Ladybridge Pumas v BAC/EE Preston

This was the most eagerly awaited game so far this season between the two undefeated table-toppers. Could Pumas' solid defence (4 goals conceded in 3 games) hold out against BAC's prolific attack (21 goals scored in 3 games)? A good crowd turned out on a cold autumn morning to watch this intriguing encounter.
Pumas had a full strength squad with Tyler back from injury and the starting line up was:- Conor, Caleb, Matt, Callum, Sam, Ben, Lewis, Robert, Jack, Dion and Tyler. Eddie, Tom and Elliot were on the bench at the start.
The first half started with Pumas playing up the slight slope and the early exchanges were a bit scrappy. Ben looked dominant in mid-field and after 4mins he fed a lovely ball through to Robert on the right wing which BAC's defence did well to smother. Then Robert and Dion combined well on the right flank to force a corner taken expertly by Jack who has the ability to put the ball in the danger zone every time. After 6mins Dion was released by a great through ball from Lewis and he used his pace to beat the challenging defender but his shot went just wide. BAC weren't able to put any meaningful attacks together until after 8mins they broke down the left and the cross bounced dangerously in the Pumas penalty area and Sam had to be alert to block a powerful shot. Then seconds later BAC attacked again, this time down the right and a powerful low shot found the corner of Conor's net. 0-1.
Pumas responded positively to this set-back and played with great determination, winning most of the 50/50 challenges and working hard in every position. Tyler put pressure on BAC in their own area and skilfully set up a chance for Jack who coolly found the net after 10mins. 1-1.
Matt was busy on the left side of the pitch and was called into action to make a goal-line clearance following a BAC free kick from near the centre line. After 15mins Ben won the ball in mid-field and slotted a beautifully weighted through ball to Dion whose speed again beat the defence but the final shot was a carbon copy of his earlier attempt and went the wrong side of the post. BAC won a corner on the right which was delivered into the danger area but good work by Callum gave Matt the chance to run down the left wing and show his skills. Tyler was giving the BAC defenders a hard time and they couldn't deal with his speed and dribbling skills. After 21mins he kept possession on the BAC goal line and delivered a great pass from the left to Dion who prodded the ball home gratefully. 2-1.
Pumas were looking good at this point and were just about edging possession but BAC looked dangerous on the break and Caleb and Sam in particular had to defend desperately at times. One such break by BAC resulted in a powerful shot going just wide after 24mins and then 2mins later we saw a moment of sublime skill from a BAC forward when he took the ball on the edge of the Pumas area and in one fluid movement turned, controlled the ball and smashed it past Conor's diving fingertips. 2-2.
The final action of the first half saw Robert release Dion down the right from where, under great pressure he managed to get the ball to Tyler on the penalty spot but the defenders closed him down before he could shoot. HT 2-2.

In the second half Pumas had the advantage of the slight downhill slope and right from the kick off they played the best football of the game. Their passing and movement off the ball were excellent with the whole team contributing and working hard. This paid off after only 2mins when Robert kept possession on the right wing before turning the ball inside to Dion whose long range, high looping shot gave the keeper no chance. 3-2.
After 6mins the ball broke from the right to find Jack in space but his shot went just wide. Lewis was catching the eye with some solid work in mid-field and Sam was heavily involved, breaking up attack after attack with his trademark beautifully timed tackles and powerful heading ability. Callum and Ben were also heavily involved and were effectively controlling midfield. After 11mins Dion bravely went for a 50/50 ball and picked up a painful shin injury which meant he couldn't continue. This prompted a spurt of changes with Elliot, Tom and Eddie coming on for Dion, Matt and Robert. This could have upset Pumas rhythm but in fact they continued just as before with Jack especially rising to the occasion. He was like a terrier and his work rate and energy helped to set up several chances for himself and others.
Eddie and Elliot were also combining well down the right and forced a good save from the BAC keeper. Tom was looking comfortable at left back and after breaking up a potentially dangerous attack he fed Tyler with a good through ball which the BAC keeper had to be quick to smother. He was again called into action when Jack, having won two challenges, gave the ball to Tyler on the edge of the area. Eddie made a good run down the right and passed to Jack who crossed superbly for Elliot to head just wide. Then after 27mins Elliot reciprocated and delivered a lovely cross to Jack who saw his shot go agonisingly over the bar. With the clock ticking down to full time Pumas won three successive corners on the right each one delivered perfectly by Jack and keeping the BAC's backs under pressure. The final corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble ending in a goal kick.

Full time Ladybridge Pumas 3 BAC/EE Preston 2

The game lived up to the hype and was a great advertisement for junior football. Players on both teams showed skill, speed, courage, fitness and commitment and can be proud of their conduct. I imagine that BAC will be itching to play us at their place and unfortunately we remain in 2nd place due to Bamber Bridge's superior goal difference. This was Pumas first home game in the Premier League campaign and will be followed by several more consecutive home league fixtures. If the boys continue to work hard for each other like they did today it's hard to see anyone stopping them. Well done Pumas.

Hoole United v Ladybridge Pumas

This match against Hoole United was our third successive away fixture since the start of our Premier League campaign. A blustery day saw the lads play on a very uneven surface which made playing conditions extremely tricky for the Pumas who are used to better pitches. The Pumas starting line up was Conor, Caleb, Matt, Callum, Sam, Ben, Lewis, Robert, Jack, Dion and Eddie with Elliot on the bench. Tyler was injured and Tom was away on holiday. A bright start saw a couple of early efforts from Caleb and Robert from distance, test their keeper in the first five minutes. Hoole seemed very comfortable with the surface and coped better with the uneven bounce. Ben made a great run down the right and was unfortunate that his ball across their area was cut out well by the Hoole defence. Jack was operating down the left and was looking particularly dangerous going forward making a couple of great runs and tested the keeper with shots on both occasions. Robert was looking lively and was unlucky with a good shot saved well by their keeper on 5 minutes. Jack was like a terrier up front and was being ably assisted by his strike partner Dion whose pace was causing the Hoole defenders all sorts of problems. Hoole’s first attack of the game came after 15mins with a shot just going wide of Conor’s left hand post. Puma’s dominance territorially would surely force a goal and further efforts from Lewis, Jack and Dion kept their keeper busy. A substitution after twenty minutes saw Elliot on for Eddie and it would be a pass from Elliot that created the goal as he found Jack in space out on the right and from 15 yards out he smashed a left footed effort past their keeper for a well deserved goal. 0-1. The Pumas seemed to relax a little after the goal and their passing game started to improve. However, Hoole came forward on a couple of breaks that were effectively dealt with by Callum and Sam. Dion and Jack were looking hungry up front for another goal and a superb cross by Dion to Jack was parried well by their keeper for a corner which unfortunately didn’t come to anything. Pumas really dominated the last 10 minutes of the half with Robert and Callum looking impressive. Pumas forced another corner on 25mins which was taken by Jack which found Ben ten yards out, unfortunately his header just went over the bar. The pressure was building in the last 5 minutes of the half and the Pumas were finally rewarded with a goal when a great run and pass from a gazelle like Dion found Robert in space and he duly finished it off to make it 0-2. Matt made a fantastic run into the Hoole area with a minute of the half left but his shot was blocked bravely by a Hoole defender who was injured in the tackle. Half Time 0-2.
The first couple of minutes of the 2nd half started as the 1st ended with the Pumas dominating possession and territory. A corner taken by Jack found Elliot whose shot just went wide. However Hoole would enjoy their best spell of the match for the next 20 minutes and smart work by Sam and Caleb at the back in the early part of this period kept Hoole at bay but they threatened more as this period progressed. Dion was really unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet after a clever run and shot just went wide. Hoole pressure was still building and unfortunately Conor would have to wait a little longer for a clean sheet as Hoole scored after 45mins. The Pumas defence were unable to clear from a fairly innocuous attack. 1-2. The Pumas defence were sitting very deep and seemed to be inviting the Hoole attack on, Hoole couldn’t believe their luck. Constant pressure was eventually relieved by a fantastic darting run forward by Ben, whose snapshot went just wide. Hoole nearly drew level after 50mins when another attack ended in a shot that hit Conor’s crossbar. Pumas were really living on the edge and a goal for either team would be crucial at this stage of the match and Hoole looked more likely to get it until out of nowhere a clearance out of the Pumas defence found Jack who raced forward with just the keeper to beat. The keeper rushed out of his area and tried to push Jack off the ball, but Jack was far too smart and he swept past a despairing keeper to fire home a left footed shot into an empty net for his 2nd - superb stuff Jack. 1-3. The tide definitely turned after this goal and Robert made the game safe with a shot/cross which fooled the Hoole keeper into thinking it was going wide- wrong, it found the back of the net 1-4. The Pumas needed the 3 goal cushion as Hoole forced three late corners with minutes to go, fortunately the defence were able to cope and no damage was done. Sam ended the match with a powerful 80 yard run out of defence that typifies his determined character, unfortunately a defender eventually stopped him. I’m sure he’ll get a goal that his all round play deserves, sometime soon. The ref blew for full time shortly after Sam’s run for another away day win. Final Score 1-4.Three games played and three wins for the Pumas. A simple statement of fact but considering that all these games have been played against new opposition, away from home, it is a real achievement for the team so early in the season. Today’s game has been the most satisfying win I believe as we were pushed very hard for most of the 2nd Half when we only had a slender 1 goal advantage. Our defence looked in trouble on numerous occasions and the game could have ended a draw. Our players showed real character to have come through this period of pressure and score a couple of quick goals to kill off the opposition. Our first home game next Sunday is against the early pacesetters in the league BAC/EE, another unbeaten team that were above us only on goal difference before the start of the fixtures today.

Longridge Town v Ladybridge Pumas

Our 2nd away fixture in the Premier League was against Longridge Town. The game was played in calm bright conditions on a lush playing surface. The starting line up was Conor, Caleb, Tom, Matt, Sam, Ben, Robert, Lewis, Dion, Jack and Tyler with Elliot and Eddie on the bench. Callum was away.
A quick opening by the Pumas seemed to take LT by surprise and an effort within a minute by Dion went just wide. An opportunity then presented itself to Tyler shortly afterwards and he unleashed a fantastic shot which their keeper had no chance with 0-1.
This early goal seemed to help the lads relax and the tempo of the game was dictated by the Pumas with good early runs by Robert and Jack who combined well to create a number of openings. One of these resulted in a vicious corner taken by Jack which caused the LT defence major problems. LT occasionally ventured out of their half only to be thwarted by an industrious Sam at the back who was right on his game in the early stages. A great passage of play by the Pumas saw Jack direct a great header into the net only for it to be chalked off for an offside decision. Caleb made a rare trip out of defence to direct a shot towards goal which their keeper dealt with well. The Pumas defence looked very solid throughout the half and dealt with rare attacks from the LT forwards with ease. The 2nd Pumas goal was a real team effort with a smart pass from Caleb finding Dion who threaded an inch perfect ball through to Jack who finished the move with a clinical strike past their keeper 0-2.
Another fantastic move by the Pumas saw another effort by Jack hit the back of the net but this was disallowed for offside. Tyler was operating well out on the left wing and out of nowhere he unleashed a ferocious shot which would have beaten any keeper at this level to make it 0-3.
Pumas where in cruise control at this stage with Lewis commanding the centre of the midfield and a great through ball by him to Dion saw him make no mistake with just the keeper to beat 0-4.
Pumas at this juncture must have thought that this would be the half time score but a smart attack by LT saw a cross/shot beat Conor all ends up 1-4.
Apart from this goal the Pumas first half performance was easily the best we’ve seen this season with Sam seeming to head every ball and Jack scrapping for anything loose in the box.

Half Time 1-4
Robert and Tyler made way for Eddie and Elliot at the start of the 2nd half but this did not disrupt the Pumas game or dominance at all. Dion had an early effort disallowed for offside after a couple of minutes and the attacks kept coming with Tom and Dion linking up well to cause the LT defence all sorts of problems. Pumas defensive quartet were operating really well with Tom looking assured, Sam tackling and heading with gusto, Caleb’s positioning was a joy to behold and Matt looked comfortable in any defensive situation. The midfield was not to be outdone and a great move involving Captain fantastic Ben and Lewis saw Lewis shoot just wide. The passing at times was an absolute joy to watch and a move started by Tom found Dion in space and his inch perfect cross was met by Jack to claim his 2nd goal of the game 1-5.
Dion worked tirelessly up front and was substituted after 45 mins for a deserved rest to allow Tyler back on. A rare foray into the LT half by Matt saw him unleash an excellent effort from 30 yards which just went wide of the right hand post. Elliot and Eddie looked very comfortable in their respective positions and the team were keeping up the pressure and dominating possession and territory throughout the half. Our final goal of the game was scored by Matt who was fed a ball 30 yards out by Lewis and unlike his earlier effort which went wide, this thunderbolt went high and right of their keeper 1-6.
A couple of personnel changes saw Rob and Dion back on for the rest of the game. Tyler and Dion had opportunities late in the half to add to their tally but good goalkeeping kept these efforts out. LT never gave up and provided a sterner test than the scoreline suggests and they grabbed a late consolation goal after a weak right footed clearance from Conor ended up with an LT player placing the ball past him to make it a final score of 2-6.

The Pumas performance today was excellent and a real pleasure for all their supporters to watch and will certainly make a few teams in the league sit up and notice us. Well done boys. A special mention must also go out to the coaching team of Wayne and Karl whose enthusiasm and commitment to getting the boys to play the game in the right spirit and treat the opposition and referee with respect is to be commended.

Gordon