Sunday 21st June saw the Under 9s travel to West Yorkshire to take part in the Shipley Juniors 5-a-side tournament. The event attracted teams from leagues as far afield as Manchester, Blackpool, Merseyside and Teesside and provided a great opportunity to play against teams we had not seen before... not to mention play 5-a-side for the first time! The tournament held seperate competitions for 'A' and 'B' teams with group stages, semis and finals in each. Both teams putting up a great performwnce, each getting to their repsective final only to lose out to teeams that had both beaten in the group stages!

Marple Reds (A's)

Team -  Tom Norburn(GK), Charlie Ainsworth, Rory Keen(C), Cameron Cresswell, Ben Pawsey, Jacob Combey, Ryan Stringer.

Arrived at Sandal Primary School, Shipley at 9am feeling a little nervous but quietly confident, as we have brought with us our strongest possible team. All be it a team that we hadn't managed to field together all season due to various reasons, but on paper one capable of winning any tournament.... My job was just to get them to play together!!.

The Reds first game was against Crossley Swift and within a couple of minutes it was apparent that our boys were up for the task ahead, playing some super football. Within five minutes we were 4-0 up and cruising. Then with a couple to go Crossley broke quickly on the counter attack catching our defence in an advanced position and slotting home to make it 4-1.. This proved to be the just a conciliation as Marple scored again straight from the KO with a move that must of totalled ten passes. This sealed the tie 5-1 and sent a clear message to the rest of the group that Marple Athletic had arrived!!

Our second game was against Braford P.A.A. We started in the same vain as we finished the last tie but just couldn't find the back of the net. Again Marple played some very fluent football but were denied our just rewards by a combination of comedy finishing and some excellent goal keeping. The attempts on goal must have read 15-1.. but it's goal that count and neither team managed to break the deadlock. The game finished 0-0.

Our third tie was against Eldwick Blues who had looked impressive in their previous game.. So after a few inspirational words from their manager they entered the arena with their chest poofed out raring to go.. And did they go!!!... This was one of the most accomplished performances I've seen by an U9's team at any level.. The on touch passing was breath taking.. combined with cheeky flicks, back heels and superb finishing it was clear the boys were in the groove and loving every minute of it. I think we scored with every shot we had and I'm hard pushed to remember Tom touching the ball.. The game finished 7-0 to Marple.

The Reds seemed to be setting a trend of playing one game and having a breather in the next, which is OK against lesser opposition but Scholermoor Scorpions in our forth tie were not to be taken lightly and we almost paid the price for this when, cruising to 1-0 victory we were stunned with an equaliser with two minutes to go.. But the boys responded superbly, didn't panic and played their way back in to the drivers seat and seal a 2-1 victory with seconds remaining.. A close call and lesson to be learnt.

Our fifth and final group game was against the defending champions Halifax Irish, and with both teams leading the group on 10 points the prize of topping the group and receiving an easier tie in the semis was at stake. After a nervous start Marple started to get in to their stride and were causing Halifax no end of trouble. The boys were walking through the midfield and shooting at will. Halifax seemed to have no response as Marples confidance seemed to be sky high as they strolled to an impressive 2-0 victory.. We topped the group on 13 points, meaning we were in the semis against the runners up of the other group.
STATS- P5, W4, D1, L0, GF16, GA2.... not bad!!

Semi final, Marple Athletic v Waynard Village
We started the tie slowly, the effects of 50mins of intensive football clearly taking it's toll.. Never the less it was Marple who broke the dead lock with 5mins gone. However it was clear that one goal wasn't going to kill off the opposition as they dug deep to try and equalise. They came close on a couple of occasions, and just as you thought the tied might be turning, Marple sealed the tie with a well worked goal that nearly every player had a hand in making.. Marple Athletic won 2-0 and earned their place in the final.

Final Marple Athletic v Hallifax Irish
This is surely our best opportunity for the first silverware of the season. We were up against the defending champions that we had so convincingly outplayed in the group stages... Play as we have all day.. stick to our game plan.. dig deep and the title is ours!!....
We started very slowly.. It was almost as if the shier size of the occasion had just hit home.. Stage freight and exhaustion isn't the best combination when it comes to winning a final.. As the game wore on it was apparent the boys weary legs were beginning to fall asleep as passes went astray and the free flowing football that had set the tournament alight had dried up.. Then Halifax won a throw on the far side about 15 yards from goal. It was taken in what can only described as Rory Delap style.. It whizzed in to our area at lightning pace and took a deflection before nestling in to the back of our net.. Oh no!... This was the first time all day we had gone a goal down and you could see it in the boys faces they had nothing left to give.. But spurred on by the ever supportive crowd they dug in and gave 100% across the team., We started to string passes together and slowly but surely got ourselves back in to the tie.. With a couple of minutes to go, Marple were looking the more likely to score. That is however until Halifax won a corner. It was driven in low and took a couple of bobbles and deflections as our defence frantically tried to clear it.. But unfortunately amongst the struggle Halifax managed to somehow force the ball in to our net... From then on it was clear our form and luck had ran out.. The Final finished 2-0 to Halifax, leaving all involved heart broken..
However the boys can take pride form the fact that the organisers and nearly all our opponents managers came up to me during the day to congratulate us on what they thought was the best football they have ever seen played by boys of their age..Remember boys it's not always the best team that wins.. Congratulations on a fantastic team effort.
Managers player of the tournament has to go to the whole team.. Every out field player got on the score sheet as follows: Rory 5, Cameron 5, Ryan 3, Ben 2, Charlie 2, Jacob 1.. I'm sure Tom would have scored given a chance, however he made some crucial saves as ever.. Well done boys.   

Marple Blues (B's)

Team -                Jacob Findell(GK), Dan Rotherham, Connor Bergin(C), Reece Currie, Mackenzie Holdgate, Sean Currie

Arriving with a strong team in Shipley on a very sunny Sunday morning there were high hopes coupled with a few nerves. The first task was to play the 5 group games and finish in the top two and qualify for the semis.

The Blues first game was against the home side Shipley Panthers. Straight from the kick off, Marple were on the attack, utilising a shoot on sight policy whenever they crossed the half way line. After a couple of minutes Mackenzie  drilled a low drive past the Shipley keeper... 1-0... home crowd silenced and nerves settled. Solid defending from captain Connor and Dan, meant Jacob was untroubled in goal and when Mackenzie fired home a second after 5 minutes the game was effectively over. Final Result 2-0 to Marple.

In the second tie Marple faced last year's winners, Halifax Irish. This was a far more even game with Jacob, called into action for the first time and keeping goal assuredly. Mackenzie and Reece both had shots smartly saved and after coming on from the bench, Sean also went close to breaking the deadlock but at the final whistle the score stayed at 0-0.

The morning temperature rose steadily and the altitude of the Shipley pitches was now bound to take it's toll... well, it was quite high up!! Third match was against Menston Rovers and after two fairly comfortable games, Marple conceded a shock soft goal to go 1-0 down in the first minute. A fight back was needed and the following 9 minutes was entirely one way traffic with Marple battering the Menston goal. Mackenzie scored with a mazy run to level the scores and cue the drama... with only a couple of minutes left, Mackenzie hit a shot that rattled the crossbar, bounced straight down and then out of the net (a-la 1966). With hearts in mouths and much encouragement to award the goal from the Marple support, the ref pointed to the centre spot for a restart and Marple won the game 2-1.

Fourth game , Marple played Crossley Swifts in the knowledge that another win would put one foot in the semis. Jacob's distribution from goal was top class, troubling Crossley from the start and when Mackenzie bagged two and Sean added a third, it was a chance to rotate positions a little with Connor heading into attack. Reece added a fourth with a sweetly struck shot and Connor wrapped up the win with a nonchalant back heel. Final score 5-0 to Marple.

With other results not going in Marple's favour, a point was needed from the final group game against in form Spotborough. This time, Connor and Dan had some serious defending to do and Jacob was again a cool head in goal. Nerves were beginning to set in but after 5 minutes, Sean beat his man on half way and slipped the ball through to Mackenzie who slotted under the keeper from close range. After this, the game settled when Mackenzie added a second to win the game 2-0 and finish top of the group with 13 points.

Semi against Bradford Park, runners up from the other group. Having only conceded 1 goal thus far, Marple were confident and when Mackenzie scored with a shot straight from the kick off, this was always going to be a one sided affair. Jacob was untroubled in goal and Sean quickly added another, cutting in from the left and shooting past the keeper. Mackenzie bundled the ball over the line to score his second of the game and then wrapped up his hat trick with another well struck shot. Reece got in on the act scoring the fifth and just before the final whistle Sean added another. Final score 6-0 to Marple and bring on the final!!

The final was against last year's winners Halifax Irish and having drawn against them earlier in the day, this was always going to be tight. Jacob was forced into saves early on but Mackenzie and Sean both went close to scoring. Connor and Dan were calm at the back and as the game went on, Marple were without doubt the better team. Reece came off the bench and immediately made an impact when his shot was handled in the area by the Halifax defender. Must be a penalty... even the players walked towards the spot... referee's decision... throw in??? After that it was one way traffic but Marple just couldn't find the net. The game ended 0-0 and we had the dreaded penalties. During the shoot-out, Jacob saved two penalties and scored his own but Marple were eventually beaten by Halifax 3 penalties to 1.

So, after a fantastic display all day, runners up trophies to Marple Blues which is a great achievement.

Man of the tournament was Mackenzie Holdgate who ended with 11 goals from 7 games.