Holmfirth Town
Junior Football Club
Under 14

Honley League away

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

A fiercely contested local Derby between the Holme Valley’s top two sides ended with a priceless 4-2 victory for Town at a blustery Jagger Lane rec.

An often scrappy affair kicked off with Town on the front foot. Charlie accelerating down the left wing from a Cameron through ball before passing inside to Luis then Toby who switched the ball wide right for Kain to power the first shot on goal which cleared the crossbar by inches.

Shortly after Kain turned provider to send striker Jacob between two Honley centre halves, dinking the ball over the advancing keeper but seeing his effort rebound off the post and cleared.

With Town on top the first goal seemed only a matter of time, Toby coming up with the goods with an accomplished finish following Luis’ bye line cross from the left.

That seemed to awaken the home side who up to the goal had been lead a merry dance in midfield by a rampant Luke, Toby and Luis flanked by Kain and Charlie and headed by the energetic Jacob.

Cameron made two world class saving tackles from the left back position to stop the home sides speedy striker in his tracks as Honley looked to burst clear on goal and the home side fullback hit a dipping shot from range which cleared the bar as Honley fought their way back into the game.

Tackles began to fly in from both sides with neither team wishing to concede ground against their bitter local rivals as Toby, Luke, Keegan and Lance took the brunt of the physical stuff for Town without conceding an inch.

Cameron again showed great strength to hold off a Honley striker on the edge of the box to divert the ball out for a corner which was taken quickly to the former Westend midfielder who shot too high to trouble Max in goal.

A corner on the left saw the home No9 volley wide with the goal at his mercy and minutes later a free kick on the left flashed across Max’s goal but again thankfully wide as the claret and blue continued to push men forward and spring the offside trap.

Town for their part looked dangerous on the break, Charlie and Kain both showing a clean pair of heels to the Honley fullbacks and sending in the ammunition for Jacob to attack in the box whilst Luke, Luis and Toby backed up the assault loading shots from in and outside of the box to keep the home sides no1 busy.

Unusually this was an open Derby game with chances falling to both sides but the second goal was key and Honley grabbed it. Luke clipping a Honley player as he cut inside the box to shoot with the No3 smashing home an unstoppable penalty to Max’s left to restore parity.

From the restart, Town resumed attacking mode, a red tide descending on the Honley goal. Keegan ventured through midfield from the centre half position to set up Luis with a pass that he moved right for Kain to shoot inches wide before Kain deservedly put his name on the scoresheet. Cameron sending Charlie chasing down the left wing, he sped past the right back and crossed from the byeline to the back post where Kain found the net with a tidy left foot finish.

Leo had time to strike a shot from distance which the keeper gathered before the ref blew for halftime with our boys 2-1 up.

The second half started with Town playing the better football. Luke, Luis and Toby looking to keep the ball down and work the simple passes whilst Honley sought the long ball over the top of our back four. Max alert to the home sides tactics, coming out of goal to gather the ball on the edge of his penalty area or clearing first time to safety.

Kain set Jacob for a shot which was diverted for a corner. Charlie battled to win back a ball which Luke picked up on the edge of the box before switching to Kain who shot wide whilst at the other end Cameron again proved his worth to halt a dangerous break down the right to concede a corner which was angled in for the Honley centre half to rise above our defence but glance his header wide.

With 15 minutes left on the clock Jacob nicked a vital third goal, Luke sending Kain clear behind the left back before delivering the cross for our striker to steer past the keeper from the edge of the six yard box.

3-1 up and seemingly in control the lads switched off momentarily and gifted Honley an instant reprieve. Sloppy play at the back and lack of communication saw a Honley attacker sneak into the box , get a shot away that was half cleared to the edge of the area before the Claret and blue No3 rifled a shot low and hard into the bottom corner to reduce the deficit to one.

On came reinforcements in the form of Finley and Jaxon with Charlie and Kain making way and both were soon in the thick of the action. Keegan forging forward secured a pass to Luis who played Fin in behind the right back his driven cross to the back post missing Jaxon’s outstretched boot by millimetres.

With five minutes left on the clock Luke got the decisive fourth goal. Weaving in and out of the Honley midfield he was eventually dragged down on the edge of the penalty box. Up stepped our Captain to send the free kick over the wall and into the top right hand corner and make it 4-2 against his former club.

Cameron was replaced by Kayden after another solid performance by our left back. Jacob filling the slot whilst Kayden took up his familiar role spearheading our attack and with the remaining minutes whittling away it was Town who finished the stronger.

Jacob and Toby both went close from range, with the keeper also kept on his toes by a Fin turn and shot from outside the area, Jaxon meanwhile causing problems for the left back by pressing and harrying him into mistakes and sending in dangerous crosses for Kayden to chase.

With the storm clouds gathering and the rain sweeping in, the ref blew for full time on a hard fought Town victory to send the lads clear second in the League, nine points behind leaders White Rose having played two games fewer.

Luke earned both the Players and parents MOM awards after another Captain’s performance with bragging rights maintained in the rossinieri half of the Valley.

DC Academy away

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

A Luis hatrick capped an impressive performance by the boys in a game of two halves against the prestigious Danny Cadamateri Academy.

In the true tradition of Academy teams, the opposition were kept waiting as the scheduled 7 o’clock kickoff merged into an eventual 8 o’clock kickoff, our boys using an extended warm up time constructively to prepare for the technical battle ahead on a mint 3G surface under the floodlit glow of Burkenshaw Business and Enterprise College.

Champing at the bit our boys were out of the traps quickest. Pressing high and coercing the home sides second string into errors.

The first goal came within minutes of the kickoff, Jacob splitting the defence with a sublime pass into the path of Charlie who applied a composed left foot finish.

Shortly after the restart Cameron found Luke in space on halfway, he played a neat 1-2 with Toby on the edge of the box before sliding a ball through for Luis to nudge past the advancing keeper for 2-0.

Goal number three soon followed Jacob playing the ball wide right to the lightning Kane who hit a cross/shot which the keeper parried but only into the path of Luis who applied the finishing touches.

Luis then completed a quick fire hatrick, rising to head home Luke’s in swinging corner from the right to make it 4-0.

Town were superb, playing out football poetry under the moonlight and floodlights in front of a cooing crowd. Cameron, Luke and Charlie linking down the left to supply Jacob with the ammunition up front with Leo, Toby and Kane reciprocating down the right. Lance, Keegan and Max almost redundant at the back, barely tested other than to recycle the ball for our next attack.

The fifth goal demonstrated the teams dominance across the width of the pitch as our opponents were stretched, creating more space for our boys to exploit. Toby laid the ball out wide for Kain to cross just behind Charlie on the left, he recovered the ball before playing it back for Luis who unselfishly set Toby up for a shot just inside the box which he gratefully smashed home in off the bar.

As the boys dominated possession with some impressive one and two touch passing triangles more shooting opportunities opened up. Charlie, Jacob, Luke and Kain all going close before Kain slammed in the half dozen. Luis finding Toby who set up an opening for Charlie to cut inside on his right foot and cross with the half cleared ball dropping to Kain who sent a dipping half volley over the keeper and into the net .

Minutes later we were in seventh heaven Toby drawing defenders before setting Luke for a power drive which the keeper palmed away to the right, Kain recovered the ball before skipping past the fullback and pulling the ball back for Jacob to dispatch goal number seven at the near post.

A flurry of substitutions followed, Kain, Lance, Cameron, Leo, Toby and Charlie making way for Jaxon, Rowan, Ethan, Kayden, Tyler and Finley as the boys reset to go again.

Ethan was soon involved in the action, rising to head a Luke corner just over the bar whilst Kayden almost put his name on the scoresheet taking Finleys pass in his stride before chipping the keeper but also clearing the bar.

Kayden was again involved in the eighth goal, a rasping shot stinging the keepers hands before dropping to Jaxon who volleyed home in spectacular fashion.

The ninth was another cracker, Leo playing the ball forward to Kayden in the edge of the box he turned and attempted a slide rule ball aimed at Fin which was half cleared but fell to Leo who had continued his run to rifle home a top bins pearler into the back of the net.

9-0 the score before the ref blew for half time and end the home teams misery. Town resorting to their starting eleven for the second half with Fin replacing Max in goal our only change. DCA in comparison swapped their entire team in favour of the A listers to present an entirely different proposition for the second period .

With confidence high, our boys again started brightly as the home side took time to find their footing. Toby’s early ball sending Kain clear to win a corner off a defender. Luke swung in the cross for Jacob to escape his marker and volley home goal number ten at the back post.

Toby then chased down a clearance from the keeper which narrowly bounced wide as the boys continued to press as a unit.

Soon after, the home side broke their duck, DCA’s speedy striker accelerating into the box before striking an unstoppable left foot shot past Fin and into the net.

DCA’ then doubled their tally , a pass inside Leo sending their attacker clear as he cut inside and steered a shot low inside the left hand upright .

As our boys continued to press, the quality of our second half competition meant we had less time on the ball than in the first half and when the home side broke, they broke quickly, a DCA attacker taking advantage of our high line down the left to get in behind and smash home a third goal.

But our lads continued to play some quality football, piecing together more attacks with short crisp passes built from the back, Keegan and Lance leading the way.

Town played the better football as a unit than our opponents who relied on 4 or 5 players who could demonstrate real power and pace.

The pick of the goals was a beauty finished by Luke but preceded by some excellent build up play. Keegan and Lance combining to find Luis on halfway, he advanced to find Kane who squared a pass on the edge of the box for Toby to find Luis who set up Luke on his trusty left foot and Luke beat the outstretched keeper with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box which dipped under the crossbar and into the net.

With time running out Charlie had a shot palmed round the post with Luke sending in a corner that was cleared, Leo hit a looping shot which the keeper did well to save and at the other end Max pulled off a remarkable double save , a first time shot from the edge of the six yard box palmed away before a follow up shot from point blank range which he again somehow blocked and safely gathered.

The ref blew time on a thoroughly entertaining game and a great workout for the lads ahead of Sunday’s first round Cup clash at home to Elland.

Parents MOM going to Max for another solid performance in goal. Players MOM hatrick hero Luis. Well done lads!

27/09/2020 League away White Rose.

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

With the travelling faithful locked out of the game due to extreme Covid restrictions, it was a somewhat subdued atmosphere as both teams took to the field for an early season clash between the top two in the Division.

Two changes from last weekend’s opening day win against Kirkburton saw Leo slot in at left back with Finley earning the striker role after displaying some clinical finishing all week in training.

From the off our boys pressed with intent, Luke sending Chaz in behind the right back to cross for Fin who steered his shot just wide of the near post, then Kain put Fin through down the right side of the penalty area but his shot cleared the crossbar as the boys dominated possession in a tight first 15 minutes.

Keegan and Lance, solid at the back with Jacob and Leo covering the wings, were rarely tested until midway through the half when the League leaders started to find their footing.

Pressure down the left forced Keegan to clear for the first corner of the game and as the ball swung into the box Keegan was again on hand to head clear.

A White Rose attack down the right lead to a snapshot from the home No4 which Max blocked low to his right, Jacob clearing for another corner. Jacob again needed to be alert to head the near post in swinger out for the left winger to swing in a second attempt with Max leaping like a salmon to claim the ball and distribute quickly down the left where Luke sent Charlie chasing to the byeline with Kain glancing the resulting cross with a header that was scrambled clear.

White Rose began to switch the play quickly creating space out wide but with little in the way of end product as our boys were able to stoutly defend a number of subsequent crosses. In turn, we found space on the counter attack behind their fullbacks who continued to press high in a very even first half contest, our boys more of a threat in the box with their boys a threat from distance, Max demonstrating a safe pair of hands, holding on to any shots offered and gifting no second balls.

A Jacob free kick released Kain down the right, beating the left back for pace before squaring the ball to Luis at the edge of the box who set up Luke for a left foot driven shot which the keeper gathered low to his left whilst at the other end White Rose forced a couple of corners resulting in shots from outside the box ably palmed away by Max and cleared by Leo and Jacob respectively.

White Rose continued to probe down both flanks with Leo and Jacob meeting their match for the first time this season in terms of physicality and aggression. Jacob particularly having a tasty and often testy battle with his White Rose opposite, the referee letting go some pretty hefty challenges from both parties.

Then with five minutes remaining of the half the All-stars took the lead. The No8 collecting the ball on halfway and driving forward unopposed down the middle of the park before unleashing a skimming low right foot shot past Max and into the bottom corner.

Cameron came off the bench to reclaim the left back position with Leo pushing into midfield, Ethan took over at right back with Jacob advancing into midfield and Toby playing striker with Charlie and Fin making way as we looked to spark an immediate response and gain the physical edge on our opponents.

With a minute left in the half the home side missed a golden opportunity to double their lead. A searching cross field pass over Jacob found the left winger in space resulting in a shot driven across goal and wide when a simple ball inside to an unmarked teammate was the better option. Half time 0-1.

The second half saw the introduction of Kayden and Jaxon for Toby and Kain but the home side started the half the brighter. The lively No 10 working a shooting opportunity which he drilled wide and then a right wing cross was set nicely for another long range effort which cleared the bar.

Jaxon recovered well to quell the home side left winger with Lance joining in to put in a second crunching tackle for a corner as White Rose pinned our boys back into their own half switching from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 and using their fullbacks to full effect.

Charlie came back on for Leo but within a minute it was 2-0. Almost a replica of the first goal, their midfielder took the ball from deep, advanced unopposed before unapologetically smashing home the second.

With White Rose in full bloom the boys were up against it but our hardy perennials bounced back with a ten minute spell of high intensity football.

Cameron driving from his own half down the left powered a shot from outside the box which the keeper could only parry to his left, with Kayden the first to react hammering a goal back with his trusty left foot.

White Rose broke from the restart, the No7 shooting wide and then we almost grabbed the equaliser. Cameron again the instigator down the left, drawing the fullback and playing Charlie in behind who angled a ball across the penalty area into the path of Kayden who wasn’t allowed a second touch by the home centre half and the ball was cleared.

White Rose again took control managing the game well, keeping possession and wasting time as and when required. One last chance falling to the League leaders when a cross come shot from the corner of the penalty area floated over Max and hit the back post with Lance clearing off the line.

The final whistle blew on a plucky performance where on another day we could have salvaged at least a point. Plenty of positives including Keegan’s performance at the back earning him coaches MOM just ahead of Cameron who almost turned the game back in our favour. Jacob once again earning Players MOM.

Special thanks to Paul for some excellent camera work allowing parents to watch the game via Zoom in their cars, a taste of the future perhaps? Onwards and upwards for the Town!

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!