Ribchester Juniors U14s new 2009/2010 season got off to the best possible start with a 4-0 demolition of sorry Appley Bridge.  The pitch was in superb condition despite all the bad weather we've had over the last week.  We had 17 players to chose from this weekend for the squad which was made very difficult for the management team because everyone had turned up to training and trained very hard.  The squad this year is probably the best i've ever worked with personally and everyone is of a similar ability.  Selecting a starting 11 was equally as hard as you can imagine.  I felt for the subs because they didn't deserve to be starting the game from the sidelines.  But we had to pick an 11 and we went with - Jamie Peckham is nets,  a back 4 of Max Lloyd Haydock (right), a central pairing of Daniel Holt and Oliver Burns, with George Holt slotting in at left back.  We went with a 5 man midfield with Liam O'Donnell playing wide right and central 3 of Tom Ormisher (right) Alexander Lamburn (Left) and new signing from Longridge Juniors Anthony Ollerton playing a holding role, with Alan Holt wide Left.  I knew we could hurt them from our wings with the pace and trickery from Alan and Liam O' D.  Archie Boase started the game up front on his own.  We had a very strong bench of Aaron O Connell, Conor Horrigan and Liam Cullen at our disposal.
 
This game was a feisty one right from the off.  Appley Bridge came in force and they must of had 20+ people supporting (or screaming) them on.  We lost twice to this team last season when i thought we should of won comfortably at their place but we just couldn't score, and it wasn't helped by some dubious linesman decisions.  Revenge was in my mind for today.  I reminded the lads about that fixture before the game and the revenge i wanted on a personal level was reflected into the players.  We knew that our footballing ability was better than theirs but it was their physical tactics that worried me.  We just had to stand up and be counted and play our football, and that would be enough to send them packing back to Appley Bridge with nothing.  With a 20+ strong crowd screaming discontent with every decision that went against them, i hoped the referee wouldn't become weak due to the amount of stick he was getting.  The ref was unfazed to my delight.  With around 20 mins gone, Daniel Holt misjudged a clearance and ended up slicing the ball back to our goalkeeper Jamie Peckham, who picked the ball up.  The away support were screaming "Pass Back!!!!" and all hell let loose for a minute.  The referee got this decision right and didn't award a free kick - but this was just a example of how they tried to influence the referee by screaming at him.  Ribchester Juniors support the Football Association Respect Campaign and Appley Bridge today have set a perfect example of why it has been brought in.
 
But i wish to move on now because i don't think their behaviour should cast a shadow over our superb performance.  We took the lead with a piece of individual brilliance by Tomo Ormisher.  He skipped past 2 players on the outside of the area and fired a shot in low at the goal, the ball was deflected across the 6 yrd box and their was Liam O' Donnell following in at the back post to pick up the loose ball and slot home for his and our first goal of the season.  Our second goal was a special one - a good move down the right wing lead to a corner.  Tom swung in the corner only for an Appley Bridge Defender to head clear.  The ball landed at the feet of Max Lloyd Haydock who took a touch and blasted home from 20 yards leaving the goalkeeper with no chance whatsoever.  Rib took their lead further in the first half with an equally as good a goal as the 2nd, this time with Anthony Ollerton blasting home from long range.  The half time whistle went, 3-0 up, surely the game was over now.  Kris Dickinson, Steve Peckham and myself talked to the lads at half time about how things were going and we told them to keep up putting them under pressure and playing our stuff.  If we'd have become complacent at this point, Appley Bridge could have begun a remarkable comeback.  The lads kept at it and even put a final nail in the Appley Brige coffin by scoring a 4th with long range effort from Alexander Lamburn.  At this point, the game was definitely over.  The fitness today of the boys was top notch as proved in the very last seconds of the game with Alan Holt sprinting after an opposition player with the ball, forcing him into a corner and then making a mistake.  The lads and dads friendly of wednesday evening will have helped the players become stronger for today's game and i thank everyone who turned up on wed and competed 100% against the kids.  This was the most satisfying result of the 6yrs i've worked with Ribchester Junior football club and im so so proud of each and every one of the squad.  Lets hope the season continues in the same manner.
 
MAN OF THE MATCH
 
OLIVER BURNS - Faultless in the heart of the Ribchester defence.