Report

HISTORY MAKERS
Layton Juniors was founded in 2004 when our lads were about 4 years old. In that time no Layton team has ever reached the quarter final of the Lancashire Cup. Whatever happens in the future this team will always have the distinction of being the first to acheive this feat, so well done.
Today a couple of players didn't get any playing time but every member of the squad is as important as the next. These players played a full role in previous rounds of the cup and without their efforts we wouldn't have been in the position to do what we did today, so once again well done to the whole squad.
The match today was played on a very difficult pitch and flowing football was never going to be on the cards. Our instructions were to get the ball wide as soon as possible, where we had pace and then deliver balls into the box. The lads followed this as best they could but a battling Ighton Leigh team made this difficult.
Half way through the first half we went a goal down despite the valiant efforts of Liam in goal. 0-1. This setback spurred the lads on and we equalised through George following a corner. 1-1. We went close a couple of times before the break, with Jack Webster and Jaydan being a constant threat. HT 1-1.
We made a couple of changes at half time to add another dimension to our game by pushing Jack up front and threaten Ighton Leigh with pace. This threat paid off when we got the ball forward with pace and Lewis struck a fine left foot shot into the net. After this we tried to push forward but every credit to our visitors who stood strong and pushed us onto the back foot. Across the back Nathan, Andy, Luke T and Alan (plus Jack wrigley who also came on) stood strong. With Liam pulling off a couple of fine saves to deny Ighton Leigh the dream of reaching the last 8 was getting closer.
We stil managed a couple of counter attacks and with better finishing may have extended our lead. Good work between Jenson, Nathan and Kieran looked promising until Jensons cross was well saved.
The last few minutes were real backs to the wall stuff with Ighton Leigh pumping a couple of free kicks into the box, but our defending was resolute and we held out for a great win. FT 2-1.

A brilliant battling performance where every player stood up to be counted. The quality of football was determined by the state of the pitch but we overcame this through sheer hard work. Its great to be able to win games this way as well as by our ability to play the ball around. All 16 players have put their names into the history of Layton Juniors so well done to you all.

MotM awards once again were very difficult to such an extent that the managers award was shared by Luke T and Andy who must both be seeing stars tonight beacause of the number of balls they headed away. The Parents award went to Alan for another fine match.

Thanks to all the parents who I am sure are as proud of the lads as we are. Your help before and after was greatly appreciated. Thanks to Pete again for doing the line and as I said to him today, that 'if Carlsberg did weekends this was it'. Up the Blues.