Reserves keep 100% record as 1sts get hit for six!
24 Aug 2011

Another weekend of mixed fortunes for Magdala as the season starts to gather momentum. With the 3^rd team yet to start their competitive season it was again left to the 1^st team and the reserves to try and improve on last week’s fixtures.

JJ had to work with a depleted side for the arrival of what is always a strong Cavaliers side. No Duncan Bennett, who has been an impressive signing since joining the club at the start of the summer, John Boutltby, Laurence Symes and the Kearns brothers, who were all missing for what was going to be a tough game. JJ was able for comment after the game, but what was said is better left out of this weekend’s report. A huge loss, with a leaky defence, conceding 6 without reply meant that JJ has to go and evaluate what went wrong. But with some big named players to come back things will get better for the 1^st team.

Vinny had the hard task of taking the reserves for their first away game of the season, to newly promoted Bingham Town, making the trip that little bit harder by having no prior knowledge of the team. With the return of Alex Clarke from his honeymoon (which by the looks of him …. He didn’t hold back at the buffet) and new club signing Clayton, Vinny was able to make a total of 4 changes to the side that got the better of Selston the week before.  Victorious by a 2 goal margin in a 3-1 win marked a great start to the season by old veteran. Goals from Jimmy, Charlie and a tap in from the Club Chairman JB closed off another good performance. Vinny was delighted with 18yr old Joe on his first centre half performance and gave special mention to Glen ‘Mr Happy’ Morley ‘Glen was superb, kept us in the game first half’ who was awarded MOM for his performance.

Elsewhere, the third team had a very early kick off to accommodate an away friendly to continue their pre season. With what was a much changed side from previous weeks it gave the opportunity to try some new positions for players. What started as a one way affair over the first 25 minutes came a little more even as the game developed and the Dala players lost fitness and shape. With what finished as a 4-4 thriller, it could have been a lot different if Dala had taken their chances in the first half and finished the game off. Many positives can be taken from the game with Harrington being quoted ‘Very impressed with our first 20 mins, and as our fitness improves and the lads get to know eachother I believe we can have a strong season this year’. Impressive performances from Stevo, Boris Johnson, Tom Haw and Gav Haynes who was moved from his favoured forward position in to centre midfield, but made a big impact (as Rich Lucas’s shoulder will testify) during his 70 mins. Onwards and upwards for the newly formed side.