Mottys Moments

9th March. Quarter Finals Junior Challenge Cup. Heywood Sports 2 Scholes 3.

Scholes turned up with 11 players who fought, tackled and challenged for every ball.  WE DIDN'T!  Johnny 'P*ssed Off' Mo.  For further action from this match see Toilet of the Week. CGC.

2nd March. Kirkheaton Rovers 0 Heywood Sports 3.

Apart from the mysterious disappearance of James Waller, we had a full team to pick from, with Tim Having a sh*tter for the first team last week , Bomber dumped him back with us. We started in the same good form as the last match, completely donimating play, working hard & putting together some very good passing moves. It came as no surprise that we took the lead after 10 mins with a great goal from Tony Mull. Finding himself with time and room 35 yards out he planted a great half-volley over the keepers head. It wasn't long before we increased the lead with a route one goal. A long kick from the silly old b*gger in goals was headed on by Paddy, and for once Feet anticipated the flick on and he went round the keeper but pushed the ball wide of the goal, nearly over the dead ball line,undaunted, he cooly looked up and smacked the ball into the net from a seemingly impossible angle, shades of Marco Van Callaghan! The 3rd goal was almost a carbon copy of the first except it was even further out and scored by someone even fatter than Tony, well done Paddy Carmody. A really excellent 1st half performance with Tim and Steve Farmer outstanding and once again the defence looking rock solid with 'Man of Steel' Trigger not losing a tackle or header. We didn't reach the dizzy heights of play in the second half but we wern't helped by the 'home' referee continually giving late offsides and generally trying to get his team back into the game. We still managed to miss some good chances with super sub Adam Bell missing two ideal opportunities one on one with the keeper. All in all a very good performance that lifts us up the table and with two quarter finals coming up, things look good. By the way, training is still thursdays at 7.00p.m. at Royds Hall!

16th February. Heywood Sports 4 Brackenhall United 0.

With Tom Hunt going to coach in New York for 18 months, Adam Bell having to work, Steve Farrar running into Al Queada and worst of all Tim Oldfield having to spend a weekend at Butlins, it was  a good job the 1st team didn't have a game. Thanks to Russ Pursells birthday celebrations friday night not everyone was deemed fit for selection, however, we were able to draft in Matt Jagger, JC and Pikey with Sean O'Shea as supersub in reserve. We started strongly and dominated the early stages playing good football. We went close to scoring on numerous occasions with the Hall relying on the odd quick break. It was no surprise when we went ahead although the half-hit 25 yard shot from Pikey seemed to deceive their keeper. Paddy then should have made it 2 nil when he broke free only to take the wrong option and the ball was cleared. He soon made amends when following a good run from Feet he slammed the ball into the net to give us a well deserved 2-0 half-time lead. We started strongly in the 2nd half and Feet should have scored after 2 mins when he missed a sitter from 4 yards, much to the amusement of the large Heywoods contingent on the touch line. It was only a matter of time before we scored again and a cross into the box was converted by a flying header from JC. The excellent James Waller then broke free and slotted home number four. We began running the Hall defence ragged and it was a mystery how we didn't score again from the multitude of chances we created. In all a great performance against a top of the table side who were made to look mediocre, though its the first time we've played a team whose goalie was worse than ours! Same again next week pleas. Oh and training is still on thursday nights!  Johnny Mo.

2nd February. Heywood Sports 2 Slaithwaite 3.

Our traditional slow start to the game cost us dear in the first few minutes. A hopeful ball into our box caught us napping and we were 1-0 down. The heavy pitch didn't suit our passing game but we gradually got to grips with it and began to get on top. Tom Hunt, displaying some very good skills, started to dominate and found Feet in the box with a good pass. He turned and twisted past 2 defenders  and finished with a strong shot. Paddy Carmody showed well up front with his power and strength but spoiled a lot of his work by being caught offside. On one of the few times he stayed onside, he ran on to a through ball and finished well to go 2-1 up. We were well on top now and had three good chances but couldn't score with only the keeper to beat. Just before half-time we fell to a sucker punch when another hopeful long ball found Trigger dozing and the nippy forward poked the ball passed keeper Brian. The 2nd half found us unable to play to our strengths on the heavily churned up pitch. We battled gamely though and the lads gave 100% and didn't give up. Their winning goal was a comical affair with Clive 'the Bull' Stephens throwing himself full length to head their corner into his own net passed our startled defence. Substitute Pete Everest could have redeemed Clive when he broke free with only the goalie to beat, but he blasted it high and wide. We need to bounce back for the quarter final this week and learn to take our chances when on top like I do. Johnny Mo.

19th January. Junior Challenge Trophy. Lepton 1 Heywood Sports 5.

With the squad depleted with injuries to James Waller and Tom Hunt, we were able to replace them with the quality of Carmody and Mulhall(hee hee), for this tricky trip to Lepton. We started brightly and soon took advantage of a a goalkeeping miskick when Steve Farmer put us ahead. We pressed strongly for most of the first half, missing a few chances but should have been worth more than the 1-0 half time lead.There was only one team in it in the 2nd half and continued pressure from Heywoods kept opening up the flat-footed Lepton defence. Goals from Carmody and another from Steve Farmer, who is relishing his role on the right hand side of midfield, put the game beyond doubt.Lepton scored with a free-kick that went through a wall with Carl Marriot starring as Mr. Wibble and Tony Mulhall as Mr. Wobble!. 3-1, but that only inspired us to score another two courtesy of Paddy and Feet. In the closing stages Tony HIT THE BAR FROM 5 YARDS, and Steve Farmer blotted his copybook with a miss from 1 yard. In all a very good performance with an outstanding performance from Trigger, never giving 'Big Reidy' a kick, with able assistance from Marriot, Kimberlin and Farrar who didn't put a foot wrong. Steve Farmer was excellent over the 90 mins, Tim, quiet in the 1st half but showed more in the 2nd. Clive didn't lose a tackle and Carmody battled hard up front with Feets mazy runs causing them problems all the game. To cap a good day it was nice to have Tony back playing again. Lets continue this form in the league and against Scholes in the quarter finals. One more thing, training is at 7.00p.m every thursday!  Johnny Mo.

12th January. Richardson Cup 2nd Round. Heywood Sports 4 Marsden 2.

Soon after kick-off it was fairly obvious that we were much the better side. Plenty of good football and excellent passing from Marriot, Stephens and Tom Hunt. The pace of Waller and Oldfield caused plenty of problems but as usual unable to finish a cartload of chances with 'Feet' being chief culprit. In fact Marsden should have scored when a breakaway from our corner led to a passback to 'Old Father Time' who miskicked straight to an oncoming forward who scooped his shot over from 6 yards. Eventually another slick passing move led to Stevie Farmer sidefooting into the net to give us a deserved lead. Soon after Fats Waller broke free & finished excellently to give us a 2-0 half-time lead. Another sluggish start to the second half saw play continue to be scrappy until the long awaited introduction of supersub Morris who had an immediate effect by putting Timmy Oldfield away to finish with aplomb. A good ron by Feet was halted unfairly in the box and he confidently scored from the spot. Game over, but we tired in the last 10 mins when Marsden put us under pressure for the only time in the game and scored 2 consolation goals. A timely reminder on our fitness levels and the need to improve on our training attendance of 0% from the 2nd team last week!  Johnny Mo

15th December, Junior Challenge Cup, Lepton 2 Heywood Sports 3. Abandoned after 58 minutes due to broken leg.

Heywoods pressed strongly in the opening 20 mins with the pace of the front men giving the ponderous Lepton defenders little time to settle. James Waller seemed to go past them with ease 7 created havoc with his surging runs. One beautiful cross from Adam left Steve Farmer with a simple header but Oops, more practice needed! Disaster struck after 25mins when the outstanding Faz got a face full of studs from a high boot and the damage was such that he had to go to hospital for  treatment. He returned to the Flyboat later looking like Al Capone. Paddy'Available this week'Carmody came on up front & almost had an immediate effect, beating the offside trap he ran on towards goal but seemed unsure what to do when faced with the keeper. As he pushed the ball past him, our other two bright forwards were already on the goaline & duly given offside. Lepton were relying on the long ball from the skilful Dale Winterbottom, who brought the ball out of defence several times. The back four stood firm with Trigger and new old partner Timmy playing well. A good run from Jamie saw him go past 3 defenders only to be upended in the box. Feet made amends for last weeks miss to confidently stroke the ball past the keeper. Minutes later Steve Farmer broke down the right and shot past the keeper for his first goal for the team giving us a well deserved 2-0 lead at half-time. Soon after the restart Lepton scored a goal from a corner to reduce the arrears. A few minutes later Adam made a good run into the box where he was unceremoniously brought down but the referee bottled it and gave us a free kick on the edge of the box. Up stepped Tom Hunt, who'd had a quiet game so far, and planted it into the bottom corner of the net to restore our two goal advantage. More bad marking at a Lepton corner made it 3-2. 58 minutes into the game a terrible two footed challenge by a Lepton player on Steve Farmer resulted in the culprit breaking his own leg, luckily Steve wasn't badly hurt and the Lepton player was lucky to only get booked as he lay writhing on the ground. With the holdup waiting for the ambulance and the deteriorating light it was decided to abandon the match. So all to do again and none of the goals counting! Johnny Mo.

8th December, Lindley Lib 1 Heywood Sports 1

A strong looking Heywoods 2nd team squad travelled to Lindley for this mid-table clash and started brightly, putting together some good attacking moves on a bumpy  uneven surface. James Waller looked dangerous down the left but was often fouled by "Shearer". Adam Bell couldn't find his range when shooting from distance several times, the only danger being to the cars parked on the road! Our defence was looking solid with the ever confident 'Trigger' dealing easily with the giant centre forward 'Sugar'. Tom Hunt orchestrated most of Heywoods good moves with his excellent passing and played better even than his impressive debut last week. We should have gone ahead when Timmy and Feet found themselves clear with only the keeper to beat, but they dillied and dallied, dallied and dillied lost their way and did not score. Just before half-time we were awarded a corner after another good run fromJamie. A well struck kick from Tom found the burly and unfit Clive Stephens unmarked two yards from goal(He claimed he lost his marker aka Martin Peters) and buried his header into the roof of the net.The 2nd half started in similar style but gradually they put us under more pressure as we found it difficult to clear the ball any distance. The Lindley players seemed to take a liking to kicking young Adam every time he went on a run and generally left their studs showing in the tackle. Cue Clive Stephens who was duly booked for one of his 'tackles'. Lindley eventually scored when once again we failed to clear any distance and the ball came straight back in for them to score. We got back into the game with good runs from Timmy and Feet but both lacked power in their shots to trouble their keeper. We were awarded a penalty when they handled in the area. The normally reliable Feet shot too close to the goalie and he pushed it wide( though Feet said it reminded him of the Gordon Banks save against Pele). Tragedy then struck when a slightly late tackle from behind by Clive led to his 2nd booking and he was off. Even worse was to come when Adam was repeatedly hacked from behind by the Knobhead 'Shearer' and gave him a little bit back. Sheararsole then attacked him with his fists and both players were sent off. He then tried to carry on the fight after the game restarted but hardmen Morris,Marriot and Stephens threatened him with their handbags and scared him off. Down to 9 men the boys dug in  and even began to get on top in the now wide open spaces. Overall a good battling performance and deserved a point at least... Johnny Mo.

1st December, Heywood Sports 5 Shelley Sports 1.

A re-shaped Heywoods side took the field against a lowly Shelley missing Carmody(awol), McNulty(work), Farmer(promoted) and both Stephens and Bell injured. This allowed young Danny Gubbini and Tom Hunt to make their debuts with old fart Johnny Morris given an excuse to play the full 90 mins. From the start we attacked relentlessly with wave after wave  but couldn't score. Chances went begging, a mixture of poor finishing, bad luck and excellent saves by their keeper kept their goal intact. After outpacing a sluggish defence Johnny Mo hit a 20 yard shot(THATS WHAT HE WROTE ANYWAY) that thudded against the post. Tom Hunt hit a 25 yard free-kick against the bar and Johnnys header from the rebound was saved by the keeper. Feet fluffed  three one on ones and then blazed over(Canal bound) after a good cross from Danny. Tom Hunt was spraying the ball about confidently and played several excellent thru' balls to James Wallerwho was looking dangerous on the left wing.From one of these thru' balls little Timmy Oldfield ran unchallenged but was taken out by the keeper in the box. Feet struck the penalty sweetly into the top corner. After 30 mins of pressure it was a relief to be ahead, but it didn't last long. The Shelley attack had not ventured into our penalty area at all, and still didn't when a speculative 30 yard shot bemused Methusalah and ended up in our net. The half-time score of 1-1 was hard to stomach as it had been the most one sided half we had dominated all season(including 5-0 up against Almondbury). I was sure if we played the same football the goals would come. The 2nd half started in the same fashion with no let up, but we still continued to squander chances. Fast Feet was causing them plenty of problems with several mesmerising runs but still needs to learn when to release the ball to better placed colleagues. Eventually the pace of Tiny Tim took toll and he burst thru' twice in 5 mins and finished with two quality strikes. Johnny Mo then scored from close range, though this reporter has it on good authority it was an OG, and then Feet ran clear to finish well. Shelly had given up by now with their overweight and unfit centre half having been run ragged by our overweight and unfit centre forwars. Overall a good performance against a poor side but need to finish better against better sides who won't give us as many chances. A 5-1 win but we should have scored 10 and still afford to miss chances. It was good to be able to give all 3 subs a run out with Mick Hunt also making his debut.  Johnny Mo.

24th November, Diggle 3 Heywood Sports 3.

After Steve Farmer cried off with an injury, we recruited the ever faithful Andy Fry for a subs spot for the long trip to Diggle. We started brightly with good prompting from full back Faz with the pace up front of Belly and Feet causing the lumbering Diggle defence plenty of problems. For 25 mins we laid siege to their goal, missing 2 or 3 good chances. A brilliant trademark Feet turn left 2 defenders stranded on the edge of the box but his shot shaved the wrong side of the post. As per usual when you don't turn pressure into goals we were stung by a sucker punch when a rare slip by Kombo left a Diggle forward clear on goal only to be thwarted by "Old Father Time". The resultant corner caused a goalmouth scramble ending with Mazza protecting his choirboy looks and conceding a penalty given by the home referee.The penalty was converted and minutes later we were 2 down when an unfortunate deflection found the back of the net. The defence had looked strong despite a mad 10 mins wander by Trigger.Just before half-time we got the break we deserved when a through ball let in Belly whose first shot was saved but he cracked in the rebound. A decent 1st half performance with good work from Damo and James Waller.Young Danny Gubbini came on at half-time for old Clive Stephens suffering a pulled hamstring. A sluggish start to the half saw Diggle increase their lead but we kept our heads up and started to put constant pressure on their goal. Feet produced some good dribbling runs and from one of these he actually looked up and found Timmy with a good pass. Timmy dummied a defender before toe-poking a terrific shot into the top corner. Belly came off with ankle trouble so on came the evergreen Johnny Mo to add his considerable weight to the attack. With time running out , heywoods attacked constantly and came close on several occasions but it looked as though Diggle would hang on. In injury time we were awarded a corner and from the ensuing melee Jack-in a box Feet headed home the equalizer for a well deserved point. Good performance and character from the lads to keep going after twice being 2 goals behind. And thanks to Andy Fry for rushing home for his kit, trailing all the way to Diggle to sit on the bench for 90 minutes!    Johnny Mo.

17th November,Junior Challenge Cup 1st round.Heywood Sports 3 Newsome WMC 1.

Heywoods started their defense of the Challenge Cup against opponents who are top of their division. Newsome were full of confidence,aggressive and didn't allow us to settle on the ball or start any flowing moves.They came with a gameplan to catch us offside and it certainly worked! Countless times our 3 forwards, Paddy(1000/1), Feet and Belly were caught miles offside and didn't seem to have the vision to look along the line.However, when a team relies on this plan it only needs one mistake and this duly happened.The ref didn't blow on a close decision and this sent Paddy(1000/1) well clear, he took the ball up to the keeper & placed it into the net to open our account. We settled down after this and passed it better. Clive actually moved out of the centre circle without the aid of wheels and Steve Farmer tackled someone! Apart from one mistake at the back which led to Newsomes only shot at goal(which they should have scored), the back four of Faz,Kimbo,Trigger and Mazza stood firm. A minute before the restart Paddy was sent clear again but with only the keeper to beat he clipped his shot onto the post when it looked easier to score. We started to wear our opponents down and gradually got on top with Timmy Oldfield prominent. Once more Paddy was sent clear, dribbling the ball up to the keeper before trying to 'chip' him,living up to his 1000/1 reputation and the keeper being over 3' tall his pass back went straight into his midriff.Another goal was needed to kill the game off and quieten the mouthy Newsome boys who continued to to contest every foul against them with threatening or smart alec remarks.It duly came when the outstanding Adam Bell broke free and hit a rocket of a shot that the goalie parried only for Adam to put thre rebound into the net. This goals seemed to break their spirit and it was only a matter of time before a 3rd goal came. Fast Feet Collins,who had had a quiet game up to now but had never stopped running, turned two defenders in the box and slotted the ball home for a superb goal. Newsome grabbed a consolatin goal when a half-hit shot seemed to just roll past Old Father Time who went down like a falling chimney stack. All in all a good solid performance with Mick Kimberlin outstanding at the back and the subs playing their part,it gives us confidence in looking forward to Lepton away in the next round....... Johnny Mo.

3rd November: Heywood Sports 3 Kirkheaton 2. The day started with the usual withdrawals from the team selection, Damien McNulty was working, Paddy Carmody was available but realised he was in Ireland and Liam McSheffrey was still punch drunk!We started the game slowly against a fairly strong looking Kirkheaton side but gradually warmed to the task and started to get on top.Adam bell opened the scoring when the Rovers keeper completely miskicked a through ball leaving the rampant Heywoods striker the simple task of tapping into an empty net.We started to dominate even more with good prompting from Steve Farmer and Miles O'Donnell,but a lot of good work was spoiled by the front two being constantly caught offside.A fabulously exquisite 180 degree turn on the byline left two defenders floundering and his cross should have been converted.A well flighted free kick from Steve Farrar landed on the head of "Fast Feet" Collins a yard out from goal but he contrived to close his eyes and head the ball wide with all the deftness of Plum Pudding!After 30 mins disaster struck when a defensive mix up led to the ball being flicked on and although looking yards offside a Rovers player went on to score.Minutes later another blunder by rookie centre half Morris who should have cleared but allowed the ball to be cut back for a player to chip the ball overErnies ginger head to score. Adisappointing half time score after dominating most of the game. We again started slowly in the 2nd half and didn't manage any flowing moves as we were still getting caught offside,however a good run by "Feet" ended with him being upended in the box and he confidently stroked the resultant penalty passed the keeper.A Rovers player then was sent of for swearing at the ref but this seemed to inspire them and they put the Heywoods defence under considerable pressure.20 minutes to go and one of the few good Heywoods moves sent James Waller hareing down the left wing from which he produced a quality cross for Feet to leap like a salmon and power a header passed the keeper.We then failed to kill the game off by missing several good chances.All in all a srappy game but a much needed win to give us confidence for the upcoming cup game! Johnny Mo.