First XI Football Team

Whether you are a pupil, parent, member of staff, former pupil or simply a passing surfer, thank you for visiting our website: you are very welcome here.


First XI Football Team


First XI Football Team

The Formby Miracle by Andrew Jones (Wednesday 10th February)

Range High School 3 – 7 St Margarets First XI

The impossible comeback became possible on Wednesday afternoon as St Margarets turned a 3-0 half time deficit around to run out 7-3 winners in a must win top of the table clash.

The biggest game of St Margarets league season was an understatement as the SMA lads travelled to Formby knowing that they needed nothing less than 3 points against the unbeaten league leaders, Range High School, if they were to keep their title hopes alive.

It was a nightmare start for SMA who found themselves behind after just 5 minutes. A quick counter attack from the home side saw a deflected through ball fall perfectly for their striker who fired past the returning Matty Yorke who could only watch as the ball sailed into the net.

10 minutes later and it only got worse for the away side. An unmarked Range striker was allowed a free shot and once again Matty Yorke was left with absolutely no chance and SMA’s league chances were slipping away in front of their eyes.

Despite the early setbacks, SMA continued to pressure the Range defence with Mikey Taylor, Matty Cotter and Iwan Webster all going close. A substitution from manager Greg McLean nearly provided the breakthrough just before half time with Perry Leach coming off the bench and firing just wide of the goal.

It seemed a certainty that SMA were going to be the next team on the scoresheet but they were sucker punched on the stroke of half time. Another counter attack saw the ball fall to the Range’s striker 8 yards out and he coolly converted to give Range a comfortable 3-0 lead and SMA more than a mountain to climb.

Half time arrived and the team talk was simple, “We have 45 minutes to save our league season... go out and do it!”

An Istanbul type comeback was needed. Well, I’ll give you the Istanbul comeback and raise your one – four in fact.

The first half couldn’t really have gotten any worse but the second was a completely different story with manager McLean describing it as, “the best 45 minutes of football I have seen my side play.”

With the half time team talk still resonating in their ears, SMA set about making inroads into the opposition team’s lead and with only 4 minutes gone in the second half they got the first in somewhat comical fashion. It came from a Matty Cotter clearance upfield from his own half. He was met with a late challenge from one of the Range players which caused a reaction but whilst that was being sorted out nobody noticed the slip from the Range goalkeeper. He was instantly in a position of struggle and as the ball bounced over his head, he scrambled back to get the ball but he couldn't reach and it rolled in to make it 3-1 with the majority of the players none the wiser.

It took until the hour mark for the drama to move up another gear. Owen Hough who was a constant thorn in the Range side all game struck an excellent effort that could only be parried back into the danger area. Mikey was alert and was the first on the scene and stroked it home. The comeback was well and truly on.

SMA were growing in confidence and belief but they still had to call upon Matty Yorke who made some key saves in crucial moments throughout the second half, most notably at 3-2 when he dived low to his right to deny the Range striker. In general he brought great leadership and communication to the team.

7 minutes after SMA’s second goal, Liam Cors collected the ball in a dangerous area. He ran through off a one-two with Owen Hough before being taken out by the centre back and a penalty was awarded. Who better to step up than Owen Hough? He calmly slotted the ball to the right of the keeper sending him the wrong way. 3-3. Istanbul all over again!!!

The SMA players were now in the mood and weren’t about to settle for a draw. Just two minutes later, the ball trickled through to Perry Leach who ran into the penalty area and slotted superbly into the bottom corner. 3-4! Owen Hough sprinted over to celebrate with the Gaffer. Everyone else was jumping around in sheer delight at what they had managed to do! What a turnaround!

SMA were firmly in control of the game and Range were shell shocked at what had happened in the second half. It was no surprise that Iwan Webster was able to calmly slot home at the back post from an Elliot Musa corner to make it 5-3 to SMA as their dominance was beginning to show.

A double substitution saw James Milburn and James Stuart enter the game and the latter made an instant impact as he got himself on the scoresheet. Mikey Taylor sprinted on to a divine Iwan Webster pass that split the Range defence before squaring it to James Stuart who slotted home into the bottom corner to make it 6-3 on 84 minutes. Liam Cors then cut inside and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 7-3 giving SMA the 3 points and completing the most remarkable comeback.

Greg could not hide his delight at what his side had managed to achieve: “If ever there was a game of two halves this was it. The spirit and fight that the players showed in the second half was fantastic. We converted our chances, played some excellent football in the process. It just shows how important team work is in football. I am very proud of all the lads”.

They are still talking about the miracle of Istanbul and the Formby miracle won’t be forgotten for a long time either.

  • Starting XI: Matty Yorke, Anthony Miller, Matty ‘Kolo’ Cotter (C), Luke Oluyombo, Adam Derbyshire, Iwan Webster, Elliot Musa, Michael Taylor, Liam Cors, Zak El-Beshri, Owen Hough
  • Subs: Perry Leach, James Milburn, James Stuart
  • Man of the Match: Luke Oluyombo

“Luke put in an exceptional performance at the back where he made some key challenges and important interceptions throughout the game and after the shaky start provided a solid base at the heart of the defence with Matty Cotter allowing us to put more men forward and get back into the game.”

 

Social Media

TOP