Holmfirth Town
Junior Football Club
Under 14

13/09/2020 Friendly away to Penistone Church.

Team; Max, Keegan, Lance, Cameron, Luke, Charlie, Luis, Ethan, Leo, Toby, Kain, Jaxon, Archie, Rowan, Finley, Jacob, Kayden, Jake.

As the congregation of parents gathered on the touchline in a Covid compliant fashion, little, were the assembled aware that on this Sabbath day they were to be treated to such a heavenly performance from our boys as they ran out 5-1 winners at Penistone Church.

Free flowing high tempo football straight from the off, lead to Town seizing the early initiative. Luke and Luis dictating the pace from the middle of the park to set Cameron and Charlie creating chances down the left with Jacob and Kain reciprocating down the right to cause the home defence all sorts of problems as Leo and Toby launched themselves from central positions to capitalise on a number of driven crosses into the box.

Luke sent Charlie clear down the left of the penalty area, holding the ball up just long enough for Chaz to overlap and receive an exquisite through ball which he guided low passed the keeper’s left and into the net to put us 1-0 up.

Shortly after the restart Luke powered a shot towards the postage stamp top right corner but the keeper leapt high to his left to make a fine save.

Leo then almost grabbed the second goal with another well driven shot but again the keeper was equal to it diving low to make another smart save.

Down the right Jacob found Kain advancing before Toby received a pass inside, on the half turn he looked up and switched to Charlie who hit a left foot shot fizzing across goal but this time his shot veered wide of the post.

With the boys switching the ball with such fluency and stretching the play, our wingers saw plenty of the ball and it was no surprise when Kain doubled our lead with a superb strike. Luke harrying the opposition, intercepted a defensive pass into midfield, fed the ball outside to Kain who drove his shot low and hard past the despairing dive of the keeper and into the bottom left corner of the net.

With Lance and Keegan solid at the back and Fin in goal quickly recycling the ball left and right to Cameron and Jacob, our two marauding full backs were able to turn defence very quickly into attack.One touch and two touch passing triangles built into top quality attacking moves and shooting opportunities for Luke, Toby, Leo Kane and Charlie. Luis working incredibly hard to take on the defensive responsibilities to allow Luke to power further forward and get his shots away.

Soon we tripled our lead with a goal which summed up the pattern of our play perfectly. Lance and Keegan winning the ball back deep in our own half, Fin quickly recycling to Keegan, a one touch pass to Cameron forward into the path of Luke, Luke out left to Charlie who shrugged off a challenge sped to the bye line before squaring it to Leo who took a touch before smashing the ball home for 3-0. Get in!

Penistone were reeling. Deprived of shooting opportunities by an unrelenting back four. The home side’s No12 looked to be the main target as they probed to try and piece together an attack down the left but he was desperately unlucky to have Jacob as his marker who didn’t give him an inch. Wise to the situation he switched to the right for the remaining 10 minutes of the half only to find Cameron slamming the door shut with equally crunching tackles to defend the clean sheet.

As we approached half time Luis thrust forward and chipped the keeper but the ball dropped just over the bar. Toby pressured the home defence into giving the ball to Luke who blazed one over and then Penistone had their first strike at goal but again it was too high to trouble the keeper.

Wholesale changes at half time saw the introduction of Jake at right back with Ethan partnering Lance in the middle and Rowan at left back.

Jaxon and Archie manned the flanks, right and left respectively. Kayden lead the attack with Max regaining the No1 jersey with our Fin looking forward to more action, keeping goal for the black and whites as their goalkeeper had sustained a hand injury.

The half burst into life straight from kick-off. Jacob breaking from midfield angled a pass inside to Luis, who released Jaxon down the right, his cross was met by Archie at the back post whose first time effort spun inches wide.

Penistone came more into the game but Ethan and Rowan worked hard on the left, to keep the home side at bay. Jake backing that up with some sterling work on the right to deny the left winger a sniff at goal whilst also finding space and shouting for the ball wide to enable us to get back on the offensive early and send Jaxon clear on the counter attack.

Luis played Jaxon in who crossed for Kayden to shoot over the bar Jake then set up to Luke for a hammer shot which went wide and then Archie almost capitalised on a chance set up by Luke and emanating from Lance at the back but again the ball veered wide of the upright.

Penistone created shooting opportunities but couldn’t hit the target, the closest coming from a dubiously awarded free kick given against Luis which curled high and wide of Max’s goal.

Lance then progressed a move from the edge of his own area to find Luke forging forward into space before Archie was released in behind the right back and into the penalty area only to be foiled by his own teammate Fin who pulled off a fine save in goal for Penistone (quickly dispelling any fears of his professional integrity)!

The fourth goal eventually came our way. Kayden’s second half work rate reaping rewards after badgering the home defence into giving the ball away to Luke who set up a shot with a rocket of a left foot that even Fin couldn’t save.

Penistone hit back with a breakaway goal of their own, nothing wrong with the injured keepers right foot as he latched on to a long ball from his new No9 position to fire past Max and narrow the deficit to 4-1.

Luis set up the final goal after another Stella display in midfield providing Luke with an opportunity to play a one two with Archie and smash home a fifth.

Minutes later the ref blew for full time on a fine 5-1 victory. Luke claiming the Players and Parents MOM award after a dominant display and two fine goals.

What can only be described as a first class team performance capped a thorough pre-season schedule of seven games, 2 internal matches and around 14 training sessions with plenty of minutes in the bank for our 19 man squad. Credit to the coaching staff for their hard work in meticulously preparing the boys for next week’s opening league fixture at Kirkburton. Bring it on!

29/08/2020 Friendly away to Steel City Rangers.

Team; Max, Keegan, Lance, Ethan, Cameron, Luis, Charlie, Toby, Kain, Jaxon, Tyler, Finley, Jake

With six players unavailable and three carrying injuries this was never going to be an easy trip to Steel City and so it proved as the boys were hit for double figures at St Georges Park, Thorncliffe.

Rangers, having knocked us out of the County Cup last year went into the game full of confidence having also strengthened last season’s squad with more quality new signings.

Excuses out of the way, this was not the boy’s finest hour!

The first period saw us pinned into our own half without mustering a shot on goal and were it not for Max in goal, the damage could have been much worse than the 7-0 half time deficit.

Rangers were outstanding, using a 3-5-2 formation to drive forward with width and flood our midfield, they showed superior technical ability alongside some clinical finishing. The first touch was excellent and more importantly they were the winners of every second ball.

Max was called upon in the first minute to save from the nippy No7 in a 1v1 at the edge of the box and shortly afterwards their impressive midfielder powered a shot against the bar which was thankfully cleared.

Try as they might our boys could not get a grip on the game, too often giving the ball away cheaply and inviting the opposition to attack.

Five minutes in, Rangers got the breakthrough, a delivery over the top finding their No7 in space on the left and from what looked like an offside position he rounded Max and put his side a goal up.

Rangers No18 then helped himself to goal number two with a snapshot from outside the box. A third goal soon followed with Fin looking to clear a corner at the near post but only managing to deflect the header into his own net, which just about summed up our first half.

Jake came on for Ethan who was struggling with a heel injury but could do little about the fourth goal as the yellow and black tide again won back the ball in midfield and advanced towards the box before striking a shot into the top corner. Tyler came on for Cameron with Charlie switching to defence but three more were added before the break to put the home side virtually out of site at the break, 7-0 the score.

At Half time more changes were made with Cameron back on alongside Lance, Keegan and Ethan in defence with Kain dropping into holding midfield alongside Luis, and the second half saw a much improved Town side as they began to pass the ball better and piece together a few attacks for the first time in the match.

Jaxon and Toby worked hard to harry their defence and Charlie, Toby and Finley combined well with Luis and Kain in midfield whist the back four defended our penalty area, restricting Rangers to shots from long range.

Good work from Keegan and Kain found Toby down the right who played the ball inside for Luis to fire home from just inside the box to make it 7-1, and just as we looked like getting back into the game, a freak own goal from a corner found the net off Keegan to make the score 8-1.

Credit to the boys though, they didn’t capitulate, and almost hit back straight from the restart. Keegan slotted a ball to Toby who played a neat 1-2 with Luis before releasing Charlie down the left, he beat his marker and sent in a cross from the bye line for Jaxon but the keeper intercepted low to his right to deny our tenacious striker.

Rangers then got a ninth. The impressive No18 again launching himself through our midfield, down the left and into the box before finishing with a quality driven shot into the bottom right corner.

The boys kept working and Toby, Luis and Kain began to find runners down both flanks, Fin this time sending in a cross for Charlie to hit first time but it went high and wide of the right-hand post.

With the lads creating chances, Cameron and Ethan were able to support our attacks by pushing up from the full back position and the game was a much more even contest in the second period. Jaxon got a shot away that was parried and Fin hit the rebound just over the bar, then Fin had another effort saved having benefited from a neat Kain through ball down the right.

With time running out Rangers then hit a tenth. A low drive from outside the box hitting the post with a Rangers striker first to react to slam home the rebound.

A 10-1 hammering not part of the plan but still plenty to take heart from during the pre-season period so far. The boys have improved fitness levels, been given plenty of match practice against top opposition and shown the ability to keep batting away when the going gets tough.

Players and Parents MOM Toby for showing what is required against high level opposition. quality on the ball alongside grit and determination whilst (today) also carrying an injury.

22/08/2020 Friendly away to Ossett Albion.

Team; Max, Keegan, Lance, Cameron, Luke, Charlie, Toby, Kain, Jaxon, Archie, Tyler, Kayden, Jake.

A towering performance by Max in goal wasn’t enough to stop Ossett Albion inflicting a first pre-Season defeat on Town’s U14s at Trinity Academy. The home side running out 3-1 winners.

With the driving rain causing chaos on the roads, Holmfirth Town’s charismatic keeper almost didn’t make the kick off but thankfully warmed up with a sprint to the defending penalty area in time for the opening whistle.

Kayden started up front hoping to add to the hat trick he scored at Aden Steelers whilst Jaxon switched to the right wing position. Toby played No10 with Charlie flanking the left. Luke and Keegan held midfield with Cameron partnering Lance in central defence, Archie at left back and Kain on the right made up the starting eleven ahead of Max keeping goal.

Albion, working their way up the Divisions in recent seasons started brightly, playing a neat brand of passing football synonymous with previous teams who originated from the UNITA junior football club.
Toby created our first effort on goal when a slick interchange between Charlie and Kayden lead to a shooting opportunity which he steered narrowly wide.

Luke had a shot from outside the box clear the crossbar but the home side settled the earliest, carving out an opportunity for their No 10 to curl a shot inches wide and then play a one touch combination through midfield before drawing a foul on the edge of the penalty area. The free kick was driven high to Max’s left but our keeper plucked it out of the air to avert the danger.

More clever interaction in midfield lead to the Albion No10 driving a shot which Max gathered low to his left and a sustained spell of pressure lasting the rest of the quarter yielded more opportunities for the home side.

A perfectly timed through ball split our defence on the left with the centre forward bringing another fine save from Max low to his left before Lance cleared. Max then pulled off a spectacular double save first with his hands then with his feet before Kain scrambled the ball clear and then a shot/cross from the left beat Max only to find Lance in position to clear off the line whilst the driven rebound was again deflected away from the goal-line by Cameron’s quick reflex reaction.

The whistle blew for the end of the quarter with our boys thankful for the score remaining 0-0. Charlie and Archie came off injured, making way for Jake and Tyler and a re-organisation in midfield and defence followed as the second quarter got underway with Kain pushing further up field alongside Tyler and Toby.

The changes had immediate effect as Kain imposed himself wide down the left, outpacing the Albion right back to deliver a cross which was partially cleared to Luke who had his shot blocked and cleared. This preceded another run and cross from Kain with Kayden this time escaping his marker to have a shot blocked and cleared.

Much of our best creative moves came from wide positions as Jaxon and Kain hammered the opposing fullbacks for pace and delivered telling crosses for Toby and Kayden to attack in the box but we weren’t able to convert the chances as the home side defended the penalty box with real authority, keeping a narrow back four facing up to deny our attackers.

In midfield though Albion looked the classier side, building from the back and passing their way through the thirds with ease to create a number of chances.

Max palmed a curling shot round the post for a corner which Cameron dealt with. The Albion No10 then danced clear of a Luke tackle to shoot inches wide and seconds later a ball won in midfield lead to another sortie down the left, Max tipping a shot round for a corner with the resulting cross cleared by Keegan for another corner on the opposite side which Max gathered safely.

A free kick won in the midfield by an Albion striker rattled the crossbar and was cleared before the deadlock was finally broken. A break down the middle resulted in a tame shot blocked by Keegan before it fell to the same player who rifled one in off the crossbar with his left boot, giving Max no chance.

The half time whistle blew with our boys 1-0 down and were it not for some solid defending from Cameron and Lance which restricted the opposition to shots from outside the box, our boys could have been looking at a worse deficit.

The third quarter continued much in the same vein, the sky blues of Ossett sweeping a ball to the right of the penalty box with their nippy winger cutting inside Jake before being brought down for a penalty.

Albion’s striker hit the spot kick hard and true but Max leapt to his right to palm the ball clear and keep the arrears down to one.

Kain continued to be our most potent attacking threat, this time down the right, crossing for Keegan to force a corner. Toby took a short one to Luke, receiving the ball back before shooting wide, and then our best chance of the quarter saw Toby cross for Lance to flick goal wards but the ball was cleared off the line.

The fourth quarter saw more changes as the boys needed to show resilience. Jaxon and Toby both carrying knocks had to continue as we had no other subs, Toby dropping into defence to help stem the attacking threat down the left.

Despite more changes Albion doubled their lead. A shot from the right of the penalty area was saved by Max diving to his right but the ball fell kindly to the sky blue No11 who tapped in the second goal.

Growing in confidence, Kain was a constant threat to the home defence, once again skipping past an Albion defender before being brought to ground on the right corner of the box for a free kick. Up stepped Luke to curl a sumptuous shot round the keeper and into the top left corner of the net to pull the score back to 2-1.

Minutes later hearts were in mouths again, Keegan finding Kain motoring past the Albion defence before once again being upended for a free kick from an identical position. Luke took aim again curling the ball past the keeper but the ball was headed away by a defender who looked over the line when clearing but no goal was given and the ball was scrambled to safety.

Toby burst through midfield and hit a dipping shot just clear of the crossbar before Albion retained their two goal advantage. A throw, deep in our own half was intercepted and a snapshot caught Max off-guard as the ball buried itself in the bottom left corner of the net.

Max sprang into action again just after the restart to save low to his right before Toby released the speedy Kain down the right again, he cut inside the penalty area, past two defenders and curled a shot which was turned round the post for a corner. As the corner was cleared the full time whistle blew to mark a 3-1 win for Ossett.

Players MOM went to Kain this week with our speedy winger also edging Max out for the parents award.
A disappointing result for the lads after two impressive wins but all the same another valuable work out against quality opposition which will put them in good stead for the start of the new season.

07/08/2020 Friendly away to Aden Steelers.

Team; Max, Keegan, Lance, Jacob, Cameron, Lewis, Luke, Charlie, Toby, Kain, Jaxon, Archie, Ethan, Leo, Tyler, Finley, Kayden.

After a long hot spring and summer devoid of junior football, our Covid era 19 strong squad assembled for the first official friendly of the 2020/21 pre-season.

The boys welcomed Leo, Lance, Lewis, Kayden, Kain and Ethan with all six new signings featuring in a tough opening match over the South Yorkshire border against U15 opposition Aden Steelers.

Max kept goal with Keegan and Lance forming the central defensive partnership in a back four, flanked by Jacob on the right and Cameron on the left. Captain Luke held midfield alongside Lewis with Charlie, Toby and Kain starting in advanced positions left to right respectively behind the ever energetic Jaxon up front.

A cagey first ten minutes saw both sides battling for possession with Jacob and Kain finding their feet early to provide our most probing attacks down the right.

Jacob powering past the left back provided our first threat on goal, combining with Kain before swinging in a cross which saw Jaxon escape his marker with a darting run to the near post and a first time volley which he whistled just wide of the post.

A physical battle in midfield between Luke, Lewis and two towering home midfielders was a feature of the first half with our boys giving as good as they got from their higher age group opposition, not only winning the ball back but showing superior quality to keep possession and find a pass.

Kain on the right found Lewis who under pressure layed the ball off to Jacob and his first time short ball preceded Luke’s defence splitting pass, angling a ball between right back and centre half aiming for the on running Charlie but the ball agonisingly ran out of play.

With our boys pressing high, the Steelers remained under pressure but still looked dangerous on the break, their impressive number 7 a couple of times getting in behind our right back spot on the counter attack only to be thwarted by Lance who swept up any loose balls from the centre right position. One such occasion saw the left winger speed clear down the touchline but facing Lance, passed the ball inside to the No11 only for Luke to intercept and clear for a corner. As the cross swung in. Keegan rose above a crowded penalty area to head clear and we were back on the attack. Lewis showing great composure to receive the ball on the half turn and find Jacob marauding down the right. With our very own Trent-Alexander Arnold arcing a cross to Jaxon who again cleared his marker but shot narrowly wide.

Jaxon worked tirelessly up front against a solid defence and caused a headache for the two centre halves and goalkeeper who were repeatedly forced into rushed clearances which returned us possession, Toby, Charlie and Kain driving us back into the attacking third.

Steelers changed tack and began advancing down the middle looking to find their tall No9 but Lance and Keegan held firm with Cameron covering any forays down the right.

Charlie chipped in with the defensive work having to track back to retrieve a ball he lost when we were on the attack, showing their right winger a clean pair of heels before not only recovering the ball but playing a composed pass to Keegan in support.

A quick break down the left saw their winger win a corner and as the cross swung in towards goal, Max leapt to palm clear, the ball dropping on the head of a Steelers striker who guided it back towards goal only for Max to once again parry clear with the rebound shot blocked and cleared by a resolute Town defence.

Luke and Toby created an opening finished by Luke unleashing a trademark left foot thunderbolt from outside the box, which looked destined for the top corner but was somehow miraculously palmed away for a corner by an alert home keeper.Toby’s in swinger was headed clear to Charlie who returned the ball to Toby but his right foot shot was saved.

Jaxon and Toby both came close to scoring as the boys forced corner after corner in an unrelenting spell of pressure which featured headers from Jacob, Lewis and Keegan, all going went close without finding the net.

Then against the run of play, the home side took the lead. A set piece free kick lofted in by the No15 bounced awkwardly in front of Max who saved the initial shot but the rebound fell nicely for the striker to tap in the opening goal.

An immediate response initiated by Cameron’s determination to win the ball back on the left touchline was followed by a short pass to Toby who helped the ball on to Charlie and the return pass saw Toby send Jaxon through on a one on one with the keeper who he rounded after a great first touch before a timely tackle sent the ball clear for a corner.

Toby swung in the cross and Lewis rose above the Steeler defence to power home his first goal for Town with a neat header finding the roof of the net.

Steelers hit back sharply when a snapshot from the No10 tested Max who was alert to make the save but it wasn’t long before the boys took a deserved lead. Toby sending Charlie beyond the Steeler defence to lift the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net for 2-1.

As the game opened up more chances followed. The home side No7 finding space on the left chipped in a shot which Max palmed into the air with the follow up striker playing a pass out wide to the winger who scored with a composed finish but from an offside position and the goal was ruled out.

Alert to the threat, our back four remained solid, Kain broke clear and shot into the side netting and Lewis found Jaxon darting into the box but his shot was saved.

Toby and Luke combined before Luke’s shot was handled at the edge of the box and Toby curled the resulting free kick over the wall and into the top corner to put us 3-1 up.

After the restart Luke had a shot saved low to the right and Kain struck another effort over the bar after more good work from Jacob but the half time whistle sounded with no further scoring.

The second period saw both sides make wholesale changes. Ethan came on for Lance with Jacob playing central and Ethan slotting into the right back birth. Straight replacements saw Archie on for Cameron, Leo on for Charlie, Tyler replacing Toby, Kain replaced by Finley and Jaxon vacating the striker position to give Kayden his debut.

From the kick-off our boys continued to press high. Tyler, Leo, Fin and Kayden giving the home defence no time to settle, but it was Keegan who got the first shot away of the half hooking a long range effort high and over the stranded keeper but dropping shy of the post.

At the back Ethan was quick to impose himself on the home side’s star player out muscling him in a 1v1 before playing a neat pass inside to Lewis as the Steelers had looked to build an attack down the left.

As in the first half though it was the Steelers who scored first. Breaking down the right Keegan was adjudged to have pulled back the opposition No8 and from the free kick he struck a powerful shot into the roof of the net to pull the score back to 3-2.

Leo and Tyler collaborated to fashion an opportunity for Kayden who won a corner off the defender. Luke swung in the cross but the ball beat everyone to run out for a throw.

Goal number four soon followed. Luke won a header in the middle of the park which dropped to Leo who arrowed a pass for Kayden to latch onto, round the keeper and restore our two goal advantage with a classy finish.

Steelers regrouped and pushed forward in numbers as they sought to respond. Max saved from the No10 and the same player burst through on goal minutes later but poked his shot wide of the goal.

As the game wore on, Town looked much the fitter side. Jacob energising his teammates with crunching tackles, driving runs and composed passing from the back to keep the pressure on our opponents. Fin created a chance for Kayden whose shot was blocked on the edge of the box before falling to Lewis who set up Luke to hammer a shot inches over the crossbar.

Keegan then won a free kick after advancing through midfield which Jacob hit from 30 yards narrowly clearing the left hand angle of post and crossbar.

Luke made way for Toby after another captain’s innings in midfield and both sides traded shots which were off target before Jacob, after threatening all game, struck a free kick from distance, over the keepers head and into the net to make it 5-2.

The home side rattled the crossbar from a free kick of their own and exerted spells of pressure in the half but as they committed men forward our boys looked the more likely to score with some quick counterattacking football and it wasn’t long before our boys hit goal number six.

A Steelers corner down the right was intercepted by Archie who delivered a telling ball to Toby, his turn and pass found Kayden running through on goal and he made no mistake dispatching the half dozen with another cool finish.

The home side’s resolve seemed broken as our boys showed the Steel at the back with Ethan, and Jacob taking no prisoners alongside Keegan and Archie thus allowing our midfield to swarm forward in search of more goals. Leo picked out Toby with another perfectly executed pass and he in turn found Lewis in space, looking up he played the ball through to Tyler who’s double shot was blocked by a defender then saved by the keeper diving to his right.

Toby added a seventh from a Lewis assist and Kayden capped off a memorable debut with a hat trick goal. Lewis winning the ball in midfield, played a short pass inside to Leo who arrowed another inch perfect ball for our lively striker to finish low into the corner.

Minutes later the final whistle sounded on an impressive 8-2 victory with players, coaches and supporters glowing in expectation of the new season.

Parents Man of the match was split into two halves this week with Jacob edging Lewis for first half MOM, Kayden the second half with Jacob winning the Players MOM.

Prior to the game, a socially distance observed award ceremony took place for last season’s Player Trophy winners as the usual end of year awards night had to be cancelled.All squad members received a small memento in recognition of their achievements last season where the boys finished fourth in their first season back in the top flight.
Major award winners were:-
Coaches Player of the Year: Jaxon
Players Player: Jacob
Supporters Player: Keegan
Top Scorer: Luke and Toby both joint on 17
Top Assists: Toby
Well done to all the boys plus coaches Ian and Steve on an excellent League campaign and two good Cup runs and a special congratulations to Jaxon, Jacob, Keegan, Luke and Toby for receiving some well deserved Trophies.