With most of the best Under-15 players in the North-West playing for their respective teams, Preston’s summer 6-a-side hockey festival was always set to be an exhibition of quality youth sport. Morecambe and District HC entered two teams, but some late withdrawals from the squad left a minimum of twelve players and no chance for either a rest or any injury substitutions.
Morecambe’s B team were in a group which included four clubs’ A-teams so the defensive unit of Kai Chahal, Jack Brooks and keeper James Smith were always going to be busy. Smithy was outstanding in goal, keeping the Shrimps in every game and frustrating the opposition strikers again and again, with Brooks and Chahal running their legs off to keep up with the marking duties. Midfielders Ben Wilson and Luke Walker had to do a lot of defending themselves with only the occasional opportunity to break away and send fast passes up to striker Jonathon Seddon. Ben Wilson particularly stood out, showing silky skills on the ball and a precision jab tackle. As an Under-13 player taking on the big boys, Ben stood his ground and will be hoping the North-West selectors took note.
Through the day Morecambe B’s lost close games to Preston, Northern, Southport and Timperley B but rounded off their tournament with a victory against Chorley. Wilson, Chahal and Walker all scored against Chorley, with Walker also having cracked one in against Northern earlier.
Morecambe’s A team got a flier in the first game against Bolton. Their NW keeper Paul Frank could do nothing to stop Hugh Rowlands’ lightning strike from the top of the area then Tom Vaughan-Jones and Alex Belshire teamed up to score a second that any National League team would have struggled to defend. TV-J cracked a rising diagonal ball towards the right post, which Belshire deflected into the roof of the net as he dived forwards, fully horizontal behind the Bolton full-back. Matthew Seddon then rounded off the scoring with a well-placed third. From this strong start, Morecambe efficiently dispatched Urmston before coming up against Cheshire’s top side: Timperley. It was a close game with both teams being kept out by strong goalkeeping. Eventually Timperley broke the deadlock and then scored a second in the dying seconds of the game. Morecambe keeper, Tom Ridley was nominated man-of-the-match by the umpires.
Despite this result, Morecambe knew they had every chance to qualify for the semis provided they kept their heads. They destroyed the remaining teams in the group, with further goals from all the above players and with Rob Jones getting his fair share too.
The semi-final saw Morecambe against the winners of the other pool: Preston. Morecambe played sublime hockey, thumping their local rivals 3-0 and once again showing the rest of Lancashire which club rules the red-rose county. Timperley won the other semi, so it was take-two between the North-West’s top clubs.
In the final Morecambe had the opening chance with Seddon’s short-corner strike demanding a fine save. Unfortunately the clearance went straight through to a Timperley forward who shot quickly to snatch the first goal. The Cheshire side got a second but Morecambe were not beaten. They fought back hard, pulled a goal back and looked like getting an equaliser. It was not to be, however. Morecambe had to take risks and leave themselves exposed at the back; Timperley got another breakaway goal and clinched the festival trophy.
There was some consolation for skipper Belshire, who was awarded the player of the tournament trophy. Everyone of the Morecambe squad played their best hockey and went home tired, disappointed, but proud to have performed so well.
Team sponsor: Clarkson-Hirst Solicitors
Squad: Alex Belshire, Matthew Seddon, Rob Jones, Hugh Rowlands, Tom Vaughan-Jones, Tom Ridley, Ben Wilson, Luke Walker, Jonathon Seddon, Kai Chahal, Jack Brooks, James Smith.
