Coppull United where on the road again this week to one of their local rivals Tempest United who are a superbly well run club from top to bottom! On the back of last week’s victory against Southport Hesketh, Coppull were looking to build on their first win of the season and maintain their unbeaten start.
Coppull started the game with Liam Higginbotham in net, a back four of Conor Whitaker, Jonny Hawman with returning skipper Dave Parker joining Jonny at centre half and Ben Morris moving across to his more accustomed left back position. In front of that Aaron Evans and Scott Hamill where in the midfield engine room alongside Mikey Hindle with Danny Marland and Martin Kershaw out wide supporting Jordan Wilson up front. A very strong looking bench consisted of Jonty Mattock, Jack Ramshaw, Nathan Bibby and Jimmy McIver.
As the game got underway (credit again to the Tempest management for getting the game on) both teams tried to impose themselves on the game. Coppull started well and in particular, Marland down the right and Scott Hamill centrally were looking a real threat. The first chance of the game come from a through ball from Scott Hamill who released Jordan Wilson who showed great strength to hold off his marker however his low shot was well saved by the Tempest number 1. Coppull were not to be denied however, and it would be the same two players who would be involved in the opening goal of the game. Scott Hamill who started the game on fire picked up a loose ball and drove into a wide right position before finding a pin point cross which was met with a low looping header from Wilson who finished expertly to make it 1 nil Coppull.
The goal seemed to wake Tempest up a bit and they had a sustained period of pressure that resulted in their right-winger seeing a lot of the ball and causing the away team a number of issues. Tempest seemed to overload in numbers repeatedly down the Coppull left hand side and this constant pressure resulted in them getting a number of corners, two of which resulted in headers being hit against the woodwork. With Coppull at sixes and sevens defending set pieces, a quick counter attack saw some great build up play between Evans and Hamill who once again found the slide pass freeing Wilson who just beat the Tempest keeper to the ball before being impeded and consequently the referee awarded a penalty. Up stepped Scott Hamill to convert and make it two nil Coppull. Shortly after this it could have been three nil with more great link up play between Marland, Hindle and Wilson who found Hamill who hit a great bending effort from 25 yards which struck the keepers post. Coppull were not to be denied and it was three nil minutes later. McIver (who had replaced the injured Kershaw) linked up well with Ben Morris down the left hand side and his cross was half cleared to the edge of the area before Hamill collected the ball took one touch out of his feet and hit a rocket into the top corner of the Tempest net!
Two minutes before the half time whistle Tempest pulled a goal back. More good play down the right hand side resulted in the ball being pulled back to the edge of the area and the forward hit a low drive into the bottom left hand corner leaving Higginbotham no chance in the net. Half time and Coppull had been more ruthless in taking their chances in comparison to Tempest, and led 3-1.
The second half began with the Coppull players having been reminded of being in leading position against Thornton, Lytham and Fulwood only to throw these winning positions away. To be fair the Coppull side played the second half expertly with a view to being hard to break down, frustrating their opponents before hitting them on the counter with the pace of McIver, Marland and Wilson up front. The only downside was that they couldn’t add to their goal tally! Mciver in particular had a couple of efforts that drew great saves from the Tempest keeper. Aaron Evans tried an audacious lob from 45 yards, which had the keeper in trouble only to land just over the bar. Tempest probed the Coppull defence and will be disappointed not to have had more efforts on goal. One moment of panic came when Parker miscued a long ball at the back allowing the centre forward a clean run though on goal only to be denied by the outstretched foot of Higginbotham in the goal!
Coppull looked to add fresh impetus into the game and brought on Mattock for Hindle, Bibby for Marland with McIver moving over to the right and Ramshaw for Whitaker (who had suffered a knock to his knee) with Hamill moving to right back. The youngsters all did themselves proud as they slotted into position and applied themselves perfectly to the game plan. The game ended with no further goals and Coppull came away with another 3 points and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
It would be wrong to take anything away from a great team effort with everyone in blue and white playing their part in far from ideal playing conditions and everyone worked tremendously hard in order to get the away win. Jordan Wilson continues to grow in stature every ninety minutes he gets under his belt and leads the line superbly! Marland, Evans, McIver and Hindle put in an unbelievable shift to support him in the forward areas. Martin Kershaw’s game was brought to an abrupt end due to an injury but he looks fitter than ever and displays everything it means to be a Coppull United player. Scott Hamill continued his great goal scoring start to the season and for the first part of the game was unplayable. The back four was relatively solid especially in the second half. Full backs Whitaker and Morris in particular didn’t put a single foot wrong. Parker and Hawman headed everything that came their way, putting their bodies on the line with blocks throughout the game. Liam Higginbotham in net provides great confidence to the back four and has a real commanding presence whilst being one of the best shot stoppers that has ever been at the club! (has he told you he has played at Wembley before J)! Coppull academy graduates Nathan Bibby and Jonty Mattock will both be unbelievable players the more experience they get playing at this level and summer signing Jack Ramshaw is already showing signs of real leadership and authority for one so young!
Special mention must go to left back Ben Morris who had an exceptional game from start to finish and didn’t put a foot wrong and was awarded the man of the match for his efforts! Next up is a local derby against Euxton Villa who are always tough opposition!
Man of the match: Ben Morris
Goal scorers: Jordan Wilson and Scott Hamill x2