Layton Institute Juniors 2008
Blackpool & Fylde, Blackpool, England

Layton Institute Juniors 3 Walkabout Celtic 3

Another slow start and more dropped points for Layton as poor finishing and errors cost dear.

Weak

A drizzly day at Moor Park and a promise of a better performance served well for the pre match ritual.

The warm ups went well and morale was high.... then the game kicked off.

Pretty much straight away Scott Grimes was caught out by poor positioning and a smart ball inside him was picked up by the Celtics number 9, Gino Ginelli. The big Italian part time ice-cream man waltzed past 2 defenders as if they weren't there and pulled the ball back to a waiting colleague. His tame, mis-hit effort trickled back to the big number 9 who (from a clearly offside position) tucked home for 1-0.

Goal! 0-1

Rocked for the second game in a row Layton attempted to get straight back into the game and almost did and but for poor finishing, would.

Walkabout Celtic then had a throw in, deep into the Juniors half and the long throw which was left by club captain David McNicol was flicked on by the Walkabout number 14. Usually reliable Bunce misjudged the ball and Ginelli slotted home for number 2.

Goal! 0-2

Lifeline

The Laser Blues pushed on to get back in the game and attack after attack gave no joy and no restbite for the vistors defence.

Then the referee handed the Juniors a lifeline by awarding a penalty for handball. Skipper, McNicol, left the duty for the returning Dalton who hammered home convincingly for 2-1.

Goal! 1-2

Momentum, impetus and passion on their side Layton went searching for the equaliser before half-time but were undone again by sloppy defending that let the Celtics in for their 3rd.

Goal! 1-3

Goals galore and Layton on the attack again. Grimes atoned for an earlier error and threaded through a beautiful ball for Pete McNicol to take in his stride and stroke home with a plomb.

Goal! 2-3

All this and before the 25 minute mark and a tactical switch saw Rice enter the fray for Hodgkinson to switch formation to a 3-5-2 formation that worked a treat.

The scond half began and it was all Layton. More missed opportunities and more frustration for the Layton boss.

Grimes completed the comeback with a fine finish after a lovely ball in by Peake.

Goal! 3-3

The final change saw the introduction of Tosh on in a striker role and the big lad had some very astutue touches and gave The Juniors a different approach that will be used again in the near future.

Another poor result but a much better performance.