Home Page Wirral District Football Association
District Youth Team 2009/2010
Following a draw against Chester DFA in September the team went to Altrincham needing the first of two wins to have any chance of reaching the final. After 90 minutes of non stop excellent football the score was 0 - 0. In two minutes of added time a well taken goal by Altrincham took the three points. With both teams having players in the CCFA Youth squad who played the day before it was always going to be a match for the fittest. However both teams gave 100% and we applauded off the pitch. Officiated by Paul Norris and two young assistants the game for us was our final. Wirral has always had good games against Altrincham, competitive but played in the true spirit of the game. Their hospitality was once again second to none for which we extend our thanks.
Top of each g........................................................................................................................................................................................................
District Youth Team
Winners of the Cheshire County District Challenge Cup Final 2008 2009
Paul Davies, Paul Byrne, James Annetts, Tom Rudnick, Kyle Davies, Chris Wright, Luke Hughes, Gary Knight,
Danny Povall, Mark Nokes, Charlie Maciness, Ben Shallcross, Billy Foster, John Barratt, Phil Taylor, Neil Kelly,
Having played an excellent game against a very good Crewe side, Wirral were up for the challenge against old rivals Macclesfield DFA. In the league stages of this competition Wirral lost 3 - 2 to a very strong Macc side so they had some pride to regain and prove to the Wirral supporters who travelled the 100 mile round trip they could win this one. This was never going to be a classic but the job was to bring the cup back to Wirral what ever the quality and style of play. The pitch was perfect and as soon as the whistle went you knew this one wasn't for the feint hearted.
The first 20 minutes there was nothing in the game, mostly played in the middle with the odd break, but with a very strong back four Macclesfield held off any serious challenges from Wirral's strikers and looked the more comfortable at the back. Disaster stuck at 24 minutes when Gary Knight turned his ankle and hobbled off with Physio Tom McCrystal. From then on Wirral struggled to hold their shape and when Steve McGettrick had to go off with an other injury Wirral were really stretched. If not for the agility of Davies in the Wirral goal, Macc could have gone in to the break at least 2 goals up.
Clearly the half time team talk from manager Mike Melling did the job as Wirral came out and immediately put pressure on the Macc defence winning corner after corner. Unfortunately they never capitalised on any due to solid defending and when Macc did regain possession they were dangerously quick on the break. Macc's striker ran tirelessly through out the game and with some clever one / two's from the midfield put Davies and his back line under a bit of pressure again forcing him to make some excellent saves.
As the clock ticked on this looked like there was never going to be a goal in it and the spectators were taking about the possibility of penalties even before we had extra time.
A tactical switch by the Wirral manager saw Billy foster move from midfield to lone striker and as always he never let any of the Macc defenders kept the ball for more than a few seconds before he was on to them. Forcing errors in the back four and the midfield Wirral were growing stronger despite the 80 minutes of none stop running. Committing two defenders to mark Foster, Macclesfield started to leave a few gaps at the back and most of the action was in or around the Macc penalty area. They dealt with most challenges and when Wirral got through the Macc keeper tidied up each time.
The 90 minutes had gone and with few minor stoppages, added time couldn't have been more than 3 minutes. Wirral played across the back four tempting Macc out of their 1/3 of the pitch but with two on Foster and their forwards dropping back in to help out it all looked pretty tight. Paul Byrne picked up the ball on the right side of midfield, drew two players with him and slotted the ball down the touch line for Foster who was shadowed by two defenders the size of Tony Adams. With brilliant skill and fast pace he left one in his wake and the other lunged at him in an effort to put the ball into row Z. He skipped the challenge, cut inside and from what seemed like an impossible angle, launched a left foot shot that rattled the roof of the net. The Wirral supporters including some of the District representatives went crazy, the players were ecstatic and ran from all over the pitch to congratulate Foster in the usual way.
At the restart the referee indicated there was only one minute left and as all teams do, Wirral either had to keep possession or make sure when the ball went out of play it went as far out as they could kick it.
The final whistle, although it seemed less than the indicated one minute, was to end a game were the two teams were so committed it was almost a stalemate. 1 - 0 to Wirral DFA and the cup returned home for the 25th time since the competition started in 1951.
Commiserations to Macclesfield DFA, we were runners up last year and I'm sure like us they will be back to fight again.
Two finals in two years for Mike Melling, Dave McDermott and Tom McCrystal picking up the trophy this time, 2009/2010 is looking good.
Thanks to our hosts Macclesfield Town FC, Ray Pullen, CCFA Youth Secretary, The CCFA Youth Committee and all the District teams who took part in this very enjoyable competition.
.......................................................................................................................................................................
District Challenge Cup Semi-Final 2008 2009
Crewe v Wirral
The District Youth team were in action today in the semi final of the District Cup Competition against Crewe District FA at the Cumberland Arena.
The squad looked good on paper but they were carrying a few players who weren't fully fit. Luke Hughes had returned from and ankle injury which kept him out the County squad last week along with Mark Nokes and Gary Knight but, with new signings Ryan Youds and Billy Foster joining the team, manager Mike Melling had some flexibility in his selection.
Against an extremely strong side Wirral went 1 - 0 down after 5 minutes due mainly to the excellent passing and ball control from Crewe. For the next 15 minutes possession was shared until Gary Knight took the ball from midfield, screamed down the line, cut in and drilled home the equaliser. The midfield battle continued until half time and the scored remained at 1 - 1 although two excellent saves from Paul Davies in the Wirral goal kept us in the frame.
At the start of the second half while the spectators were still sipping up there coats to come back out Luke Hughes picked the ball up from the restart and hit a 30 yard screamer past the standing Crewe keeper to take the lead. It took Crewe about 10 minutes to recover from the shock and they picked up the pace. Under pressure from the Crewe strikers, the Wirral back 4 had to deal with plenty and on the odd occasion they got through, keeper Paul Davies halted the charge, again with some fine saves. At 55 minutes Chris Wright was substituted by Billy Foster who's job it was to close down their midfield and force them to pass with less time to think about it. And, if he picked the up ball he could have a run and test the Crewe keeper. At 65 minutes the constant running from Mark Nokes took it toll and Phil Taylor came on in to the midfield to add some height and strength to the team leaving Foster to have a free role up front.
With 10 minutes to go the Crewe manager made an substitution risking all to save the game and force extra time. The fresh legs of the nippy left winger carried him in to the 18 yard box and with the Wirral defenders a yard short, he fired home past Davies to level the game.
Extra time and 15 minutes of equal play saw the score still at 2 - 2 but Wirral suffered a set back when James Annetts took a bad knock on his knee. John Barratt stepped in and covered equally as well while the retiring Annetts watched the rest of the game from the dug out.
5 minutes into the second half of extra time, with the home side pushing all the way, a clearance from the back lines flew over the two Crewe defenders and was taken perfectly by Gary Knight on his right foot. Screams from the home supporters for offside didn't deter him or the assistant referee and his pace left the defenders in his wake. He slotted the ball past the advancing Crewe keeper to take the lead. The Wirral team, line and committee members roared as the ball hit the back of the net.
10 minutes plus added time was between the team and a second consecutive appearance in the final of this fiercely contested competition. Wirral hung on and with a minute to go could have sown the game up with a lightening run from Billy Foster down the left wing. The two Crewe defenders forced him in to the corner but conceded a free kick which when taken, was well collected by the Crewe keeper.
120 minutes of good entertaining football and at the final whistle Wirral were ecstatic with their 3 -2 win. A tough match played in the true spirit of the game. Although despondent, the Crewe team congratulated the Wirral lads and wished them well in the final.
Thanks to our three officials and of course the Crewe Youth Committee for their hospitality and the delicious buffet after the game. They made us extremely welcome and looked after our travelling supporters aswell.