeper Jamie Greenall was put under a little too much pressure than he liked and gave the ball away for Adan Edmondson to tap home. 1-4 (72). Great Ecc responded with Daniel Ball again finding space to jump unmarked at the back post to head home for his second and Great Ecc’s 5th. 1-5 (79). Great Ecc weren’t finished yet, saving the best till last, saw Jon Jeffries dip a delightful freekick up and over the wall past the stranded keeper! 1-6 (89). The current champions have started this season in imperious form and it looks difficult already to stop them, whilst Loko, who performed admirably on the day, not making the game easy for Great Ecc, know easier games will come this season.
Quernmore 1 – 4 Fulwood
Oliver // Mason, Dean (x3)
Before the game, Matt Sowerby shared with those there a story about a girl who got swept out to sea, who couldn’t fight to get back to shore over the waves but was rescued by the RNLI. He shared a verse from Hebrews 2 v1 which says ‘We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away’. He said to those there that we need to consider what is shared each week and how we respond to it, whether we drift away or whether we truly take it on board and live for Christ in all we do.
Quernmore, hoping to get another good result, like the week before, started well, playing the ball about nicely and were the better side in the first 20 minutes. However, it was Fulwood who drew first blood in the game and took an early lead in the 25th minute, Ellis Mason firing home the rebound after a good save from keeper James Smith. Quernmore, disappointed with the early goal were determined to get back in the game and continued to work hard in order to get a goal back, but not long after that, Fulwood split the Quernmore defense, Ellis Mason once again causing mischief, shooting at James Smith, who pulled out a great save to deny Mason. However, in doing so, the ball went into the path of the onrushing Dean, who had the easy task of knocking it into the bottom corner. 2-0. Quernmore, disappointed but not deflated continued to battle hard against Fulwood and soon got their reward. After a tactical tweak, Alistair Oliver came into central midfield and after wiggling past a few Fulwood players, he fired into the bottom corner. Great finish! Half time came and Quernmore were well in the game. It had been a great game of football so far!
Into the second half and both sides battled for control of the game. Fulwood had more of the ball and chances but Quernmore looked to hit them on the counter attack. However, Fulwood soon extended their advantage as Luke Dean fired home again – 3-1. Fulwood were in control of the game and played the ball about very nicely. Quernmore had a few chances on the break but were unable to make them count to draw them back into the game. Fulwood too continued to search for another goal and soon striker Dean completed his hat trick. Quernmore were disappointed with the scoreline, but ultimately on the day, Fulwood had been more clinical, even if the game had been largely even throughout.
The focus now turns to this weekends games, with Great Ecc facing Moorlands, Loko playing Fulwood and the first Farmers derby of the season as Wray travel down to face Quernmore. Some exciting games!
