Under 9's reach Semi-Final

BURSCOUGH FC 7-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT

7th MAY 2001

This was the Under 9's 1st Tournament of the summer and they came away feeling very proud (and a little disappointed!!) at just missing out on the final.

The 12 teams were split into 2 groups of 6, who then played each other to decide the top 2 positions. The top two in each group then contested the semi-finals.

Red Rose's group consisted of: Dynamo Boys, Halsall, Ainsdale, Allerton, ourselves and Birkdale Utd - who failed to show, which meant that we only had 5 teams in our group.

The team's 1st game was against Dynamo Boys, and finished as a scrappy 0-0 draw. Both teams struggled to control the ball early on as they came to terms with quite a bumpy pitch. 

In the 2nd match, they came up against a excellent side in Halsall, who ran out easy 3-0 winners. Red Rose did have a couple of decent chances but were unable to convert them into goals.

The 3rd game against Ainsdale saw them determined to at least score a goal, and possibly even win. The teams 1st goal did arrive when C.Watson fired home a spectacular long range effort. The score ended 1-0 and Red Rose had their 1st win.

In the 4th and final group game, Red Rose took on Allerton, who once again were a very good side. Red Rose held firm this time and the score finished up as another 0-0 draw. They almost snatched the win in the final minute, but a great save from the Allerton keeper denied J.Davies what would have been the winner.

We then had to wait to find out if we had finished 2nd in the group, and eventually we found out that no less than 3 teams (including ourselves) had finished up on 4 points to make 2nd place a 3 way tie. As goal difference didn't count, It meant that the 3 teams had to once again play each other in order to find a winner.

The games were to be 'Golden Goal' games, meaning the 1st team to score would win the match. Red Rose started their play-off against Allerton who they had previously drawn 0-0 with.

In a tense and exciting game where both teams had chances to score and therefore win the game, It was Red Rose who got the winner, when L.Dixon fired home after J.Seaward had seen his shot blocked almost on the line. The players all celebrated their 1st ever 'Golden Goal', but they still had to play, and win, the 3rd team in the Play-off who were Dynamo Boys.

As Dynamo took the kick-off to start the game, D.Conroy charged in and managed to hustle the ball from the Dynamo player and surge forward towards goal. A defender got a touch on it, but it broke free to R.Lawrenson who fired the ball in the bottom corner to win the game in the first 30 seconds!!!

This now meant that Red Rose were in the Semi's, and they came up against Town Green, who turned out to be a very good passing side. There was to be no score going into the final minute of the game,  but then, a Town Green player managed to get a cross into the area which wasn't dealt with, and was finished well to make the score 1-0 with only seconds to go. The whistle went as Red Rose took the restart and it was the Town Green player's who this time celebrated as they were now in the final.

Town Green deserved the win as they attacked the Red Rose goal almost from the 1st minute. Maybe the excitement of the sudden death games, coupled with a very warm sun had got the better of the Red Rose players as they just didn't seem up for it as they had done in their previous 2 or 3 games.

Overall, to reach the Semi's after playing, and winning 2 play-off games, was a great achievement for the team as they had been up against some very good teams from the Merseyside area.

Well done to all the player's for playing in 7 games in what was very warm conditions, and to all the parents for their great support of the team.

PS: The final saw Hesketh Casuals take on Town Green and it was Hesketh who took the trophy when they won a penalty shootout after the game had finished goalless.