Gornal Athletic Youth vs Quorn Youth
Wednesday 18th August - Midland Floodlit Youth League, Premier Division
Our first game in the top echelon of the Midland Floodlit Youth League was against Leicestershire side Quorn who had finished just above bottom place last season. There was, however, no doubt that Quorn are looking to improve heir position this campaign and from the outset they were clearly determined to dominate our largely new side. Indeed, after just nine minutes a Quorn setpiece gave them the opening goal of the match and season. There followed 20 minutes of extremely scrappy play that ebbed and flowed from one end of the pitch to the other with neither side dominating. On 32 minutes we had a series of corners and it was only desperate defensive measures (including a header off the line) that saw our visitors maintain their clean sheet. Indeed, their luck continued as neither the referee nor his assistant noticed the Quorn keeper handling the ball outside his area - a transgression which (if punished) could have made a significant difference. On 51 minutes a silly tackle on the edge of our box gave Quorn the opportunity to try out their dead-ball setpieces again with exactly the same result. Yet, despite falling two goals behind, we never gave up and just six minutes later we pulled one back with a great goal from Matt Eardley who ghosted in at the back post to halve the deficit. The rest of the game saw both sides creating and then squandering chances and, in the final analysis, we had more than enough opportunities not only to level the scores but also to take all three points.
Result: 1-2

Gornal Athletic Youth vs Moor Green Youth
Wednesday 25th August - Midland Floodlit Youth League, Premier Division
This game was slow to gain momentum - but when it did we proved much the better side. The first 25 minutes or so were typical of early season matches with neither side really sustaining any cohesive play. As a consequence the majority of play was in mid-field with possession being relinquished by first one side then the other. On 28 minutes Moor Green had their first shot on our goal - a speculative effort that seemed to catch David Clee unawares and his first real touch of the game was to pick the ball out of the back of his net. Within two minutes, however, we were back on level terms when Richard Esp was scythed down and Dave Cartwright slotted home the penalty. Ten minutes later Cartwright stepped up for his second penalty shot of the game after the Moor Green defence again paniced and gave away a spot kick. Again Cartwright made no mistake. Three minutes later we had doubled our lead when Matt Sennett slotted in number three. Moor Green, however, were not to be denied and within a minute they had reduced the deficit to one through a shot that was cruelly deflected out of Clee’s reach. The second half saw us continue to push forward - Cartwright had an early chance to complete his hat-trick but it was left to Ryan Edmunds to head over the keeper to make it number four. This was quickly followed by a superb effort by Ryan Nash who added the fifth. Despite this substantial lead we continued to press forward as Moor Green packed their defence in the hope of limiting our goal scoring spree. Both Sennett and Cartwright went close and on 88 minutes we hit the bar before the referee finally blew for time. An excellent result.
Result: 5-2

Sutton Coldfield Town Youth vs Gornal Athletic Youth
Tuesday 31st August - Midland Floodlit Youth League, Premier Division
Sutton had made a storming start to the season and we knew that we would be hard pressed to take away even a point from Central Park. For over an hour, we more than matched them and were unlucky not to take the lead on at least two occasions. Then, as Sutton’s superior fitness began to tell, our defence was unable to cope with the continued pressure and two quick goals put the result beyond doubt. A further two goals conceded made the result somewhat flattering to the home side, however. Looking on the positive side, though, at least this match gave us a yardstick with which we can measure future performances. If we are to prosper in this league we need to aspire at least to the standards of teams like Sutton.
Result: 4-0 

 Leamington Youth vs Gornal Athletic Youth
Wednesday 8 September - Midland Floodlit Youth League, Premier Division
This game, coming so shortly after the disappointing 0-4 defeat by Sutton Coldfield, was always going to be of major significance to us. Would our young and still inexperienced side be able to bounce back? We need not have worried. Within minutes of kick off it became clear that the team had every intention of putting last week’s defeat behind them and capture all three points. Throughout th first 45 minutes we attacked the home side’s goal, launching wave upon wave of assaults on the home side’s goal. Time and time again we threatened to take the lead, only for the final pass to go astray or a last ditch defensive action denied us. Yes, there were one or two times when Leamington threatened our goal against the run of play but the home side was clearly thankful to go in all square at half time.The second half started well for Leamington. After 5 minutes Jamie Wood was called upon to make an excellent save but then, on 55 minutes he fumbled a cross in a very congested box only to see one of the marauding ’Young Blades’ to toe poke it in. Yet, despite this set-back, our heads did not drop for a moment and we were rewarded just two minutes later when the very lively Matt Sennett scored the equaliser at the end of a superb free-flowing move involving no less than five of our side. Just minutes later Sennett added a second as he pounced on a long through ball and fired comfortably past the stranded Leamington keeper. Indeed, during this period we could easily have added at least two more as Ryan Nash and Dave Cartwright both went close. In fact it was not just the Gornal front-runners who were running rings around Leamington’s defence—a young hare suddenly burst onto the pitch, did two quick circuits and then disappeared into a nearby hedge, much to the amusement (and bemusement) of players, officials and spectators alike. As the game wore on, however, the home side threw caution to the wind and mounted a series of all-out attacks that more than once proved extremely threatening to our narrow lead. Three good saves from the athletic Wood—including a particularly vital one three minutes into injury time—more than repaid his earlier mishap. The final whistle was certainly greeted by sighs of grateful relief from the Gornal contingent. Finally, it is worth noting that Leamington proved to be one of the friendliest clubs we have visited in recent years—we look forward to repaying that hospitality in December when we are due to meet again.
Result: 1-2

Gornal Athletic Youth vs Nuneaton Borough Youth
Wednesday 15th September - Midland Floodlit Youth League, Premier Division

Last year, during a period of re-building, Nuneaton finished bottom of the league and only avoided relegation because of resignations by other teams. On this showing they are unlikely to struggle in such a way this time around. The first quarter of the game was played in the middle of the park with neither keeper even having a sniff of the ball. Then, on one of their infrequent forays upfield, Nuneaton forced Jamie Wood into a sharp save at point blank range. That as the cue for us to step up a gear and on the half hour our pressure finally told when Matt Sennett—who had constantly caused problems to the visitors’ defence—had the simplest of tap-ins as a defender and the keeper allowed the ball to bobble past them. With added confidence from this lead we spent the rest of the first half in clear control. The second half started well for us—Dave Cartwright almost doubled our advantage and  then a freekick on the very edge of the box whistled past the post. Then either side of the hour we failed to keep to basics and suffered a double blow. Three times we failed to clear our lines and failed miserably. The result was inevitably the equaliser. Just four minutes later we found ourselves behind after the referee missed a clear handball, and subsequent foul on Wood, thus allowing the visitors virtually a free goal. We were, however, far from finished and six minutes later it looked as if we had equalised as the ball bounced off the crossbar and the follow-up  shot riccocheted off a defender standing on the line. Right the way up to the final whistle we continued to push forward (albeit to no avail) and shots from Cartwright and Ryan Edmunds went close. Given luck and a decent referee (both of which were missing) we could—and should—have had at least a point from this game. Unfortunately all we had to show for our endeavours were regrets.
Result: 1-2

Kidderminster Harriers Youth vs Gornal Athletic Youth
Monday 20th September  - Midland Floodlit Youth League, Premier Division

This was a game where our inexperience showed up—and as a result we lost a match in circumstances where we really should have gained at least a point. For the first 30 minutes we were clearly overwhelmed by the surroundings and the fact that we were playing on a football league ground. During this period Kidderminster looked far more dangerous than us and when we did—on rare occasions— look to mount an attack we invariably fell foul of the home side’s off -side trap, with Matt Sennett regularly getting caught by the home team’s defence moving out. It surprised no-one when on 23 minutes Kidderminster took the lead. A well struck corner was effectively and efficiently despatched into the back of our net off the head of a Kidderminster forward. Having taken the lead, the home side continued to push forward and just three minutes later they rattled the bar with Jamie Wood well beaten.Then, on 31 minutes we had our first real chance of the game. Sennett beat the off-side trap and it needed an excellent save from the Kidderminster keeper to deprive us of the equaliser. We continued to push hard, however, and just before half time we reaped the rewards. A corner was only half cleared and as the ball popped up in the air Michael Perks was on hand to head it home.Just one minute into the second half, though, it changed again when Kidderminster converted a centre from the left into a goal via the head of one of their marauding attackers. Although we had a couple of half chances later in the match (including hitting the crossbar) it is true that most of the action was in our goalmouth. The usually reliable Wood nearly conceded the goal of the season when he completely missed the ball in attempting to kick a back pass but then went on to redeem himself with two superb saves. We were far from outplayed and—with a little bit of luck—could easily have returned with a point to add to our tally. Although manager Tony Bate felt that we had not performed as well as we could, he is happy that with a little more experience we will become a side to be reckoned with.
Result: 2-1  

Gornal Athletic Youth vs Hucknall Town Youth
Wednesday 29th September - FA Youth Cup, First Qualifying Round

What an absolutely cracking cup tie this proved to be. The game started well for us with our forwards putting pressure on the visitors right from the first whistle. Twice we went close before, on 23 minutes, Richard Esp latched on to a through ball and finished cleanly to put us one up. This seemed to spur on Hucknall whose work rate immediately increased as they started to penetrate our defence with worrying regularity. Indeed when the equaliser came on 34 minutes there was an air of inevitability about it. Between then and the end of the first half we were really put under the cosh and at times our defenders were hardpushed to cope with the visitors’ attacks.Somehow, however, we managed to survive and go into the break all square. The second half saw this pressure continue, although our back four began to get the measure of their opponents and we looked more comfortable at the back. Then - out of the blue - we conceded a second goal (a lob that gave Jamie Wood no chance) and we were staring elimination from the competition in the face. Despite taking the game to Hucknall our lluck seemed to have deserted us - especially when the ball was somehow cleared off the visitors’ line with just ten minutes left of the clock. Then, with just six minutes to go, Andy Parsons rose majestically to meet a corner with his head and the ball thundered into the net, making extra time necessary. Three minutes into the first period of extra time we took the lead when substitute Ryan Nash burst through the defence and slotted home. Indeed, twice more in this period we could have added to our score including one amazing miss from just two yards. But then in the second half of extra time we looked to have got it all sewn up when Matt Sennett added number 4. And then it all started to go wrong. A silly penalty and then well worked individual goal for Hucknall brought the scores back to 4-4 and the dreaded penalty shoot out. Bearing in mind the Club’s awful track record in penalty taking (we went out of no less than five cup competitions on penalties last year!) there was more than a little concern on the faces of die-hard Peacocks supporters. In the end, however, the fears proved unfounded as we crashed home five extremely well taken spot kicks. Hucknall missed their first by hitting the bar, giving us victory and a second qualifying round tie against Belper.
Result: 4-4 aet (5-3 on penalties)      

Bedworth Town Youth vs Gornal Athletic Youth
Wednesday 10th November - Midland Floodlit Youth League, Premier Division

On paper this looked like one of our easier games. Bedworth were bottom of the league and had been struggling to score. In the end, though, this game proved to be less than straightforward - and although we brought back all three points to the Black Country there were more than a few moments when the result was in the balance. We started off brightly enough and for the first quarter of an hour we mounted wave upon wave of attack which eventually resulted in Richard Esp latching on to a loose ball and squeezing it home. The next 15 minutes saw Bedworth come more into the game but for all their excellent close control they were unable to penetrate our defence. The result was that the home team became increasingly frustrated - frustration that was doubled when on 33 minutes Dave Cartwright met a corner perfectly witrh his head and rocketed the ball into the net. Seven minutes later, though Bedworth were back in the match having clawed a goal back when - for once - our defenders failed to clear the ball. For the last five minutes of the first half and the first 15 of the second Bedworth tried very hard to get back onto equal terms. Their hopes were dashed, however, when a superb long range effort from the very lively Matt Sennett gave us a two goal cushion. A quick free kick some five minutes later gave the home side some hope but we successfully closed out the game for the last quarter to record a valuable win. On this showing, however, Bedworth certainly do not belong at the foot of the table - and we will have to be on top form when they visit us at Garden Walk.
Result: 2-3

Hednesford Town Youth vs Gornal Athletic Youth
Monday 15th November - Birmingham Floodlit Youth Cup

 Keys Park on a crisp November evening saw the latest instalment in the Hednesford vs Gornal saga. Last year Hednesford won a few battles (beating us once in the league and on penalties in an epic cup tie) but we undoubtedly won the war by winning promotion at their expense. This latest episode saw us pitted against an imposing team that had no less than two England trialists and seven county trialists in their ranks. For the first half hour it was all one way traffic as Hednesford continually tested our defence. Despite this pressure, however, our back four stood firm and Jamie Wood in goal was rarely called into action. It took 35 minutes for us to have our first shot on target - and what a shot it was; a real screamer from Matt Sennett that was well saved by Hednesford’s keeper Gary Goodwin. From the resulting corner we hit the crossbar but were unable to scramble it in. Three minutes later Dave Cartwright really should have done better with a weak header after some excellent work down the left flank by Ryan Nash and Sennett. After going in to the break all square, the second half started disappointingly for us - on 50 minutes a lapse in concentration saw Hednesford’s No 9 - Ross Dyer - make the most of a half chance to slot the ball home. We continued to push forward and the Pitmen’s stopper was called into action on several occasions in the next few minutes. However, neither Nash nor Sennett seemed their usual sharp selves and as time went on Hednesford increasingly looked the more dangerous and they were duly rewarded when we failed to close down Dyer again who made no mistake. Yes it was a disappointing result - but perhaps we will get our revenge in the League Cup?
Result: 2-0