After just missing out on promotion, AFC Fylde can look back with pride on a very successful season. Victory in the LFA Trophy final at the Reebok Stadium was the undoubted highlight, and only defeat at Chorley in the play-off final cost Kelham O'Hanlon's men a perfect season.
As part of my work with the club, I created this review of the season for the End of Season Awards Dinner:
Wednesday 18 May 2011
Batting woes continue for 2nd XI
Mick Gray takes six wickets but yet another batting collapse hands Olicanians victory
Otley arrived at Cross Green in a confident mood, despite a crushing victory at the hands of North Leeds in the previous round of fixtures.
Mark Wilkinson won the toss and chose to field first on a wicket which had remained dry despite constant rain on the previous day.
Ricky Halloran and Liam Mulligan took the new ball but struggled to stem the flow of runs despite Mulligan picking up the wicket of Matt Worrall with a good yorker.
Mick Gray was rushed into the attack at the end of the first ten overs, and after an economical start, he got rid of opener Walker as he looked to accelerate after reaching his half-century.
Paul Wilkinson was introduced from the clubhouse end, and he was quickly amongst the wickets as he picked up his best haul of the season thus far with three wickets, whilst Gray continued to add to his ever growing tally for the season.
Halloran replaced Wilkinson so as to try and run through the lower order of the visitors, but instead Giles Phillips rode his luck and played some good shots to make 31.
Gray, however, wasn't to be denied as he finished with 6 wickets, whilst Tom Maston finished with three stumpings as the team from Ilkley were bowled out for 172.
Wilkinson's side were confident of chasing down the under-par total, and started well as Lewis Bolton raced to 20 from only five overs.
However, in the sixth, he was caught at square leg as he looked to continue the fast scoring rate.
Charlie Davy quickly followed him back to the pavilion, whilst Paul Wilkinson and Halloran were very harshly adjudged LBW as the home side began to crumble.
Captain Wilkinson and Graeme Wolfenden began re-buliding and looked like they could form a large partnership when the skipper was caught at point.
This proved the trigger for a lower order collapse as Wolfenden, Keith Pullan, Declan Adams and Mulligan all lost their wickets.
Final pair Maston and Gray battled for six overs before the latter was bowled by Ben Rhodes to leave the home side all out for 116, with more than 12 overs of their reply remaining.
The defeat leaves the side in the relegation places after five matches and victory over fellow strugglers Beckwithshaw on Saturday is a must. The Birtwhistle Cup also begins at the weekend, with a tie at league-leaders Guiseley awaiting Wilkinson's charges
Olicanians 2nd XI 172 (M.Gray 6-37, P.Wilkinson 3-27)
Otley 2nd XI 116 (G. Wolfenden 36)
Mark Wilkinson won the toss and chose to field first on a wicket which had remained dry despite constant rain on the previous day.
Ricky Halloran and Liam Mulligan took the new ball but struggled to stem the flow of runs despite Mulligan picking up the wicket of Matt Worrall with a good yorker.
Mick Gray was rushed into the attack at the end of the first ten overs, and after an economical start, he got rid of opener Walker as he looked to accelerate after reaching his half-century.
Paul Wilkinson was introduced from the clubhouse end, and he was quickly amongst the wickets as he picked up his best haul of the season thus far with three wickets, whilst Gray continued to add to his ever growing tally for the season.
Halloran replaced Wilkinson so as to try and run through the lower order of the visitors, but instead Giles Phillips rode his luck and played some good shots to make 31.
Gray, however, wasn't to be denied as he finished with 6 wickets, whilst Tom Maston finished with three stumpings as the team from Ilkley were bowled out for 172.
Wilkinson's side were confident of chasing down the under-par total, and started well as Lewis Bolton raced to 20 from only five overs.
However, in the sixth, he was caught at square leg as he looked to continue the fast scoring rate.
Charlie Davy quickly followed him back to the pavilion, whilst Paul Wilkinson and Halloran were very harshly adjudged LBW as the home side began to crumble.
Captain Wilkinson and Graeme Wolfenden began re-buliding and looked like they could form a large partnership when the skipper was caught at point.
This proved the trigger for a lower order collapse as Wolfenden, Keith Pullan, Declan Adams and Mulligan all lost their wickets.
Final pair Maston and Gray battled for six overs before the latter was bowled by Ben Rhodes to leave the home side all out for 116, with more than 12 overs of their reply remaining.
The defeat leaves the side in the relegation places after five matches and victory over fellow strugglers Beckwithshaw on Saturday is a must. The Birtwhistle Cup also begins at the weekend, with a tie at league-leaders Guiseley awaiting Wilkinson's charges
Olicanians 2nd XI 172 (M.Gray 6-37, P.Wilkinson 3-27)
Otley 2nd XI 116 (G. Wolfenden 36)
The full scorecard can be found here.
Wednesday 4 May 2011
Swinging Balls- April Edition
The articles that I have written this month consist of the second entry of my 'Diary of a Club Cricketer', a look at modern-day cricket commentary and a review of whether the IPL is a good thing for world cricket or not.
Please take a look
Adams and Maston hang on for a point
Otley 2nd XI hold on for a losing draw after a middle-order collapse sees Steeton take five points away from Cross Green.
The visitor's skipper won the toss, and despite the early loss of Mick Wilson to Liam Mulligan, they made a good start.
Declan Adams struggled to control the new ball, and was replaced by Lewis Bolton. The ex-Pool man struck almost instantly as he had Tennant caught behind.
Mick Gray was then introduced into the attack and got rid of the dangerous Robinson, whilst Paul Wilkinson bowled Adam Hardwick with a turning delivery.
Gray picked up a further two wickets to leave last year's champions on 130-6 and in danger of being bowled out for a well under-par score.
A 59-run partnership between Julian Higginson and James Emmott brought the visitors back into the match, and despite Wilkinson and Mulligan both picking up further wickets, Steeton posted a decent score of 235-8
In reply, Bolton and Wolfenden started well as the three seamers were hit to all areas of the ground.
However, after reaching his half-century, Bolton got bogged down against the spin of Zach Pearson and Hardwick and was caught on the leg side.
Neil Mullins and Wolfenden soon followed him back to the pavilion as Paul and Mark Wilkinson began re-building the innings.
The visitor's skipper won the toss, and despite the early loss of Mick Wilson to Liam Mulligan, they made a good start.
Declan Adams struggled to control the new ball, and was replaced by Lewis Bolton. The ex-Pool man struck almost instantly as he had Tennant caught behind.
Mick Gray was then introduced into the attack and got rid of the dangerous Robinson, whilst Paul Wilkinson bowled Adam Hardwick with a turning delivery.
Gray picked up a further two wickets to leave last year's champions on 130-6 and in danger of being bowled out for a well under-par score.
A 59-run partnership between Julian Higginson and James Emmott brought the visitors back into the match, and despite Wilkinson and Mulligan both picking up further wickets, Steeton posted a decent score of 235-8
In reply, Bolton and Wolfenden started well as the three seamers were hit to all areas of the ground.
However, after reaching his half-century, Bolton got bogged down against the spin of Zach Pearson and Hardwick and was caught on the leg side.
Neil Mullins and Wolfenden soon followed him back to the pavilion as Paul and Mark Wilkinson began re-building the innings.
At 130-3 the match looked evenly poised, but the wicket of the skipper changed all this, as his side lost a flurry of wickets to leave the score at 140-8 with ten overs remaining.
This brought Adams and Tom Maston together, and they saw out the final overs to seal a point.
Steeton 2nd XI 235-8 (M.Gray 3-35)
Otley 2nd XI 169-8 (L.Bolton 53, G.Wolfenden 34)
Otley 2nd XI 169-8 (L.Bolton 53, G.Wolfenden 34)
The full scorecard can be found here
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