A neatly taken goal within minutes of the restart gave the black n white stripes the spoils in a good spirited friendly. Following visits to Holyhead Hotspur, Sunderland RCA, Llay Welfare, Glantraeth, Whitley Bay, Eccleshall, Carlisle City, Conwy Borough and Pontefract the much loved Jolly Boys outing had reached double figures. NCEL Premier Division outfit Hemworth Miners Welfare were our hosts for this auspicious occasion. They ply their trade in the town of Fitzwilliam birthplace of England & Yorkshire cricketing swashbuckler Geoffrey Boycott and Spurs & England fullback Cyril (Nice one Cyril, nice one son) Knowles.
Michael Clegg’s side started off proceedings on the front foot and never really relinquished control of possession. Trialist ‘T’ hit the post from close range and Tom Bentham scuffed a shot wide following enthusiastic overlapping play by Niall Battersby. The hosts who finished in 4th in last season’s competitive NECFL top flight were certainly no mugs and Chris Cheetham was forced into action when he parried a from distance daisy cutter to safety at his near post. Colls took the lead on 34 minutes. A raking Kieran Nolan ball was subtly back heeled by Ben Conway into the path of Bentham who finished clinically. Hemsworth responded excellently forcing four consecutive corners, although they came to nothing an equalising goal was soon taken. The lively no 11 Sidney Santos was played in and he shot unerringly into the far corner of the net.
A large percentage of the crowd were still in the new clubhouse when Colls hit the front for a second time. Oli Roberts threaded through to T who jinxed past the oncoming custodian before caressing home. Almost immediately the keeper was forced into a full stretch save to divert a T effort out for a corner and then the same player should surely have been awarded a penalty when he was man handled just inside the box. The cheer of the game occurred in the 65 minute when the ever popular Jake Kenny entered the fray after 15 months out following his anterior cruciate liagment injury at Ossett Town.
Hemsworth were almost gifted an equaliser from a loose goal kick but fortunately the piledriver narrowly cleared Cheetham’s crossbar. T should wrapped things up but he miscued a free header from a corner.
A solid Colls performance by Colls at Jolly Boys X followed up by some initiation singing at The Catchpenny in Fitzwilliam.
Next up is the mouth watering and mind blowing friendly with Al-Ittihad FC on Wednesday 24th July, 7pm ko.
Report: Colls 1-2 Bacup
December 6, 2023
A delightful Dylan Moonan goal ultimately proved to be in vain as Atherton Collieries were beaten 2-1 by Bacup Borough in the Lancashire FA Trophy.
