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Hesketh Bank AFC Match Reports 1ST TEAM (Scroll down for previous match reports) 15/01/12 - Dalton United 1-3 Hesketh Bank A view form the touchline 2012 The squad is now taking shape and there are always room for improvements like with any side however the signings we have made have all been quality ones. The first team squad is looking a lot fitter and stronger and credit goes to the players for excellent commitment and effort at training, with assistant Jamie Johnson taking the sessions the training has been excellent since switching to the 3G. The reserves also now look in good shape since the departure of Evergreen with Andy Cope taking the reigns several players returning to the club and 2 good squads are now getting built in the senior section. There is still a lot to be done after more or less starting over after a poor season last year. Lets hope both sides can keep getting the results we require to establish ourselves again as a tough to beat West Lancashire League club.
__________________________________________________________ 08/10/11 - Hesketh Bank 4-1 Lytham Town After last weeks game which was one to forget we bounced back well and took our first 3 home points of the season. A few changes were made with Simon Hill completing his transfer from Fleetwood Hesketh and new goalkeeper Colin Salmon was signed and both brought in to the starting 11. Starting well is very important and we did this well Hill, Smethurst and Hulme all got a grip of the game early and we looked a lot more solid at the back. First goal of the game came within 25 mins with a cross from the left saw striker Burns latch on with a fine header from 14 yards out 1-0. The second soon came quickly again a quality cross from Henerty this time Hill jumping well inside the box 2-0. The back line were solid Cox and Taylor in particular and we went in at half time 2-0. Always a dangerous score line we came out in the second half knowing that Lytham would come out strong. Then came again the self destruct button with Connolly carelessly diving in to give the referee no choice but to point to the spot. After the long run up by the Lytham taker keeper Salmon saved superbly at full stretch to keep the game 2-0. Lytham did bounce back strong with a fine strike from twenty five yards to make 2-1. Not panicking we got our due reward with some good work from Birkby and Hulme down the left side saw a cross with Henerty arriving late and composing himself well to slot for 3-1. Richard Hill replaced striker Burns and gave us a solid 25 mins in the middle of the park and Hulme was replaced by Goodson. The fourth came from excellent work by Goodson to cross for Henerty to arrive and again superbly taking his chance to put the game out of sight. Watson replaced Simon Hill and all 3 subs that came on putting a good display in. Next up Leigh Athletic away for a place in the quarter final of the Lancashire shield. James Smith __________________________________________________________ 02/10/11 - Longridge Town 7-1 Hesketh Bank Another away trip saw us going to an unbeaten Longridge Town knowing that it was going to be the toughest test of the season so far. Anyone who witnessed the game would tell you that countless errors put the game out of sight within 60 mins and the rest of the was history. The quality of the squad has dramatically improved with myself bringing over 14 players from last season, but at present the squad is struggling to gel with maybe team selection being wrong but basic errors I cannot change. I will always back the players I have brought in and we will all have to take this one on the chin and hope this was just a bad day at the office. 7-1 looks a terrible scoreline on paper but I know we can bounce back stronger as maybe this was the reality check to everyone that there is a lot of hard work to be done. Next up Lytham at home 3pm kick off and support would be greatly appreciated to get behind the lads to put this right quick!!!! James Smith __________________________________________________________ 24/09/11 - Hawcoat Park 1-3 Hesketh Bank (LAS Round 2) Lancs cup round 2 saw us come up against Hawcoat Park and another trip to Barrow! Over 6 unavailable including keeper Tomlinson on a autumn break saw second team keeper Marc Sergent take to the sticks for his first team debut. Goals from Henerty, Burns and Watson were enough to put us into round 3 of the Lancs shield which should always be looked on to do well in as the size of the competition. A solid display at the back with Connolly in particular looking more solid with every game he plays. Hill was asked to play at the back out of position and again put a performance in worthy of the man of the match award. Again Smethurst put in a decent display in the centre of midfield with some good controlled passing. This display proves we are improving as a team every week and hard work will get us to the level we need to be at. Man of the match award has to go to keeper Sergent who although is not quite match fit, shows the training and commitment he is putting in shows the level he could really be if he control his Friday evenings! Although Hawcoat are not as strong as previous years we looked the stronger side on the day and the journey home a good one. Hopefully a full squad to choose from for next Saturday with returning players and a couple of signings through the week will give us a strong squad for a tough test at the strong Longridge Town away from home kick off 3pm. __________________________________________________________ 17/09/11 - Mill Hill St Peters 4-6 Hesketh Bank Our 100% record away from home continued with an action packed away trip to bottom of the table Mill Hill St Peters. What should have been a comfortable win was a roller coaster ride of goals at both ends and every credit has to go to the new Mill Hill St Peters manager who has taken the reigns after their poor start. A full squad travelled with just Royle and Goodson unavailable. Taylor, Henerty, Birkby and Smethurst all returned to the starting 11.
James Smith __________________________________________________________ 10/09/11 - Hesketh Bank 1-3 Dalton United The third home league game of the season saw us suffer yet another defeat. The game kicked off at 3.25pm due to the no show of the Dalton Utd coach. May be this sometimes proves that the travelling may just be a bit too far for Barrow teams in the West Lancashire league! Unfortunately we were missing 5 of the squad from the week before with Burns, Royle, Smethurst, Smith and captain Birkby all unavailable. So shuffling the pack Wharton and Watson came in up front, Connolly moved to the back, Hill to the centre of the park, Goodson moved wide and Cox dropped the back line. The returning Taylor an Henerty took there places on the bench. We started the game well settling in early on with Adam Birkby, Connolly and Cox keeping the busy Dalton forward line quiet with some solid defending. Our midfield were showing the signs of the quality required with Norgate and Goodson finding good space on either flank. The lively Wharton was looking sharp up front and although a lot of the squad was missing we looked pretty much in control of the first half. Then the self destruct button was triggered when a nothing cross was headed home by an unmarked Dalton Striker, sending his side in 1-0. Second half we started bright again having the majority of the ball. Johnson Hill and Hart working hard in the centre of the park. Wharton carrying a hamstring injury was replaced by Henerty, Goodson moving up front to partner Watson. A decision came then that potentially changed the game when a blatant handball gave the referee no choice but to point to the spot, the referee then reversed his decision with the Dalton linesman then flagging for offside. The goal we deserved came when good work by Henerty produced a good cross for striker Watson to put us level. We then were unlucky when Norgate crossed but Goodson just missed at the far post. Then came some poor defending at the other end that saw Dalton nick a lead with a half strike from 20 yards out. A late goal with a fine strike from the Dalton number 7 saw the points secured. Its becoming a regular thing at home that our own mistakes are costing us and needs to be addressed quickly for us to push on in the league. Next fixture Mill hill St Peters away hoping our 100% record away from home will carry on with a win a must. James Smith __________________________________________________________ 03/09/11 - Croston Sports 1-4 Hesketh Bank (LAS 1st Round) Lancashire cup round one saw us come up against neighbours Croston Sports and ex Hesketh Bank player David Hogg.
__________________________________________________________ 27/08/11 - Crookland Casuals 2-3 Hesketh Bank Our second away trip to Barrow saw us come away with a very much needed and important 3 points. Again a full squad was taken with Goodson being added to the much improved first team squad. A few changes were made with Cox and Hart back into the starting 11. Anoher poor start from us showed stray passing and too many lads not starting out the blocks and soon saw us 1-0 down with a good finish from the dangerous looking Crooklands number 10. It seems to be a regular occurrence at present with us going 1 down to realise we are in a game and this needs to change quickly. A better last 20 minutes of the first half saw better football being played and we managed to sneak an equaliser before the break with captain Birkby converting a clean strike to go in at the break 1-1. The second half began and again a poor start from too many individuals saw a quick break catch us cold and we were 2-1 down. Then the turning point and maybe the luck we needed after Norgate again for the second week running carelessly tripped the forward in our own box and gave the referee no other choice but to point to the spot. A decent penalty taken but keeper Tomlinson went the right way and stretched superbly to deny Crooklands from the spot. A double substitution made with the introduction of Goodson and Watson and a slight change in formation saw us start to dominate a lot more even though we were 2-1 down. Birkby was then put through with 15 minutes remaining rounded the keeper and struck the ball into the empty net. 2-2 and Mamby was introduced who looks extremely sharp since he has come back into the squad and he stretched the Crooklands defence well and came the last chance of the game. Substitute Watson found himself able to turn easily and convert from 15 yards taking all 3 points home. We must improve individually and as a team if we are to get better results and to pick up the required points in the league to give us a good league position. Next up derby match in the Lancashire Shield against Croston which will always draw a good crowd. James Smith 20/08/11 - Hesketh Bank 1-2 Haslingden St Marys 13/08/11 - Hesketh Bank 1-3 BAC/EE Springfields Our first home game of the season saw a decent crowd to watch the much improved first team. As reported last week in this league you must start well and the first 25 minutes was the same as last week, we just didn't get out of the blocks! The squad was bolstered with the returning Watson and Johnson and so a strong bench was formed. After a sluggish start we finally got to grips with the first half and chances went a begging. We hit the woodwork twice and striker Burns reacted well to one off the post but couldn't direct the ball towards goal. Several chances where squandered wide or made easy for the keeper. As half time approached some excellent passing play controlled by Johnson, Connolly, and Hart could not be converted towards the BAE goal. The first half saw the exceptional Norgate on the left side show some powerful play causing several problems and made some excellent crosses. Half time approached and anybody watching witnessed a lucky BAE side go in at 0-0. Second half and a decent half time team talk again gave us the realisation that every week its going to require graft and maybe a bit of luck, and we started the second half how we ended the first. Again Norgate should have converted after the restart with a decent chance that went wide of the BAE goal. Then the first goal of the game came against the run of play as the ball seemed to travel a long way towards our box. We were caught asleep at the back and the BAE number 11 took his goal well giving keeper Sergent no chance. Watson quickly replaced Tony Hart. There was no need to panic at this stage, we were controlling the game and fitness levels looked good and we looked strong both in the air and on the floor. Second goal came again from our own mistakes with defenders getting caught short. This time a quick break failed to be dealt with and the quick number 10 converted past the stranded keeper Sergent. At 2-0 down the ever improving Royle was replaced by Henerty. We didn't fail to keep playing and pushed on well with Henerty off the bench providing some better service for the front 2 of Watson and Burns. A dangerous score line 2-0 as you're always in the game but again we got caught on the break by pushing forward searching for the goal. We didn't defend well all afternoon with Royle being the pick of the bunch and a long ball saw us again seeing keeper Sergent 1 on 1 with the advancing forward who slotted to secure the points. We did score a deserved consolation goal with Burns heading from close range after a decent cross from Johnson. I would say a game of two halves and anyone watching would see a harsh defeat but too many individual errors cost us. An entertaining first game on Staiton road that proves its going to be a tough season as the results will go either way each week. A special mention to all that look after the pitch and around the ground as its probably been in the best condition for years. Next up Haslingden at home. A tough test and this result will give the critics on the side line who have nothing to do with the club something to talk about. James Smith __________________________________________________________ 06/08/2011 - Hawcoat Park 1-3 Hesketh Bank My first game in charge saw us with a result that I'm hoping gets the wheels in motion for the forth coming season. Our opponents a strong Hawcoat Park side that I'm sure will be hard to beat week in week out who ever they face. The first half belonged to the home side and some sloppy defending saw us concede from a corner with only 25 mins played. Hawcoat then put us under some considerable pressure as we struggled to get to grips with the pace of the game. Some last ditch defending from Cox, Taylor and Smith absorbed the pressure well and some fantastic goalkeeping from Sergeant was enough to see us go in on the break 1-0 down.
A lot can be taken from the game, a decent second half display but a point proved if you don't start well in this league you're going to get punished. Improvements to be made and fitness levels still can be better. With returning players to the squad for next Saturday's game at home to Bac/Ee/Springfields gives us healthy competition for places. James Smith __________________________________________________________
2010/2011
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