Under 11s Saturday 

Great Harwood Rovers Under 11’s v Rossendale Valley Red 

The under 11’s put in a first class performance to score a convincing 6-1 victory. GHR dominated play but found the RVR side in determined mood. It took until the tenth minute to break the deadlock when George Nightingale, George Ramsbottom and Oliver Cruse combined to cut the RV defence to shreds which resulted in Oliver Cruse scoring a well taken goal.  GHR got their second when George Ramsbottom scored from long distance. Their third came from Oliver Cruse who rammed home after another exciting run and a number of one touch passes. GHR were playing some excellent football at this point and only good goalkeeping and the woodwork stopped GHR scoring more. RVR never gave up and scored a goal just before the half time break to reduce the arrears to GHR 3 RVR 1. G Ramsbottom scored his second and the teams fourth, then came the goal of the match when substitute Jack Woodcock fired home from twenty yards with an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the goal. GHR carried on in the same vain and it was only a matter of time before the sixth goal came and in true goal poaching style Oliver Cruse scored after a G Ramsbottom shot was half stopped by the RVR goalkeeper only to see Oliver following up to make sure and grab his 3rd hatrick of the season. A special mention should go out for Sam Allen who started his first match of the season in the defence! Final Score 6 - 1. Man of The Match any of the following George Ramsbottom/George Nightingale/Oliver Cruse.

Huncoat Utd v Great Harwood Rovers Under 11’s  

The under 11’s won 8-0 against Huncoat. GHR dominated play throughout with Kyle Parker scoring two in the first half, Oliver Cruse and Nick Catlow adding two more to make it 4-0 at half time. GHR scored four more in the second half with George Nightingale scoring two and Man of The Match George Ramsbottom scoring two, Huncoat won a penalty late on in the second half which was saved well by GHR keeper Matthew Bunn.  Final Score 0-8. Man of The Match George Ramsbottom.

Great Harwood Rovers Under 11’s v Church Under 11’s  

The under 11’s recovered from their first defeat of the season with a win against Church. The match started slowly for GHR, with a change in formation that took some time to get to grips with. Church caught GHR on the break and where unlucky not to score in the first five minutes when a couple of excellent saves from Man of The Match Matthew Bunn kept GHR in the game. GHR started to grow in confidence and got their passing game going and started creating chances. A smart move down the right with George Ramsbottom, Oliver Cruse and George Nightingale exchanging passes finished with the excellent Nighty slotting home. The same trio again combined to create the second with Nighty again the scorer. Nighty then returned the favour and set a goal up for Oliver Cruse who dispatched his chance in style. Half Time 3-0. The second half started with GHR on top Nick Catlow combined with Nighty to create the fourth goal which was an unlucky own goal by a Church defender after Nick had played in a good cross. George Ramsbottom then scored after a fine run to make it five, Kyle Parker after being guilty of missing a couple of chances earlier made amends with a great run and shot to score the sixth and Oliver Cruse finished the scoring to grab his second and the teams seventh. Final Score 7-0. Man of The Match Matthew Bunn

Wilpshire Wanderers v Great Harwood Rovers Under 11’s

The under 11’s played Wilpshire Wanderers on Monday 22nd and came away empty handed.

Wilpshire won the toss and kicked down hill with the wind. This obviously gave them a big advantage in the early part of the match when GHR seemed encamped at the edge of their box. Wilpshire piled the pressure on and almost took the lead after 5 minutes with a rasping shot that hit the crossbar, but GHR held strong and gradually played their way into the game. But just as they were playing their way back into the match the defence failed to close down a cross and the GHR keeper misjudged the cross and could only help the ball into his own net. GHR battled back with the excellent Oliver Cruse forcing the Wilpshire keeper into a fine save and as the first half came to a close GHR where beginning to get a foot hold in the match. The second half started as the first ended with GHR on top with Jack Woodcock playing a blinder at centre half orchestrating the play and Oliver Cruse working hard up front. Both teams had further chances but unfortunately for GHR they could not find the equaliser they deserved. Final Score Wilpshire 1 GHR 0. Man of The Match Jack Woodcock.

 

Great Harwood Rovers Under 11’s v Pendle Forest White Under 11’s  

The under 11’s entertained Pendle Forest White on Saturday 20th and came away with all 3 points. Great Harwood Rovers Cruised to a 3-0 win following a hatrick by star striker Oliver Cruse. A hard fought match against a very well organised “as usual” Pendle Forest team. GHR had most of the play and created most of the chances but the match hung in the balance until midway through the second half when Oliver completed his hatrick. His first coming from a corner which despite being the smallest player on the park he headed home inside the box with style. His second was a poachers goal when after a good free kick he pounced on the loose ball to slam the ball into the Pendle net. His hatrick goal was a shot from the edge of the box after yet another GHR corner.

Man of The Match Oliver Cruse.

Rossendale Valley Yellow v Great Harwood Rovers Under 11’s

The under 11’s won their fourth game on the bounce with a convincing 6-1 victory. GHR dominated play but found the RVY side in determined mood. It took until the tenth minute to break the deadlock when George Nightingale toe poked home after a determined run. GHR got their second when George Ramsbottom scored from long distance. Their third came from Oliver Cruse who rammed home after another exciting run. GHR were playing some excellent football at this point and only good goalkeeping and the woodwork stopped GHR scoring more. G Nightingale scored his second and the teams fourth only to see RVY score to reduce the score to 4-1 at half time. GHR never really lived up to their first half showing and allowed RVY to put them under some pressure at the beginning of the second half. But star striker Oliver Cruse put the game beyond the determined RVY when he scored the teams fifth and followed that with his third and the teams sixth to finish the scoring.  Final Score 1-6.

Man of The Match any of the following George Ramsbottom/George Nightingale/Oliver Cruse.

Great Harwood Rovers Under 11’s v Clitheroe Wolves Red Under 11’s

The under 11’s entertained Clitheroe Wolves Red on Monday 15th and came away with all 3 points.

A game that was like a match between Liverpool and Wimbledon played in the 1980’s with one team playing football on the ground and the other playing a very physical long ball game. The first half was pretty even with Clitheroe Wolves creating the better chances and Matthew Bunn making a couple of fine saves, but as the game went on GHR began to show their class with the pass and move style which in the end gave the players their rewards. The second half started with a barrage of free kicks to GHR which were all on target and troubled the CWR keeper but he kept them all out. GHR kept the pressure on and forced corner after corner with CWR reliant on breakaways which never troubled the GHR defence and Matt Bunn was largely redundant in the GHR nets. A tactical switch saw George Nightingale move to the left of midfield with several minutes remaining and this paid dividends as he skipped passed a couple of Clitheroe lunges played a one two with Oliver Cruse then pulled the ball back for Nick Catlow to finish in style. GHR carried on going forward but resolute defending and goalkeeping by CWR kept the score to 1-0.

Man of The Match Oliver Cruse.

Rishton Utd v Great Harwood Rovers Under 11’s

The under 11’s carried on their good start to the season with a hard fought but deserved 6-0 victory. GHR dominated play but found the Rishton side in determined mood. It took until the fifteenth minute to break the deadlock when a good run from Oliver Cruse who crossed the ball into the box only for a Rishton player to put the ball in his own net. Some very neat interplay between the forwards of GHR gave them a deserved second with the outstanding George Ramsbottom scoring.  The second half carried on as the first with new signing Matthew Ingham scoring a brace, with the versatile Jack Woodcock and Man of The Match George Ramsbottom scoring two more giving GHR a 6-0 victory.  Final Score 0-6.

Man of The Match George Ramsbottom.

Great Harwood Rovers Under 11’s v Ferngore Allstars

The under 11’s started the new season with a well deserved 9-0 victory. GHR dominated play from the first minute to the last and only a brilliant goalkeeping display by the Ferngore number 1 and the woodwork kept the score out of double figures. Some very neat interplay between the forwards of GHR gave them a deserved half time lead with goals from Oliver Cruse 2, Kyle Parker 1 and George Nightingale 1.  The second half carried on as the first with debutant Nick Catlow scoring a hatrick, Jack Woodcock scoring a goal with a run from the centre of defence and George Nightingale getting his second.

Final Score 9-0.

Man of The Match George Nightingale.