Sunday 22nd November 2009 (Wharfedale Triangle League Premier Division):

AC Victoria 4

Horsforth Fairweather 3

Team: Merifield - Vernon, Armstrong, Sedgwick, Smith - Markham, Horton, Monaghan, Hinkins - A.Bell, Newsome. Subs: Jones, Banoub, Herron; unused subs: Rayner, Frei. Scorers: Jones, Newsome, A.Bell. Cautioned: Sedgwick.

  The long trip to Keighley's Marley Stadium to face AC Victoria left Horsforth without tangible reward yet again, in a match that emphasised the team's strengths and weaknesses in equal measure.

  The team news, inevitably. Jon Vernon and Matt Smith came into the side at full-backs, with Steve Sedgwick also back in action, alongside Barry Armstrong in the centre of the defence. Chris Markham moved forward into midfield, albeit in a rather unaccustomed right-sided role at first. Richard Horton was available again, and took his place at the hub of the formation alongside Lee Monaghan, with Simon Hinkins keeping his place down the left. John Newsome was restored to the attack, partnering Anthony Bell. Five changes, plus one positional switch.

  On the wide pitch at Marley, Horsforth came unstuck very early as after only two minutes Matt and Sedge went for the same ball and the resultant confusion not only led to Victoria's opening goal but also to an injury to Sedge which incapacitated him for a long time afterwards. With fifteen minutes played, Horsforth's captain Lee Monaghan sustained a ligament injury and had to leave the field, Chris Jones the replacement with Chris Markham switching to his preferred central role. In the 25th minute, another rather simple ball up the middle from the home side found the defence asleep at the wheel again, and though Andy Merifield saved the first effort he was powerless to prevent the follow-up. The game was by no means all one-way traffic, and Jonesy's effort was bundled over the line by Chris M, only for the referee to pull pay back for a marginal offside against (presumably) the latter. A couple of minutes before the break, Horsforth's defensive shortcomings were exposed again from a corner, as with Smithy lying injured in the six-yard area a striker tucked the ball in cheekily at the near post, and you would have got long odds on our making any sort of fight of it in the second period.

  But, confounding expectations once again, Horsforth struck back just four minutes into the second half, as The Hortonator's inviting cross from the left wing was headed home by Jonesy. Creating chances at a rate at least equal to our opponents, we were sadly to rue another scrambled goal from a corner for the Victoria after 10 minutes, once again the unfortunate Mezzer making the first save but finding himself unprotected for the rebound. As the game wore on, with Horsforth chasing a 4-1 deficit, many teams might have thrown in the towel, but today we saved the best till last. Simon Banoub took over from the multiply injured (and cautioned) Sedge, with just 15 minutes left. Almost immediately, Jonesy's corner was half-cleared, only for Chris to cross in more deadly fashion at the second attempt, and Ant's header came back off the post for the lurking John to reduce the arrears. With Dean Herron now on the pitch in lieu of cramp victim Smithy, we were more or less rampant against a team who were tiring quite noticeably. Ant had already had one superb chip narrowly past the post when he was fed by a superb interception from Hinky, and at 4-3 with a couple of minutes left to play we really fancied our chances. And we had them too: Ant's free-kick was fumbled by the otherwise very impressive home goalie to present John with a fleeting chance to salvage a point that had looked most unlikely a few minutes previously. Trying to chip the keeper rather than blast it, regrettably this opportunity wasn't taken, and the game ended with the narrowest of victories for the home team, but the pride we had salvaged in the dying minutes of the contest must give us far greater confidence in the future than anything we could have predicted at half-time.

  Yes, a defeat's a defeat, and this was a game in which we had contributed to our own problems with our early shaky defence. But, considering the problems we had with enforced team changes and the three-goal margin we had twice faced, the way we fought back has got to mean this was one of the performances of the season so far. The Victoria, the league's most promising new arrivals last season, have perhaps not lived up to that label again this term, but they are still a team with many talented players, and a side brimming with confidence, playing some glorious passing moves at times, and that fact that we gave a side like them such a fright must surely stand us in good stead for the challenges still to come. I'd have been very grateful for a point today, and must say I think we deserved one, but the performance leads me to believe that a corner was turned.

  Other league games: Crossflatts Village 4, Horsforth St Margarets 1; Yeadon Westfield 2, Clothiers 4.

Sunday 15th November 2009 (LDFA Sunday District Cup Round 3):

Wykebeck Arms United 3

Horsforth Fairweather 1

Team: Merifield - Herron, Armstrong, Markham, Jones - S.Goodall, Foss, Monaghan, Hinkins - J.Bell, A.Bell. Subs: Ferguson, Newsome; unused subs: Vernon, Smith, Rayner. Scorer: Ferguson. Cautioned: Foss (unsporting behaviour). Sent Off: Ferguson (violent conduct).

  The last hopes Horsforth had of salvaging something from the season disappeared in the mud at Temple Newsam as another patched-up side went down narrowly against a team who we frankly should have beaten comfortably.

  The debt that we owe to stand-in Andy Merifield was further increased, with another sound display behind a rather hesitant defence. While understandably feeling a bit sorry for ourselves as to how 2009-10 has panned out, maybe we need to bear in mind how much worse it might have been but for Mezzer's efforts between the sticks. Dean Herron and Barry Armstrong kept their places in the back four, with Chris Markham switching to centre-back and Chris Jones back in the side in the left-back slot. Lee Monaghan reverted to his more usual role in central midfield, with Adam Foss replacing the unavailable Richard Horton alongside him. Sam Goodall continued down the right, with Simon Hinkins down the left. Jamie and Anthony Bell were the front two, while yet again I must report we had not only a strong bench but also a healthy smattering of quality players who didn't even get changed.

  Starting quite brightly and by no means overawed by the Wykebeck's impressive run of trophies in recent seasons, Horsforth nevertheless could count the first wound as self-inflicted as with 14 minutes played the back four chased out looking for offside and a runner from midfield found himself through on goal unmarked and duly opened the scoring. Again the response to adversity was quite positive, and the Wykebeck's second goal, on 25 minutes, was very much against the run of play at the time. From the touchline, it was hard not to admire the superb right-wing cross that led to the chance, but with four defenders in the area against a solitary forward you have to say we should have dealt with it quite comfortably. If the allegations of handball against the striker who brought the ball down were loud and prolonged, they fell on deaf ears. Shortly before the break, Horsforth were forced into the first change of the day, as Fossy had to leave the field injured. Kevin Ferguson took his place, slotting into the defence while Chris Markham moved into the vacated midfield role. By the interval, the referee had spoken at length to the inoffensive Jamie Bell for a squabble with the Wykebeck keeper, cautioned Adam for a brief fracas in which he was far more the victim than assailant, and made a note of the name of our Manager (of which we have probably not heard the last), while several tasty tackles - from players of both teams - had gone unpunished. It didn't augur well for the second period.

  From a footballing point of view, the second half was a bit disappointing. Needing to assert ourselves in midfield and create more chances if we were to get anything from the game, we only rarely looked as if we had enough quality to open up the home defence in open play. Our own defending was a bit desperate on occasions too, never more so than when, after 18 minutes of the half, Jonesy hesitated fatally under a bouncing ball and the lack of cover for him meant a chance was always likely to ensue from a single error. Three goals down, Horsforth briefly found hope from another set piece as, with Wykebeck defenders pushing out from a half-cleared corner, Baz found the perfect pass that had thus far eluded us, Jonesy flicked the ball on, and the finish from Kev was worthy of any striker. From that point on, however, our threats were a bit sporadic, and the home side in fairness never tried to close the game down but kept attacking, so, as the game became stretched and (inevitably given the conditions) more than a bit scrappy, it was often as much as we could do to prevent them from extending their lead. The introduction of John Newsome as an extra attacker for the final ten minutes was the only gamble we allowed ourselves, but there were to be few chances for anyone in the dying stages.

  The game will probably be remembered for the ugly scenes about five minutes from the end, as Horsforth's goalscoring hero Kev was sent off along with one of the Wykebeck players following an exchange of blows from in which Fergy did little more than defend himself and from which he quite clearly came off worst. There are two of Sunday football's unwritten rules that apply in this situation: 1) if the first incident occurred off the ball, the referee will probably tell you he didn't see it; and 2) a player who swings his arms to defend himself, no matter what the provocation, will receive the same punishment as his attacker. This is the not the place to debate the rights and wrongs of the issue, suffice it perhaps for me to say that an honest and respected footballer who went out on the pitch with no intention of starting a fight, not only received a battering but also now faces the prospect of a heavy fine and a lengthy ban for what will probably be labelled "violent conduct"; and they wonder why players are deserting the game.

  With little further action on the field, the game ended 3-1 to the home side, a major disappointment as we had felt all along this had been a winnable match. Nevertheless, the Wykebeck had scored three goals to our one, and thus progress to the Quarter-Finals leaving us to rue the rather elementary errors that had cost us the game. I won't insult anyone by going on about being "free to concentrate on the league", as we have plainly needed to focus our efforts on achieving Premier Division respectability for some while now, and this cup competition, which often brings out the best in our team, would only ever realistically be a welcome distraction from our domestic situation. Let's just say we knew we had work to do before today, and we still know it after today.

  Other Round 3 ties: AFC Bramley 4, New Saints 6 AET; Crooked Billet 1, Leeds Lions Seniors 4; Cross Flatts XI 1, Eyrie 4; East Leeds (Combi) 9, Imperial 2; Leeds Maccabi 0, Stanningley Albion 1; Pudsey Liberals 5, Elford 3; Western Juniors 0, Woodlesford 6.

  For more details, click here, and click on 'Cup Competitions' then 'Sunday District Cup'.

  Wharfedale FA Sunday Cup Round 2: Horsforth St Margarets 5, Wheatley 4; New Ireland Wood 0, Saltaire Rangers 3; Otley Town 2, Horsforth Town 0; Otley Wharfeside 3, Malt Shovel 11; Rawdon OB 3, Clothiers 0; Ventus United 8, Yeadon Athletic 1; Yeadon Westfield 5, Yeadon Veterans 2; Yorkshire Rose 2, Idle United 2, Yorskhire Rose won 5-4 on penalties.

  Keighley FA Sunday Cup Round 2: Crossflatts Village 2, Victoria Rangers 1.

  Quarter-Final draw includes: Crossflatts FC v Keighley Victoria Hotel or Silsden; Crossflatts Village v Three Horses, dates not known.

Sunday 8th November 2009 (Wharfedale Triangle League Premier Division):

Horsforth Fairweather 2

FC Clothiers 3

Team: Merifield - Herron, Armstrong, Ferguson, Banoub - S.Goodall, Horton, Markham, A.Bell - Monaghan, A.Goodall. Subs: Vernon, J.Bell, Newsome; Unused Subs: Smith and Jones. Scorers: Horton, Ferguson.

  Another week and another defeat. However, without attempting to minimise the problems the club is facing, this was a far more positive display than the previous week, and I felt our overall performance had been worthy of a result.

  Andy Merifield continued as stand-in goalkeeper, and once again we as a club should not overlook the sterling efforts made in our cause by this most dedicated of club servants. Dean Herron replaced Marc Rayner at right-back, with Barry Armstrong also back in action alongside Kev Ferguson and Simon Banoub. Chris Markham followed up a sound debut last week with a switch into the midfield, where he held centre-stage alongside Richard Horton. Sam Goodall was recalled down the right and Anthony Bell moved back to the left wing spot, making it all-change in the midfield foursome. Lee Monaghan was given a "free role", joining another reinstated player, Alex Goodall, up front.

  The first twenty minutes of the contest were very even, both sides playing attacking football with few chances made. On 22 minutes, however, the Clothiers opened up the Horsforth defence down our left hand side, and worked the ball well into the box to take the lead, even if the approach play looked well offside to me. A couple of minutes later, more indolent defending presented the away side with another chance, and this time the snapshot from their left found its way into the net with a few defenders asking each other questions during the inquest. We needed something back quickly now, and Horsforth's response was quite pleasing. Following a scramble at a corner, the ball broke loose to Richard, who fired home from the edge of the box, and the rest of the first half saw us asking most of the questions.

  We felt most unfortunate to be trailing at the break, and just seven minutes into the second period Kev headed home Sam's right-wing corner, Fergie's first goal for the club and no more than our positive response to going behind had merited. At this point, Clothiers' resolve might have deserted them, but crucially they kept their heads and the game was as finely-balanced as any I've seen for a while. The key moment came at the exact mid-point of the half, a couple of minutes after Horsforth had made their first two substitutions. Jon Vernon took over from Nooby at left-back, and Jamie Bell was thrown into the attack, with Lee Mon dropping back to a more orthodox midfield role. The away side, perhaps sensing some temporary disorganisation or maybe just as a reward for the way they kept trying to play football, cut us open down our right and the ball into the box found a striker poorly marked - a narrow margin by which to win a game, but we still had ample time to stage another revival. And we certainly tried to claw back the deficit again, with lots of inspired passing in the midfield and a few set pieces to bemoan, not least when Lee's free-kick went into the net only for play to be pulled back for a controversial offside decision. In fairness, the referee had blown as soon as Lee hit his shot, but by the time the ball had hit the back of the net it was hard to see which Horsforth player had been in the offside position, let alone whether he had been interfering with the play. That said, we still had chances to salvage a point, though it would be inaccurate to deny the Clothiers lads might have stolen another goal with their regular breakaways. We never gave up chasing another equaliser, but the final whistle found Horsforth facing up to yet another home defeat.

  All in all, I felt a draw would have been a fair result, but we had again paid the penalty for conceding two goals in a ropey spell, which this week had occurred midway through the first half. In contests as tight as this, you simply can't give the opposition two goals start and expect to get the points, as we had already demonstrated two weeks previously. All moaning aside, this had been a more positive performance than anything I have watched for the last few weeks, and I thought we were most unfortunate not to get at least a draw.

  Other league games: Crossflatts FC 6, AC Victoria 3; Malt Shovel 5, Crossflatts Village 1.

  WRCFA County Sunday Cup Round 2 included: Rawdon OB 2, New Scarborough 1; Yeadon Westfield 2, Howden Clough 4.

  For more details, click here, enter WRCFA.com, and click on 'County Cups' then 'Sunday Cup'.

  This page last updated 22/11/2009.