Everton Hold City

MCFC U18s 1 – 1  EFC U18s

City failed to capitalise on their top of the table position when they faced bottom of the table Everton who got their first point of the season against Manchester United last week. Even though City took the lead in the first half through Ched Evans it was slightly against the run of play as City afforded Everton too much time and space to play the ball around. City started the second half much better and put the Everton defence under a lot more pressure but failed to breach their line and when City failed to deal with a forward play down the right and the ball was fired in from the angle. City need their central midfield to work that bit harder and drive forward more if they are to challenge for the league title this season. I would also say that if Ched Evans had a better partner up front then I’m sure that would pretty much make us the best team in our division.

City: Mentel(GK), Vidal, McGiven, Mee, McDonald, Marshall, Clayton, Kay(M Daly 83), Ball(Moore 55), Evans(Breen 85), McDermott.

Good news for the U16s however as they came from 2-1 behind to win 3-2.

City Win at Crewe Alexandra

CAFC U18s 0 – 3 MCFC U18s

A very satisfactory performance where City looked in total control and goals from Ched Evans, Ben Mee and Adam Clayton ensured that City stayed top of group C with thirteen points from six games.
City’s first goal came on nine minutes when a strong run down the left by Donal McDermott led to him bamboozeling the defence and shooting over the keeper, but the ball rebounded of the cross bar and Adam Clayton and Ched Evans pounced on the loose ball and it looked liked Evans got the final touch to scramble the ball home.
City doubled their lead when City were awarded a free kick out on the right and Paul Marshall sent in a deep looping cross that Ben Mee powerfully headed home. City wrapped up the points when Adam Clayton sent a wonderful curling strike to the far post that left the keeper stranded.

City: Mentel(GK), Vidal, McGivern, Mee, McDonald(Capt.), Marshall(Daly), Clayton, Kay(Mouritsen), C Evans(Weiss), Ball, McDermott.

Subs: Hartley(GK), Ramsey.


The U16s continued their unbeaten run with a fine one sided 2-1 victory.

Pontins League Round Up

MCFC Reserves 1 – 3 OAFC Reserves

A much better performance from the mainly U17 squad this week but yet again the lack of older wiser heads in the team to slow things down meant that there were many tired legs out there in the final quarter of the match and this led to Oldham scoring two late goal and taking an undeserved victory; but for the first time the players might have learnt something from this. That is not to say that is not a good thing, but I think the players could still learn better with a bit of experience to guide them through and let their undoubted talents come to the fore.
City’s goal came from good fast flowing football on the ground and Vladimir Weiss and Adam Clayton forcing their way into the box, I thought it was Weiss that got his shot of and the players celebrating with him seemed to confirm this, but the announcer said that it was Clayton.
Oldham had equalized within two minutes as yet again Lawrence Matthewson made one of his trademark clangers. Those that watch the academy regularly would have been pleasantly surprised to see Matthewson show such good form in our Youth Cup run last season as the swell of feeling was he was not good enough and so far this season he has affirmed these beliefs.
One interesting point might have been that when Andrew Tutt came on as a late substitute, he became City’s youngest ever reserve player as its more than likely that he eclipsed Daniel Sturridge’s appearance record set at the end of the 2004/5 season.
City now take a two week break in the Pontins league as they face Accrington away for their second 2pm kick off of the season on Wednesday October 4th.

City: Matthewson(GK), Kay, Morris, M Daly, Ramsey, Pollitt, Weiss, Tsiaklis, Campbell(Clayton 20), Poole(Tutt 76), Mouritsen.

Subs: Hartley(GK), Ball, McGiven

City Lose Mini Derby

MCFC Reserves 0 – 1 MUFC Reserves

After a good opening win to the premier reserve league season away to Liverpool at Wrexham thanks to a fine 20 yard strike by man of the match Michael Johnson, city were brought back down to earth with a one nil defeat to our local bitter rivals, Manchester United.
The task of winning was made harder when teenage sensation was suffering from a hamstring injury and so as usual the City coaching staff make the blinding gaff of playing Ishmael Miller left of midfield and Ashley Grimes as the striker. Had they played these two players in their opposite places they would play more to how they are suited and caused the united defence far more problems, as such united were wise to Miller and stuck two defenders and nullified his performance for most of the game. Grimes, a good attacking and creative midfielder he may be, but he does not have the movement and instinct to be a forward.
City were also hampered by the referee, Mr Matadar, who is either a united sympathizer, or just does not like City as for the many games that he has officiated for us, he clearly favours our opposition and I would urge the City hierarchy that they approach the premier reserve league north and request that where possible he does not referee our games. In a game with few hard tackles City ended up with four bookings, non for desent. Surprise surprise there was only one booking for a united player.
City had their chances as City had at least four shots on target but just could not find their way through. The free kick and corner delivery by City emulated the first team as well by providing little quality.
City’s next game is away to Newcastle this Monday(18th) and I’m unable to attend. The game I presume will be at the Newcastle Falcon’s ground, Kingston Park. So if there are any North East Blues out there that are going and want to do a short report, I’ll be happy to post it on here for them.

City: Hart(GK), Williams, Williamson, Breen(Marshall 64), Mills(Capt.)(Mee 46), Johnson, Etuhu, Ireland, Grimes, C Evans(Ball 82), Miller.

Subs: Matthewson(GK), Vidal.

Att: 1056

MotM: Joe Hart – pulled of a few good saves and his handling and kicking were good.

Pontins League Overview

Apologies for regular visitors for my lack of posts recently but I have not been able to find the time to compile my usual accurate full reports and in the last few days have suffered browser problems after downloading Internet Explorer 7. I have moved to Firefox for most things now, I can definitely warn against downloading Microsoft’s latest version as most websites struggle with this browser.
Anyway back to City; the Pontins league games has shown that just pitching talented young lads into games where they play against seasoned pros does not work as their experience tells on the pitch and their physical presence contributes to the City player’s being knocked off the ball far too easily and showing heavily in these last two considerable defeats to in all honesty lowly teams.
The inclusion of at least four players of 19 years old and older would make all the difference as the opening game of the season showed. Footballers thrive on confidence, if every time they try to go past a player or move to tackle and it fails to come of it will seriously test their own belief of whether they are good enough to make the grade and watching coaches and scouts will quite clearly be thinking the same.
So please City when they line up against Oldham next Tuesday in the re-arranged fixture include some young professionals at least more so through the spine of the team, ie Goalkeeper, centre half, central midfielder and a big strong centre forward to hold the ball up.
As we know top of the table Oldham are a very useful reserve side as we have been overturned by them on a few occasions in the Manchester Senior Cup games through the years so playing a very young side again I’m sure will result in us conceding at least three goals if Oldham play to their ability.

Academy Update

MCFC U18s 3 – 2 LUFC U18s

After City’s disappointing first defeat of the season, 2-1, last week at home to Sheffield Wednesday, City were faced with another opponent from the dark side of the Pennines, this time Leeds United, however City did offer some charity to them, just not enough to let them take any points from the game.
City’s goals came from two free kicks and from substitute Ched Evans. The first free kick could well have been an own goal or touched the quality and ever improving Ben Mee as it curled into the far post. The second free kick was headed across goal by Danny Pollitt to nipped in at the far post by full academy graduate, David Ball.
With City playing the Pontin’s league game on Tuesday the academy squad was not at full strength and at times this showed as Leeds were allowed back into the game on two occasions. The first time when the referee thought he was wearing Leeds’ yellow shirt when Javan Vidal tried to regain his full balance and the Leeds player just slipped and fell over him. The second when Lawrence Matthewson failed to clear a back pass and tried to rely on the officials to declare that the ball had gone over the dead ball line. This school boy error allowed the Leeds player to jump in and take the ball out a bit to slot in from five yards out.
As Ched Evans had come on to replace James Poole, he offered so much more power and pace with quality movement and his hard work was paid off when Donal McDermott mad a mug of two Leeds defenders and cut the ball back for Ched to smash into the roof of the net.

City: Matthewson(GK), Vidal, Pollitt, Mee, McDonald(McGiven), Marshall, Clayton, Kay, Poole(Evans), Ball(Mouritsen), McDermott.


City’s U16s did not fair so well as they lost their 100% when Leeds equalized with alast minute goal to make it 1-1.

City's Experiment Going Badly Wrong

MCFC Reserves 0 – 4 BFC Reserves

This is looking like a real nightmare for the coaching staff that is picking the squads for these Pontins league games. The young lads will have their confidence completely knocked out of them. It really is men against boys and the sooner the inclusion of a few more older, young players are involved especially through the spine of the team the better.
One other piece of bad news was that Shaleum Logan was stretchered off the field and then consequently taken away in the ambulance parked at the side of the pitch.

More Details to follow……