Moston Brook AFC

Well as we have all found out this season Brook's U 12's have proved that they don't like to do things by half measures, and they certainly know how to keep their managers, and other club officials on their toes and full of adrenalin driven tension. This is exactly what this game was all about. They were pushing the boundaries on Tuesday evening after the 3 v 3 draw against Unsworth. This meant that the final decider was all on tonight's game for the league title winners to claim their prize.

They began the game a little shaky and were rocking the boat all over the place. It took 15 minutes before Michael Brewster was able to send a superb ball from his centre mid position through to the on running for Niall Rafferty to blast the beautiful right footed curler past the keeper and into the net to put Brook ahead 1 v 0.

It was certain that Whitworth were trying to do their friends in the Bury league a favour by trying to prevent Brook claiming the title. They knew exactly who to mark and were doing an extremely good job in closing down Brook's crucial players as soon as they got a touch of the ball. This looked like a totally different side to the one we met 2 weeks ago. Brook had a couple of near misses as they managed to get a few single shots on goal. But the half time whistle blew at 1 v 0.

After making a few changes and having a short team talk, Brook knew what they had to do to change the face of the game and get out in the second half and do the business.

As the second half began we immediately noticed that they had followed instructions well as they had upped their pace and tempo and began to play their game in their own usual style. Within minutes Darius received a clearance ball down the right wing from Craig Mckay. Darius kept possession as he charged through three challenging defenders before striking a master blaster shot right on the edge of the area. The ball ripped through the air like a rattling tornado before landing like a cannon ball in the top right hand corner of the net. Score 2 v 0.

5 minutes later Brook were awarded a corner kick after a shot from Kyle Hark was knocked out by the keeper. Michael Brewster took the kick, which found the eagerly awaiting Niall Rafferty to smash home his 2^nd of the day.

Jack Keightley who was having a tremendous game deserved to score the next magnificent goal in the 45^th minute. He produced a mean right footed swerver shot from just on the edge of the box, which curled its way around the keeper and into the back of the net to make it 4 v 0.

Next up was Mr strong alias Michael Brewster who was having a brilliant second half up front. Michael received a fantastic pass from Kallum Partington before taking on 2 players in the box and cheekily nut megging the keeper to claim Brook's 5^th.

Finally after a further handful of missed shots and with only 5 minutes to go Brook were awarded a last corner kick, which was taken, unusually by Reece Flynn.

Reece sent a fantastic ball into the box and first up was Kyle Hark, who made immediate contact with his head and blasted in the final Brook goal of the season.

The game ended 6 v 0.

*********WELL DONE ******** to every single player in the squad, we are giving the MOTM title to everyone of you today for being part of this tremendous side and for the contribution however large or small that you have made to the team throughout this season. It all counts for something. So give yourselves a pat on the back. But before I finish, and go off to celebrate this fantastic feeling. I just want you all to remember one very special person in particular, and this is not only for his contribution on the pitch, which I must say is usually ‘OUTSTANDING', but also for his contribution to the team off the pitch, which is ‘ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC'. The person I am referring to is your Captain DARIUS. Well done DAZ you've brought your team a long way this season, from the bottom of the ladder to the top. Thank you from all of us for being a great leader and for doing what you do both on and off the field so well. 

WELL BOYS like as Sylvester Stallone would say, ‘Adrienne WE DID IT'.

Guys, you have been absolutely fantastic and fought hard throughout the whole of this season and you deserve to be where you are tonight. YOU ARE THE LEAGUE WINNERS 2007/08 whooooooo whoo  Hoooooo. Once again we can sing our winners tune.................

***CHAMPIONIES *** CHAMPIONIES*** OLE***OLE***OLE***

Roll on next season, Hey guys.... PREMEIRSHIP DIVISION...... watch out HERE WE COME..............

Well we knew that this was going to be a difficult game for both teams with everything being on the line for the top position.

We knew Unsworth were going to be up for it but then so were we.

Brook started strong and were playing some good football, however Unsworth had clearly done their homework well because they were closing in on certain Brook players in pairs and sometimes in three's. This disrupted Brook's usual style of play and they were finding it difficult to demonstrate their usual pass and run techniques.

Fortunately in the 8^th minute Niall got the break through he was looking for and managed to run the ball into the box before crossing it to Darius for him to wallop home and put Brook in front. This lead only lasted a matter of minutes as Unsworth got their clear break straight down the left hand side of the field, into the box and into the net to equalise.

Brook were awarded a penalty when Darius was blatantly brought down in the Unsworth box in the 20^th minute. The official penalty taker Niall Rafferty was there in an instant to do his job. Niall was gleaming with confidence as he took centre stage. He placed the ball on the spot and took his paces like John Wayne preparing for a dual, before turning to face the glaring keeper who had previously experienced this total inNIALLation in a cup game. After sprinting forward Niall struck the ball so hard, and with such accurate precision, that the keeper was left stranded in a cloud of dust, whilst Niall was off celebrating the fact that Brook were back in front.

Just 3 minutes later Unsworth were back on their toes as they won a corner and scored from a header to equalise once again. This wasn't surprising because Brook appeared to be temporarily asleep, as they left certain players unmarked and didn't budge to clear the ball from area.

Brook were able to take advantage of the tiring Unsworth in the 25^th minute and managed a few decent pass and run moves down the centre of the park. Michael Brewster cheekily took on and skinned three players in the centre before crossing the ball to Darius running in from the right wing. The determined Darius wasted no time at all as he let rip a thunderbolt shot from his first touch and put Brook in the driving seat once again. It was like deja vu 3 minutes later when Unsworth won another corner, again from the left and again equalized for the third time from another header. For some unknown reason Brook appeared to be rooted to the spot as they didn't move or get up for the clearance again, and ended up being punished for it a second time. Half time came to an end with both teams on 3 goals a piece.

Play in the second half was very even between the two sides and it was clear to see that both teams were not giving in.

However I think that through the built up tensions and zaps of energy lost through adrenalin rushes in the first half, it all began to take its toll on Brook, as they wasted quite a few chances by aiming some soft shots straight into the hands of the keepers. Unsworth only got one chance and that was from a free kick in the Brook half with 1 minute to go. Fortunately for Brook Craig Mckay was very much wide awake and as eager as ever to defend for his team, this became quite clear when his mega header launched it away and into space just as the final whistle blew. Final score 3 v 3.

Well boys this was a difficult game as we all expected but the main thing is a draw is better than a loss so well done to you all..... However I can't just leave it there without asking you this, ‘what on earth happened tonight' you should have had this game sewn up right after your first goal. This was not one of your best performances; in fact it was probably one of your worst defensively, you allowed Unsworth to come back at you twice from 2 corners without even trying to stop them. On this occasion only I am going to put these mistakes down to nerves and the adrenalin rushes that were eating away at your energy levels because we have all seen just how solid you usually are at the back and have seen how 9 times out of 10 many of you are up off your feet and ready with your heads for clearing corners and free kicks in the box. So I'm not going to harp on about it too much. We've got 1 more game to go, so no mistakes in that one hey lads? Oh I nearly forgot, ‘Well done to you all for getting MOTM it was too difficult to choose just one person tonight as there were too many up for nomination, I can't mention everyone but I feel that a few should have recognition as they were extra special tonight, such as, Darius, you had a tremendous game, your grit and determination as well as your speed kept us in this tonight ‘superb', Craig, you took over and dominated that defence in the end and made sure that Unsworth were not coming back to take over ‘ fantastic', Michael B, I liked the way you used your skill on the ball to trick and baffle the opposition, which was tiring them out ‘brilliant' and finally Kyle B for dishing out some fantastic goal kicks some great saves ‘outstanding' .  Anyway one last thing, At least we didn't lose like they expected us to. Whoooo hoooooo

Another fabulous start again for Brook, straight from the kick off the ball was lunged forward to Niall Rafferty who ran with it at top speed into the box and crossed it for Captain Darius Photiou to knock home number 1 for Brook in the 3^rd minute.

Minutes later Stand's striker beat the Brook defence and had a clear shot on target, but fortunately Kyle safe hands Barton stopped it with a superb save.

In the 10^th minute a clearance ball from Kallum Partington landed just outside the area, which looked like it was being met by Stand's keeper, however the keeper wasn't as quick as Kyle Hark who met from the other side and cheekily chipped it over his head to make it 2 v 0.

Another great clearance ball from Lewis Brennan in the 16^th minute found Kyle Hark again who very nicely crossed it in to Darius who leathered home Brook's 3^rd.

From the kick off Brook's defence being too far forward were caught out again only this time Stand's striker didn't miss the target and smacked it right in the top right hand corner of Brook's net to take the score to 3 v 1.

Brook were awarded a corner in the 22^nd minute, which was taken by Darius and as usual Daz provided the top quality bait for the awaiting Brook sharks in the box. Everyone was up for the ball but it was little Heffer who got his head to it first and smashed it straight into the top right hand corner of the net leaving the keeper in a total daze.

From the kick off again Brook immediately took possession and Andrew sent the ball across midfield for Michael Brewster to bob and weave it past 4 players and into the box, he then took the risk and sent a rocket launcher of a shot straight past the keeper and straight into the back of the net. Score now 5v1.

Stand had a throw in down the right side of the field just before half time, which was taken quickly and passed about before being crossed into the Brook box. Brook were not alert enough to see what was coming next as the small Stand striker leaped up high for the header, which beat them all gave them their 2^nd.

Half time score 5 v 2.

Within minutes of starting the second half Michael Brewster received another fantastic through ball from Andrew on the left, ran it forward before releasing it on the edge of the box for Reece Flynn to have a shot. Reece's shot was knocked out by the keeper, but only as far as Michael Brewster who slammed it back in with so much power and force that the keeper didn't have a chance. 6 v 2

Minutes later Stand managed to send a long all forward over Brook's back 4 before having their shot knocked out by Kyle for a corner. They took the corner and Brook were beaten once again for the third time. Score now 6 v 3.

Brook finally stepped up the pace after this and began dominating once again. Reece Flynn who had had a couple of shots saved by this point was determined to beat the Stand keeper before the match ended. He finally did the business in the 50^th minute by landing a fantastic low, hard shot into the bottom left hand corner of Stands net.

5 minutes later Niall Rafferty finally bagged his first goal of the day with a tremendous right footer from just outside the edge of the area. He followed this by taking the ball on a bashful but brave run straight down the middle of the park before letting go another superb bomb blaster to score again in the last minute.

Final score 9 v 3.

Well done guys, another brilliant win keep it going!!!!!!

A very well done message goes especially to Craig Mckay, for not only having a fantastic game but for taking the initiative by helping out and dominating the back four you were today's MOTM.