RESULTS 2009-2010

Sept 6th Euxton Villa 1 v 8 Ladybridge Pumas (mini league)
Sept 13th Ladybridge Pumas 4 v 0 Brinscough Village (mini league)
Sept 20th Ladybridge Pumas 7 v 1 Charnock Richard (mini league)
Sept 27th Penwortham St Teresas 1 v 3 Ladybridge Pumas
Oct 4th Longridge Town 2 v 6 Ladybridge Pumas
Oct 11th Hoole 1 v 4 Ladybridge Pumas
Oct 18th Ladybridge Pumas 3 v 2 BAC/EE Preston
Oct 27th FRIENDLY Oldham 0 v 3 Ladybridge Pumas
Nov 15th Ladybridge Pumas 3 v 1 Cadley
Nov 22nd Ladybridge Pumas 9 v 1 Penwortham
Dec 13th BAC/EE 1 v 2 Ladybridge Pumas
Jan 24th Bamber Bridge 0 v 2 Ladybridge Pumas
Feb 7th Euxton Villa 1 v 4 Ladybridge Pumas CUP 1st ROUND
Feb 21st Tarleton Corinthians 0 v 8 Ladybridge Pumas
Feb 28th Ladybridge Pumas 5 v 0 Hoole Utd
Mar 14th Ladybridge Pumas 20 v 1 Lostock Hall Juniors CUP 2nd ROUND
Mar 21st BAC/EE 2 v 2 Ladybridge Pumas after ET Ladybridge win 6-5 on pens) CUP QUARTER FINAL
Apr 11th Ladybridge Pumas 7 v 0 Tarleton Corinthians
Apr 18th Ladybridge Pumas 2 v 1 Gillibrand Warriors CUP SEMI FINAL
Apr 22nd Ladybridge Pumas 4 v 1 Longridge Town
Apr 25th Ladybridge Pumas 0 v 2 Bamber Bridge CUP FINAL Apr 28th Cadley 1 v 3 Ladybridge Pumas
May 6th Ladybridge Pumas 1 v 3 Bamber Bridge
May 25th Ladybridge Bonanza

GOAL SCORERS 2009-2010

24 DION
19 JACK
18 ELLIOT
15 TYLER
10 EDDIE
6 ROBERT
5 LEWIS
4 MATTHEW
2 TOM
1 BEN
1 CALEB
1 CALLUM
1 SAM

U11 Premier Division

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Ladybridge	14	13	0	1	60	14	46	39
2	Bamber Bridge	14	12	0	2	49	18	31	36
3	Cadley	14	8	2	4	41	31	10	26
4	BAC/EE	14	7	0	7	49	33	16	21
5	Hoole	14	5	3	6	41	45	-4	18
6	Tarleton	14	4	2	8	15	43	-28	14
7	Longridge	14	2	0	12	25	47	-22	6
8	Penwortham	14	1	1	12	19	68	-49	4

U11 Premier

Team	BB	BAC	Cad	Hoo	Lad	Lon	PST	Tar
Bamber		2-1	1-2	3-1	0-2	3-0	5-1	4-0
BAC/EE	2-3		3-5	4-2	1-2	4-2	12-1	2-0
Cadley	3-5	4-1		3-3	1-3	3-1	2-1	4-1
Hoole	2-6	3-5	2-2		1-4	5-1	8-3	3-3
Ladybridge	1-3	3-2	3-1	5-0		4-1	9-1	7-0
Longridge	3-4	2-4	2-4	4-6	2-6		4-1	2-0
Penwortham	0-4	3-8	1-5	1-3	1-3	2-1		1-1
Tarleton	0-6	1-0	4-2	1-2	0-8	1-0	3-2

Ladybridge Pumas v Bamber Bridge Blues

This final game of the 09/10 season appropriately brought together the Premier League's top two teams with Brig having beaten Pumas in the Cup Final and Pumas having already clinched the Championship title. Pumas were defending their proud 100% record and Brig were out to show that their Cup win was no fluke. With star Blackburn Rovers forward El Hadji Diouf dropping by to watch a bit of the game on a cold night all was set for a thrilling show-down.
Pumas attacked right from the start and forced a corner on the left which could only be parried by the keeper but it fell safely and was scrambled away. Caleb pushed up on the right flank and fed a nice pass down the wing to Dion who was looking lively. He tried to cut inside but was closed down with close attention from two defenders but won a free kick. Caleb delivered accurately but no one managed to connect. Then Ben gained possession in midfield and laid on a beautiful pass to Dion again on the right flank. He worked his way inside and managed to deliver a good shot only to see it well saved. It was all Pumas but after 6 mins Brig got into Pumas half for the first time and broke down the left. Their forward showed great skill and strength in retaining the ball under the severest pressure from two Pumas defenders and managed to cross the ball which was hit powerfully from 15 yards through a crowded penalty area and past Conor's despairing dive. 0 - 1.
A scrappy period followed with neither side able to carve out any meaningful chances. Both defences were looking in control with Sam and Lewis working hard for Pumas and neither keeper was seriously tested. Dion had a good run down the right wing and saw his cross fail to find a Pumas' forward and then he suffered a crunch tackle which hurt him. After 23 mins Brig won a corner on the left which was delivered accurately onto a forward's head to force a good save from Conor. A minute later Brig broke through again down the centre skilfully retaining possession. An inch perfect pass was made for the right winger to run onto and thunder an unstoppable shot to the right of Conor's outstretched fingertips. 0 - 2.
Pumas tried to hit back quickly with Callum and Matt combining well but Tyler's shot went just wide and a couple of minutes later a similar miss was made at the other end by Brig.
Half Time Pumas 0 Brig 2
With the advantage of the slight downslope and a breeze at their backs Pumas could reasonably hope for better things in the second half but after only 2 mins they conceded a corner on the right which was delivered high and deep for a brilliant headed goal which found the top corner of Pumas net. 0 - 3.
Elliot, Jack and Robert were brought on to try to change the way the game was flowing but the Brig defence weren't yielding. Elliot's pass found Dion in space but his powerful shot soared over the bar. A minor goalmouth scramble at the Brig end after 9 mins gave Elliot a chance from short range and he made no mistake by prodding the ball home in typical fashion. 1 - 3.
Surely this would give Pumas the incentive to mount a strong fight back but Brig were very well organised and showed some tremendous individual skills. Another Brig corner found a forward's head with Pumas relieved to see the effort go narrowly over the bar. Then after 22 mins a strong Pumas attack down the right ended with a powerful shot from Caleb whistling over the bar also. In the final minute Dion managed to find the net with a clever finish but was judged to have been off-side.
Full time Ladybridge Pumas 1 Bamber Bridge Blues 3
It has to be said that this was not one of Pumas best efforts and it was disappointing to lose that coveted 100% record in the last game of the season. Having said that let's not take anything away from Bamber Bridge who have now beaten us convincingly twice in the past two weeks. However, the fact remains that this has been a most successful debut in the Central Lancs JFL finishing as Premier League Champions and Cup runners up. Pumas have won 21 of their 23 matches played - an outstanding record of which all team players and coaches should be proud. Congratulations to Wayne and Karl for bringing the lads to this level and coaching them not only in playing skills but in a high standard of behaviour and sportsmanship. Well done everybody.

Cadley v Ladybridge Pumas

Unusually the match reporter was not pitch side for this evening match. His location was about 3 miles out at sea off the Portland coastline onboard a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship with a mobile phone clamped firmly to his ear listening to patchy commentary from his good lady. To say that this was an important game for the Pumas would be a massive understatement. After suffering their first loss of the season in the Cup Final on Sunday, Pumas hadn’t had too long to lick their wounds before this pivotal away game against 3rd placed Cadley. Avoid defeat and the League title would be secured for the Pumas in their debut year in the CLJFL. The weather was set fair and the match started at a good pace with both teams enjoying equal possession in the first ten minutes. There were no clear chances for either team but I got the feeling that the momentum was slowly turning towards the Pumas and after 15 mins a chance fell to our top scorer Dion who duly obliged to open the scoring for us and prompted quite a large shout from somebody on a ship! The first goal was always going to be important and this seemed to settle the Pumas nerves and they played some good controlled possession football for the rest of the half and led deservedly at half time 0-1.
Cadley started the 2nd half well and forced the Pumas back from the kick off and were trying to press for the equalizer. The Pumas defence were coping well with this early pressure and managed to keep the Cadley forwards out. After 50 mins of play a great opportunity presented itself to Robert who couldn’t quite finish the chance to get the Pumas 2nd goal. Within 2 mins of this miss Robert was presented with another similar chance but this time with a much better result for him and the Pumas, as his shot found the back of the net. 0-2.
The second goal was very significant and the third for the Pumas followed a short time later after a goalmouth scrambled clearance only found Jack on the edge of the box and he showed superb composure to chip the ball over the Cadley keeper to make it 0-3 to the Pumas. Cadley never gave up and with about ten mins left they were able to peg a goal back from a corner that was headed past Conor to make it 1-3. The goal action had finished for the evening and the match finished 1-3 to the Pumas.
This was a massive result for our boys and they deservedly clinched the Premier League title with a game to spare. Cadley were worthy opponents and their team, coaches and supporters sportingly applauded our lads at the end of the game recognising their achievement in winning the League. Cadley - that fantastic gesture was really appreciated by all present for the Pumas and showed your clubs class and I only wish I could have been there to witness it.

Our last league game fittingly will be against the Cup winners Bamber Bridge at home. I have a feeling it could be a good one.........

Gordon

Ladybridge Pumas v Bamber Bridge Blues CUP FINAL

This was Pumas biggest game of the season so far and it was fitting that the two outstanding teams in the Premier league should meet in this keenly anticipated final. The venue was Tarleton's immaculate full size pitch which would suit both of these teams who like to play open, passing football. The conditions were perfect with the sky slightly overcast and a light breeze after a little overnight rain.

It was clear from the outset that Bridge were highly motivated for this encounter and were anxious to gain revenge for the league defeat against Pumas earlier in the season. Pumas defence was stretched several times and Sam, Caleb and Ben had to work particularly hard to keep the Bridge forwards at bay. Tom was being stretched by the very quick right winger but coolly dealt with each situation. Pumas wingers were being comfortably handled by the Bridge full backs and Dion wasn't getting the kind of service on which he usually thrives. Dion's pair of goals the last time these teams met had clearly not gone un-noticed and he was marked by two defenders wherever he went. After 13 mins Bridge broke down the right flank and with two forwards bearing down on goal Sam made a great tackle to avert the danger at the expense of a corner. The ball was well delivered into the Pumas 6 yard box and as it was deflected towards Conor he was unable to gather it and a Bridge forward was on hand to hit the ball home. 0 - 1.
We have seen Pumas go behind previously this season and it usually has the effect of spurring them to greater effort and this was no exception. They pressed hard for the equaliser without creating any clear chances and the competent looking Bridge keeper wasn't put under any pressure. Indeed for all their hard work, Pumas looked vulnerable to counter-attacks and there were two such instances which were only thwarted by desperate tackles from first Sam and then Caleb. Then Jack worked hard on the left to force a corner which he took with his usual skill. However, because the pitch was wider and the breeze was coming from Pumas right the ball wasn't quite getting to the heart of the danger area as usual and Bridge cleared for another corner and then another two in quick succession before the Bridge defenders scrambled the ball clear without a Pumas forward being able to make contact in four attempts! Eddie made several attempts to break through down the centre but he was well monitored by the defence each time. As the half time whistle approached Ben delivered a beautiful pass to Jack who skilfully made space for himself and his shot forced the keeper to make an excellent save. Half time 0 - 1.
Pumas came out for the second half looking much more dangerous and spent much more time in their opponents' half but still couldn't create any clear attempts on goal. Ben was catching the eye with his work rate as he tried to motivate his team by example but the Bridge defenders were very well organised. After 36 mins a good combination of passes down the left wing culminated in Dion delivering a very high cross into the Bridge penalty area and with Pumas forwards in attendance the keeper fumbled his attempt to gather the ball but made sure on his second try. Bridge cleared the ball quickly upfield and caught the Pumas defence stretched giving their forward a one on one opportunity but Conor spotted the danger and dashed off his line to smother the shot. Lewis, Matt and Callum were all brought into the action on several occasions without being able to stamp their usual authority on proceedings. On 42 mins Bridge crossed from the left to give an opportunity for a shot from 10 yards which Conor saved well diving to his right to push the ball against the post from where it bounced out before being scrambled away for a corner. After 45 mins good work by Pumas gave Jack a chance to shoot but his effort was well saved. Pumas were dominating possession now and pressing for the equaliser when suddenly, out of nowhere the ball came to Robert unmarked just inside the penalty area but his quick shot missed the target and Bridge could breath again. Shortly afterwards a good combination of passes down the right wing led to an accurate cross from Robert which found Elliot on the edge of the 6 yd box but his attempted volley was mis-hit and ended tamely in the keeper's grateful arms. With Pumas desperate for a goal and the full-time whistle quickly approaching there was a scramble in the Pumas penalty area and the ball came loose to a Bridge forward whose shot was too hot for Conor to hold and again a Bridge forward was on hand to tap home for the clinching goal. 0 - 2.
Full Time Ladybridge Pumas 0 Bamber Bridge Blues 2
This game was a great advertisement for all that's best in Junior football. Two highly skilful teams with a healthy respect for each other's abilities and a determination to play competitively but fairly. On this occasion Bamber Bridge brought their 'A' game to the park and, with nothing to lose, threw everything they had at Pumas and deserve our warmest congratulations for inflicting the first defeat of the season on Pumas. Well done both teams.
With only two games remaining in the League programme, Pumas must now pick themselves up and ensure that they clinch the League Championship in convincing style.