UCLan FC Men’s: 1s on winning side of eight-goal thriller
All four BUCS UCLan FC Men’s teams were in action last Wednesday (November 13).
On the same week as Remembrance Day, teams paused before their games for a minute’s silence to remember those who sacrificed everything for their country.
As Leo Downes writes, the 1s got their first away league win of the season.
The UCLan 1s travelled to Liverpool on Wednesday afternoon to face the University of Liverpool 2s, where they came out on top in a roller coaster game with a 5-3 win.
The opening period showed what Liverpool were in for as UCLan took the lead in the fifth minute through Blessing Igharo, who showed quick feet to beat his man and find the side netting.
A good start was held back however, as the hosts’ responded with three goals in the next 11 minutes.
Two goals from their number 11 and one from number 10 saw UCLan quickly fall out of the game.
However, they managed to regain control of the game after this shock period of play and were nearly rewarded 36 minutes in, when right-back Sully Qureshi was tripped on his run into the box.
Liverpool’s keeper pulled off a strong save to deny Reece Thompson from the spot and keep the hosts with a firm advantage.
However, with five minutes to go in the half Blessing managed to grab his second and half the deficit with a calm finish into the bottom corner after the ball bounced to him just inside the 18-yard-box.
UCLan came out swinging in the second half, as Reece Thompson made up for his first-half miss with two well-taken goals within the first 10 minutes to spring UCLan back in front.
A goal up again but this time they didn’t let it go as the 1s pushed for more, with attacker Ruhulla Alizadeha demonstrating his class off the wing ,he was unlucky to go without a goal on the day as he struck the bar twice from distance with brilliant left-footed efforts.
Only 15 minutes were left when UCLan could finally relax, as Reece Thompson clinched his third and hat-trick, again beating the keeper with a composed finish.
Goalkeeper Will Vaughan was kept busy in the final 10 minutes, with a number of good saves low down as his side tried to settle for the victory and see out the game.
The 1s managed to hold off Liverpool Uni and complete what was an extraordinary comeback away from home, with five goals and a solid display from the whole team.
Emily King reports as the 2s suffered a late and arguably undeserved 2-1 defeat to Myerscough.
Having not played the previous week, manager Josh Lucas made two changes from the 2s’ last game against Manchester Metropolitan 2s on October 30, with Williams and Idehen making way for Andre and Riley who started the game instead.
The game started with an early goal from UCLan’s Connor Allen, as his shot from outside the box was deflected by the away side’s defence into the goal. This gave the home side the lead after just two minutes.
The 2s continued to play the game strongly and continued to attack confidently as the first half progressed. With several brilliant crosses from Akibate, who tried to find Allen in the box again, and a great strike from Moran on the edge of the box, trying to extend the home sides lead.
After many great saves from UCLan’s keeper Christian Mathews, Myerscough equalised after 27 minutes.
Their number nine shot from the edge of the box and it was just out of reach for Mathews, resulting in the first half ending 1-1.
The second half kicked off with both teams coming back strongly as well as having several chances on goal, causing both keepers to make great saves.
Determined to score, Allen unfortunately collided with Myerscough’s keeper resulting with both players staying down after the clash. After several minutes and treatment Allen came off the pitch injured and received a yellow card.
With only 10 minutes left to play after the incident, UCLan had to continue to battle with Myerscough for the three points. But in the last two minutes of the 90, the away side shot from the edge of the box which sailed right into the top corner of the goal and there was nothing Mathews could have done.
Just after the winner was scored, the referee blew the final whistle, meaning that the 2s lost the game in the final minutes.
Next week the team have a break as it’s another cup week, the team’s next game will be on November 27 against Liverpool 3s at the Sports Arena.
The 4s travelled to Chester tom play their 3s and drew 2-2, with one of the heroes from last week’s penalty shootout win versus Leeds Beckett getting both goals.
Leon Hongkins scored twice, first with a long range stunner that found the top-right corner and then a rebounded effort following Ben Ascroft’s deflected attempt at goal.
Finally, the 5s took on Liverpool Hope 2s and Roan Smalley was there to sum up the action.
UCLan 5s welcomed Liverpool Hope 2s with the hope to bounce back after a narrow defeat to Bangor 2s in the Northern Conference Trophy last week.
Only Rhys Williams, Ernie Bratherton, Jackson Taylor and Sam Hill kept their place in the starting lineup from last week’s match.
Manager Anthony Dickson gave starts to Danyal Salim and Mo Ahmed who both started from the bench in the cup match.
As the match got underway, it was clear that Liverpool Hope 2s came here to win as UCLan’s back line was instantly under pressure and just three minutes into the first half the away side headed their first goal following a corner.
UCLan showed great resilience in the back with a vocal Jackson Taylor pushing his team on, but Liverpool’s attacking threat posed too much as two goals were scored in eight minutes that saw UCLAN three nil down.
As half time approached, UCLan gave everything they had to salvage a goal before the break. Mo Ahmed and Sam Hill both went close in the closing stages of the half but were denied by a strong Liverpool back line.
During the opening minutes of the second half, a rocket of shot came from the edge of the box that was unstoppable for Will Judd as Liverpool take a four-nil lead.
With a loss looming, UCLan never showed signs of giving up. They went up for every aerial challenge, made brilliant last ditch tackles and blocked every ball that they could.
However, a slip in the team’s concentration in the 70th minute caused Liverpool to regain their dominance in the match as a nicely worked goal was slotted into the net to make it five-nil and just seven minutes later two more goals were added to their tally.
After seven-nil down at home and full time approaching fast, UCLan hoped that the final whistle would come but before this could happen Liverpool’s attackers were in our box again. Will Judd tried the best he could, but he could not stop Liverpool Hope 2s from making it eight.
Full time came for UCLan, and even though it wasn’t the result that was hoped for, they should be proud for never giving up throughout the match.
The next match for UCLan 5s is Chester at UCLan’s Sports Arena.
Next up…
- 1s: Teeside 1s (H) – November 20, 2pm (Men’s Northern Conference Cup)
- 2s: Liverpool 3s (H) – November 27, 2pm (Men’s Northern Tier 4C)
- 4s: Huddersfield 1s (A) – November 20, 2pm (Men’s Northern Conference Trophy)
- 5s: Chester 3s (A) – November 27, 1pm (Men’s Northern Tier 5C)
