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| Ntumba Massanka scored our last goal of the season |
I arrived at Gawthorpe expecting to see a young side, with a glimpse of things to come perhaps, with a showing of some of next seasons intake. It was a surprise to see such an old side, with most of the available 2nd year scholars in the team. It would be a final game in our colours for Callum Jakovlevs in goal and right back Charlie Holt, fresh from a loan spell at Nelson. Fellow departing scholar Lewis Nuttall was not available, being as he is currently on trial in Cyprus with Apoel Nicosia, where he scored in a Friday win. Following their offers, Callum Richardson, Alex Whitmore and Luke Daly were in the starting line-up, with a bench place for Kevin Ly.
There was also a place in the side for 3 lads who appeared to be trialists. Suggestion on the touchline was that they may be scholars from other clubs who were not being offered deals, and who would be options to be added to our development squad next year.
The wind played a major part in the whole game, gusting from left to right on the bottom pitch. We had it in our face for the first half and gained its advantage for the 2nd period. During the 1st 45 we probably had the balance of play despite the stiff wind in our face. Dale had an early chance with a free header from a corner that Jakovlevs gathered under pressure. Following that though we had the lion's share of play for around half an hour.
The best opportunities fell to the trialists, with the 10 having a shot blocked by a last ditch lunge following a neat trick from Ntumba Massanka. The number 11 then had a tap in on the line saved by the sprawling keeper after good work on the right by Holt and Brad Jackson offered him the gilt edged chance. The 10 could have had another after stealing the ball from a lax defender and hammering at the keeper when a square ball to the open Massanka would have been the better option.
As is often the case with missed chances though it came to bite us back and it was a former Cofex lad of ours that punished us. Bill Hasler-Cregg was unable to win a scholarship for this season, but in his 1st year he has done well at Rochdale and he scored 2 in 3 minutes to send us into the break trailing. The 2nd goal in particular was quality, with a clearing header from a left wing corner only reaching the edge of the box, where Hasler-Cregg was on hand to volley in past the flying Jakovlevs.
The 2nd half started with us on the front foot and you felt a goal was coming. When we did get back into it though, it was not without controversy.
Massanka took up the ball on the half way line and streaked away down the right. He cut in and advanced into the box and clipped it past the advancing keeper and towards the goal. It may have gone in before our number 10 trialist clipped it home but it was not clear. If that was the case though it did look like he must have been in an offside position, meaning the goal should have been disallowed. The goal was given mush to the chagrin of the Dale defence and they let the linesman know their feelings. The ref took a while to calm things down and even had to talk to Dale coach Ashcroft.
We were in the ascendancy and should have moved it up and levelled. But for the rest of the match we just couldn’t find the killer touch. Christina Hill, Kevin Ly and Brandon Wilson were introduced to try and open the door, but nothing was doing. Dale managed some threats of their own, but Jakovlevs wasn’t unduly troubled. In the final few minutes the number 10 nearly broke the bar with a firm, close range header, but Rochdale left Gawthorpe with the spoils.
As I’ve said above it has been a tough year, but a large number of our lads have been successful in their quest for pro deals. For these the challenges will now intensify and they must step up and show the right attitude to continue their improvement with us. For the three local lads who will be leaving us, I truly hope that you can get fixed up elsewhere and be given the opportunity to make a living in the game. A lot of lads who have left us in recent years have won deals elsewhere, be it league, non-league or even overseas.
So now we wait and see who will come in to represent us in the Youth team next season. Presumably Khius Metz and Andy Nugent will be with us, and we have seen a couple of lads play in the last few weeks. Also it is exciting to be able to hopefully watch the development of current England schoolboy keeper Connor King.
Team:- Callum Jakovlevs, Charlie Holt, Andy Nugent (Brandon Wilson), Alex Whitmore, Callum Richardson, Brad Jackson, Trialist (Kevin Ly), Luke Daly, Trialist (Christian Hill), Ntumba Massanka, Trialist.
Sub not used:- Connor King.