Temple AFC | Match Reports(2)

Temple AFC 0 vs 2 Wortley B League Cup Group B 20th April 2008

Two very well matched teams, Temple and Wortley played this much re-arranged League Cup game knowing neither could qualify for the final round of this Cup.
Wortley had the edge on possesion throughout the first half without either team seriously testing the opposition's keepers. The only goalscoring chances for both teams came from hopeful high balls. For Temple both Charlie Jenkin and Jack Cooling put good chances wide and Danny Buck's audacious attempt to lob the Wortley keeper only narrowly missed. At the back Temple keeper Nathan Simm was not called into action thanks to determined shielding from defenders Lewis Catterill, Mathew Ellis, Calum Drysdale and Marc Thewlis. Half-time 0 - 0
In the second-half Temple seemed to be gaining the upper hand with more possession which saw Tom Gordon hit the Wortley upright and excellent goalkeeping skills denying the speedy Connor Yates and Declan Isaac. Danny Buck's high attempt from near the halfway line almost beat the Wortley keeper who just managed to fumble the ball away for a corner. Finally the Temple enthusiasm was their own downfall. With too many Temple players pressing forward Wortley exploited the gaps in midfield and launched several quick counter attacks. Temple keeper Nathan Simm rescued his team several times with some fine reactions saves until five minutes before the end when a lone Wortley striker beat him with a fine effort. Almost immediately Wortley repeated the action and the same lone striker scored a second. Temple pressed hard to reverse the score, Calum Drysdale being particularly influential in the last minutes feeding several fine balls to the wingers, but time ran out with no more goalscoring chances being taken.

A good game by both teams, Wortley converting their few chances and Temple guilty of over-enthusiasm in the dying minutes.
We wish Wortley a good Summer break and look forward to meeting them again next season.

Temple Star Player; Lewis Catterill

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Temple AFC 5 vs 0 Harehills Place GJFL Div 4 19th April 2008

Temple eased to a comfortable win over Harehills Place who played only 10 men for the whole of the first half.

In the opening minutes Temple announced their intentions when Charlie Jenkin went close with a shot on goal quickly followed by Tank Wooffitt's shot scraping the outside of the far post.
On 10 minutes, following a fine through pass from Ross Marshall, Ash Walker outpaced the Harehills defence and fired beyond the keeper's reach for the 1st goal. Temple enjoyed most of the possession for this half and soon scored a 2nd. A free kick by Tom Gordon from the left touch-line was met by Ross Marshall rising unchallenged in the Harehills box to score a great headed goal. Minutes later Tank Wooffitt fired high into the Harehills net following a fine through pass from Charlie Jenkin. Half-time 3 - 0
A full strength Harehills started the second half and immediately pressured the Temple goal, keeper Nathan Simm ensuring a clean sheet with an excellent double save, blocking a good effort from the Harehills No.5 and then acrobatically recovering to block a rebound effort from the same player. At the other end Tom Gordon rattled the Harehills cross-bar from a distance. Harehills continued to push hard with their Nos 5, 9 and 17 all combining well to slice the Temple defence several times only to be let down by their poor finishing unluckily hitting the Temple cross-bar and the upright in quick succession. Temple gradually raised the tempo and a great forward pass from Tom Gordon released Ash Walker who calmly rounded the Harehills defence and keeper to tap home from a narrow angle. Soon after, good work by Jack Cooling and Lewis Catterill released Ash Walker again for him to score his third and Temple's fifth. In the final moments Harehills again hit the Temple woodwork with keeper Nathan beaten.
A good win by Temple but all credit to Harehills who refused to give up trying.

Temple goalscorers; Ash Walker (3), Ross Marshall, Tank Wooffitt.
Temple Star Player; Ash Walker.

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Temple AFC 1 vs 6 Bramley Phoenix GJFL Div 4 12th April 2008

This much re-arranged match between Temple AFC and table-topping Bramley Phoenix was finally played out on a soggy waterlogged pitch better suited to growing rice.

Experimenting with team and tactics Temple variously fielded some regular defenders in attack and midfielders in defence, changes which proved disasterous to begin with when a rampant Phoenix scored twice in the first 5 minutes. Not disheartened Temple staged a revival and were rewarded when Ash Walker got forward on a solo run and cleverly rounded the Phoenix keeper to score an excellent goal. With the ball sticking in the muddy water there was no chance for elegant play and the remainder of the match became a scrappy, splashy affair, though not without considerable effort from both teams. Phoenix scored a third immediately before half-time and three more after the break as the conditions gradually exhausted both sides. Worthy of special note, Ash though quiet for a lot of the match displayed a real cool head when rounding the Phoenix keeper, Declan did a fine job in defence though his awareness of the defensive line needs work, he went on to have a great game in midfield, Calum clearly learning when to play safe and when to turn and play out of defence, Nathan who had a shaky start but put in some brave saves in the second half, Danny with a fine try-out in the defence. Star of the Day was Matty Ellis who really stood out in defence and took control both when non-defenders were deployed and when Ryan McGregor, who had a really quiet day by his high standards, returned to defence.

A battling performance from the experimental Temple and a very decent result considering Phoenix regularly score double figures and are totally unbeaten in this Division.

This win confirms Phoenix as Division 4 Champions and Temple AFC heartily congratulate them on their achievement. Good luck in next season's Div 3.

Temple Goalscorer Ash Walker
Temple Star Player Mathew Ellis

Due to the dreadful pitch conditions and further heavy rain Sunday's U12 game against Wortley was postponed.
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Rothwell Jnr CIA 6 vs 0 Temple AFC League Cup Group B 6th April 2008

(Temporary Manager - Anna)

Again, sorry, not much detail of the game at all.

This is now the 4th time we have lost to Rothwell CIA. With several 'regulars' missing, from all areas of the squad, the remainder should be well proud of their acheivement, especailly keeping the score down to 1 goal until well into the second half, and you all should know that I am not disappointed in this performance all things considered.

The League Cup Final has passed us now even though there are still some 'consolation' games to play in that competition.

Our priority must now be to concentrate on the League and strengthening our EXCELLENT 4th POSITION by winning at least 2 of our three remaining League games to seal a very good 1st season.

Keep your heads up, well done lads! (Phil)

Temple Star Player; Danny Buck - well done Danny.

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Woodkirk Valley Warriors 5 vs 2 Temple AFC GJFL Div 4 24th February 2008

(Temporary Manager - Anna)

Again, sorry, these 'match reports' are pretty weak when I have not been able to attend and I have no detail of the game.

Anna reports that this was a match you didn't deserve to lose and I believe that. I know that you are a better team than WVW and must have been very unfortunate to lose. Maybe some of the attitude from training had an affect.

Temple AFC 0 vs 5 Rothwell Jnr CIA GJFL Div 4 17th February 2008

(Temporary Manager - Anna)

Again, sorry, no detail of the game at all.

Although this is the 3rd time we have lost to Rothwell CIA, and the second time by 5 goals to nil, I'm still not convinced that Rothwell are a better team - just bigger players. At this age group big players are not uncommon, some kids develope in 'strange' ways including growing tall quickly.

We meet Rothwell again soon in the League Cup and I don't want you to be put off by their size, being bigger does not make them better players, Ryan McGregor is proof that small can be better.

If it helps for future matches, don't think of them as big, thinks of them as 'freaks'. :) :) :)

Temple Star Player; Tom Gordon - well done Tom.

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Temple AFC 1 vs 7 Yorkshire Amatuer Colts Supplimentary Cup Round 2 10th, February, 2008

(Temporary Manager - Anna)

Haven't got much detail about this game (sorry). Yorkshire Ams clearly the better side - although apparantly not worthy of the big score - Nathan Simm in the Temple goal had a tremendous first-half with some great saves but faded in the second-half as the goal tally mounted. A consolation Temple goal was scored by Ash Walker.

Temple goalscorer; Ash Walker

Temple Star Player; Nathan Simm

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Temple AFC 2 vs 1 Glen Jnr Supplimentary Cup Round 1 3rd, February, 2008

(Temporary Manager - Anna)

I am informed it was a bit scrappy with both teams being fairly equal and both using long ball tactics. Ash Walker opened the scoring for Temple with a fine effort on 10 minutes from a Ross Marshall set-up. Glen pulled level after the break but Temple's persistance paid off when Matty Hayward's effort trickled in with Ash avoiding an off-side decision by resisting touching the ball en-route. Danny Buck made an impressive first appearance for Temple, linking well with Ash and Ross in some good moves.

A decent effort Guys and through to the next round of this much rescheduled Supplimenary Cup.

Temple goalscorers; Ash Walker, Matty Hayward

Temple Star Player; Ash Walker.

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Leeds City B 2 vs 3 Temple AFC GJFL Div 4 27th January 2008

It had been 2 months since the last match (thanks to poor pitch conditions) but if you thought Temple might be a bit rusty or lack-lustre you would be very wrong.

Sticking with our new 3-5-2 formation the emphasis was on midfielders to control the play and the three defenders to keep out their strikers and this in the first-half they all did, admirably.

Both teams started strongly and the Leeds City number 9 was looking particularly dangerous along their left side but, pre-warned of his ability, Alex Lambourne and Ryan McGregor paid him sufficient attention to ensure none of his efforts were successful. In midfield Tom Gordon and Mat Ellis controlled everything that came their way, providing good assistance to the defence whilst also pushing forwards in attack building. Up front, Ross Marshall was very effective with some finely placed passes, and Tank Wooffitt and Declan Isaac pressurized a struggling Leeds City defence. It was Declan who opened the scoring on 7 minutes with a fine solo effort from the left wing, into the edge of the box, and a superb effort from a tight angle being totally mis-judged by the Leeds City keeper. (1 - 0) On 20 minutes, following a poorly defended Temple corner and a failure by Leeds City to clear their area Declan was there again to double his tally and double the Temple lead. (2 - 0) Several more Temple goal-scoring chances were missed but Temple weren't having it all their own way. Leeds City were fighting hard and came close on several occasions before half-time.

Soon after the break Leeds City earned a goal after fine work by their No. 9 who had swapped to the right-hand side.(2-1) Substitute Connor Yates chased every opportunity and was finally rewarded with a good goal to restore Temple's 2 goal lead. (3 - 1) The game was now a hard battle and gradually the midfield duo. Mat Ellis and Tom Gordon, showed signs of fatigue and were substituted for a well-earned rest. Leeds City increased the pressure and pulled back another goal after the tired Temple defence got into a tangle. (3 - 2) The score stayed that way until the final whistle with Temple shutting down the game in their own half and Leeds City unable to make that final break-through.

It wasn't a pretty match. Just a hard, energy sapping slog by both teams. On balance Temple deserved the win. Leeds City deserve credit for their hard working attitude.

Temple goalscorers; Declan Isaac (2)

Connor Yates

Temple Star Player Mathew Ellis

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Wortley B 0 vs 1 Temple AFC GJFL Div 4 25th November 2007

A new 3-5-2 formation and key defender missing meant that the three chosen defenders had to perform to the best of their ability, and to their credit all three of them did, restricting Wortley's efforts to virtually nil, and together with Nathan in goal, contributing greatly to Temple's first 'clean-sheet'.

The idea of packing the midfield was that we might control the game completely, prevent any Wortley build-up, fill the usual midfield gaps, and, using our training of passing from squares, slice through their defence for multiple efforts on goal. Sadly, the training seemed to be forgotten as many tried to solo dribble their way through, repeatedly losing possession and allowing Wortley chances they should never have had.

That said, there was lots of effort out there today and Wortley did play better than they had last time. By half-time Temple's shots on target equalled nil though Tom and Matty H had made long range, off-target, efforts.

After half-time Wortley got back into the game more threatening to take control and it took a special effort from defenders to contain their attacks. The only real scare came from Alex sticking his hands up at a Wortley effort which resulted in a direct free-kick inches outside the Temple box. Fortunately their kicker skied his attempt and the danger was gone. Don't worry Alex, it's a natural reaction to stick your hands up, and anyway, we have ways of curing it..............we make you wear your shirt over your arms and tie your sleeves together :) :) :)

Late on Matty H forced a good save from the Wortley keeper.

Just as the game appeared to be running out as a goal-less draw, Declan Isaac volleyed a 'cracker' from 25 yards. Only then did the game liven-up and both teams began to display real football as Wortley frantically attacked for an equaliser and Temple hung on well to keep them out. Final score 0 - 1

We've had far better performances and failed to win in the past but we must perform better in the next games. Still, well done all, that's 9 points from a possible 9 leaving us well placed in the Table and well clear of the bottom positions.

Temple goalscorer; Declan Isaac

Temple (joint) Star Players Lewis Caterill (for a star defensive performance)

and Declan Isaac (for THAT goal)

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(go to previous reports)