Year 7 boys are a class above the rest

Year 7 boys were in exceptional form as they stormed to their first ever cup win in the prestigious knowsley indoor 5 a-side tournament. They were a joy to watch. It was a team performance from start to finish with everyone playing a vital role which was underpinned by determination, discipline and responsibility. We travelled to Kirkby Sports College with one thing on our mind: to win and to win in the right way. Players included; goalkeeper Luke Duffy, Captain Ryan Corrigan, Defender Lewis Cassidy, Left wing backs Luke foye and Anthony Webster, Midfield Dynamo Lewis Nelson, skillful winger Callum Sheppard, and super striker John 'swifty' Swift. This made up a strong and versatile team. Our football tactics were simple but effective, to work hard and when in possession of the ball play fast flowing football. If it is good enough for Barcelona, then it's good enough for the mighty All Saints.

We stormed to two early wins but our most important game was against Halewood. Going into the Halewood game we knew that this was going to be our hardest test; to us it was the most important game of the competition.  Like us, Halewood were unbeaten and looked very dangerous going forward scoring lots of goals. We had an inspirational team talk before the game, and I could tell that all the players were up for it; they were like race horse ready and primed for an important race. We started fast, and john swift, hungry as ever popped up with a great strikers goal. Less than a minute later, john swift won the ball on the half way line and hit it like a rocket into the top corner. What a goal, easily goal of the tournament. It was sensational stuff, but, if that wasn't enough john swift a moment later won a penalty and unselfishly handed the responsibility over to Ryan Corrigan who converted it with aplomb.

 It was a great tournament and all the players involved were a credit to the school, their families and themselves. They deserved the accolade of the best team in the competition, and the record doesn't lie; we won every game and unbelievably only conceded one goal...what an achievement.

We now progress into the Merseyside stage of the competition on the 1st of February.

Year 7 Indoor 5 A-side Champions

Baines a Belter As Blues Beat Baggies

Action match report by Thomas Preston Year 9

Former All Saint pupil Leighton Baines bags a brace to sink Baggies

A very low key start as both sides sized each other up, The crowd are quiet here, seemingly waiting for the players to entertain. Everton win the first corner of the match. Great cross from Mirallas causes panic. A claim for handball, but it is cleared. Anichebe holds the ball up and tries to pass but its miscued. Everton back on possession here and Fellaini strikes from 25 yards and the crowd gasps, but it is blocked by Olsson, good defending.  Dorrans strikes from the edge of the box for West Brom, but fine block from Distin. First danger for Everton’s defense here today, there’s a counter attack on here and Mirallas shoots from 20 yards which rolls wide after clipping the feet of Anichebe. A poor kick out from Ben Foster almost causes West Brom problems, but the midfield does well to close down Osman.  Anichebe almost scores! The attacker turns his man but overruns the ball. Sliding in, Anichebe’s block loops over Foster and just over the bar. Mirallas gets in down the left side, but his pull back is poor. Everton do get a corner out of it though. Fellaini hits the post! A long ball is played up to Distin who knocks it down for the Belgian the shot clips the angle of post and bar. Jagielka is playing at right back tonight, and is enjoying the opportunity to venture forward. Goodison is more upbeat now the fans are really getting behind their teams. Mirallas has switched to the right, with Pienaar coming to the left, leaving Anichebe up front alone but with Fellaini now being able to assist,

GOAL’ BAINES GREAT STRIKE!! 1-0 (It's a great strike from Baines, huge power, but for me Ben Foster is at fault there. He gets a touch and it goes through him, another goal for the left back. The game needed a goal, but Everton really deserved that). How will West Brom respond to the goal?  I just think that with Foster having got a touch, he'll be disappointed with that goal. Everton have been dominant since the goal. Baines cross causes panic in the Baggies box but Olsson manages to head the ball behind the goal. The corner causes panic but hit straight back to him, but after the ball is returned into the box, Foster finally claims it and aims to release Thomas on the counter. A free kick has been awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Pienaar by Billy Jones. Leon Osman restarts play with the free kick. Lukaku flagged offside. That's the fifth of those so far against West Brom already. Foul by Jones on Pienaar, and Everton have a set piece out wide, but it is wasted. The running and hassling by Anichebe. Not for the first time forces a West Brom defender into a hurried clearance, and Everton are back In possession. The link-up between Baines and Pienaar down the left is giving Everton so much joy since the switch of wings by Mirallas. He has barely touched the ball since he moved to the right, but Everton look dangerous every time the ball goes down the left. Thorne has an injury for West Brom, and receives treatment. Just looks like a clash of knees, Thorne does look to be in pain as he stays down. Possibly may have to be withdrawn from the match, unfortunately becomes definitely, as a stretcher is brought on. He may have twisted his knee. Yacob will replace Thorne, but thoughts with Thorne as he looks in huge pain. Goodison stands to applaud, which is nice. After that stoppage, the game has gone a touch flat as we meander to half time, Since the goal, West Brom have resorted to lumping ball forward, which isn’t helping them keep possession.

Anichebe brought down by Yacob in the penalty area. Baines is right over there positioning himself as he steps up to take the penalty. Baines scores the penalty!! 2-0 to Everton here at Goodison Park. (+ We will have three minutes of added time here in the first half).

2^nd half

As the second half gets under way Lukaku immediately has a shot on goal. It goes a good way over.  West Brom have to get players in support of Lukaku if they are to have a chance here. He is being left so isolated, even with the ball at his feet. Baines has been caught offside after more interchanges with Pienaar, trying for that hatrick.  West Brom win a corner, their first of the match on the counter attack Mirallas shoots and Foster gets down well to save and  tip wide (great goalkeeping) First booking of the game for Yacob, who barges into the back of Pienaar. (Sub: James Morrison replaced by Shane Long)

2-1!!! Shane Long scores. That's a horror show for Heitinga. Lukaku rounds Howard and shoots on goal. Heitinga is there to clear, but fails to clear and inexplicably allows Long to head home. Free kick to West Brom 25 yards out, as he take the crowd hold their breath as the shot beats the keeper but hit the bar and went over. Everton on the attack, wow that’s a huge appeal for an Everton penalty, and in fairness Anichebe was dragged to the ground by Yacob. Big call but ref says no. As Everton win back possession Leon Osman fires just over the bar, and this game now has an electric atmosphere and once again as Everton wins back possession Jagielka shoots just over the bar.(Sub: West Brom making their final change, Rosenborg on for Thomas). (Sub: Gibson has been brought on for Everton, Mirallas the man who came off). Oh no that's an awful miss from Osman. Pienaar hits the post but the ball rebounds out to Osman, who somehow hits the ball over (Sub: Anichebe off for Jelavic late substitution). Lukaku earns a late corner for West Brom but nothing comes from it.   (+ 4 Mins)

As the referee blows his whistle the Everton fan stands and erupt in joyous rapture. 2-1 to Everton the final score here at Goodison Park, what a game it has been here today.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & SUBSTITUTIONS (5)

Everton

24 Howard

03 Baines

05 Heitinga

06 Jagielka

15 Distin

11 Mirallas (Gibson - 66' )

18 Neville

21 Osman

22 Pienaar

25 Fellaini

28 Anichebe (Jelavic - 84' )

Substitutes

01 Mucha

04 Gibson

08 Oviedo

16 Hitzlsperger

07 Jelavic

14 Naismith

19 Gueye

West Bromwich Albion

01 Foster

03 Olsson

04 Popov

23 McAuley

28 Jones

07 Morrison (Long - 62' )

11 Brunt

14 Thomas (Rosenberg - 77' )

15 Thorne (Yacob - 43' Booked )

17 Dorrans Booked

20 Lukaku

Substitutes

13 Myhill

06 Ridgewell

30 Tamas

05 Yacob

08 Rosenberg

09 Long

32 Fortune

Ref: Oliver

Att: 31,376

Hinnigan’s Flick Seals Win for Saints.

Match correspondent Sean Sartorius

All Saints First X1 played South Sefton boys at home to secure a league match victory, despite the terrible weather, which played a big part in the game. However this didn’t stop the boys storming to  a great  3 – 2 win courtesy of Ellis Messham (2) and Jack Hinnigan (1). Jack Hinnigan won the toss and made the bold decision to change round and have the wind behind us the first half, he took the decision to build a lead in the first half, sadly the first half ended 1 – 1.

South Sefton kicked off the start to this whirlwind. Both sides playing scrappy within the first 10 minutes as both teams hadn’t played since before December, however this didn’t stop the Saints. Sean Sartorius chested the ball down into John Hughes path who played a great pass to Niall Williamson on the right hand side, for Niall then to play a great cross along the floor to Ellis Messham, for Ellis to grab the first goal of the match with a simple side foot finish.

The Saints were in dismay after South Sefton’s number 9 made a brilliant touch, to set himself up for a goal bagged in the right hand corner, a shot which Paul Carney couldn’t do anything about. Near the end of the first half the Saints felt the pressure and played as swiftly as they could before the Referee Liam Corrigan, blew the whistle to bring the first half to a close.

As the second half came under way , Mr Volante made the decision to switch Kieran Ledson with Sean Sartorius. Kieran went upfront and Sean to sat in the middle of midfield. The Saints kicked off the second half and it wasn’t long before the Saints second goal of the game. It came once again from Ellis Messham. The lead up to the goal consisted of Kieran Ledson passing the ball along to Sean Sartorius for Sean to then play the ball to Declan Glover on the left hand side. Declan then played the ball forward  into the pathway of Adam Campbell. Adam then fed the ball to Ellis Messham who comfortably swept the ball into the back of the net.

Soon after another goal came about to the dismay of the Saints. The bad weather played a key part in South Sefton bagging their second goal.  With the advantage of the wind on their side, they launched a long throw from  the right hand side, unfortunately the pace on the ball from the throw was all too much for goal keeper Paul Carney who could only palm the ball straight into the back of the net.

With the score set at a nail biting 2 – 2, the Saints pulled out all the stops to bring the game to a victory over South Sefton. The decisive final goal of the match came from a free kick on the left hand side, which Sean Sartorius made from getting a push in the back. John Hughes delivered the free kick to the near post which Niall Williamson challenged for with the goal keeper. The keeper could only punch it into the path of Ellis messham who tried to bag a hatrick with a quick shot at goal but the shot was going wide only for Jack Hinnigan with a great flick, scored the winning goal of the game.  The last 10 minutes of the game All Saints invited the pressure by being pushed back, and South Sefton throwing everything they had to try and claim a draw. During all this pressure Paul Carney made some brilliant saves and catches to help All Saints to victory. Sean Sartorius and South Sefton's left back picked up yellow cards during the match.

This game showed great team spirit and an excellent team effort from the Saints. Just the kind of game they needed after their short break and some poor results earlier in the season. Throughout the game they showed a great fight and all worked hard for each other. This win lifts saints into 10th on 12pts, still with 2 games in hand which if they win them 2 games lifts them up into 3/4th. All Saints can kick on from this great victory and are look to qualify in the top 8 of the league and go one step better from last year and win the Merseyside cup.

Oldham Oust Liverpool in FA Giant Slaying

Smith celebrates as Jones despairs. Coates can't look.

Report from correspondent Jack White Year 11 All Saints

A brace from Matt Smith and a goal from Reece Wabara was enough for Oldham, as they saw off Liverpool in a physical, entertaining affair.

It all started in the 2^nd minute,  a cross from Youssouf M’Changama, who soon went off through injury, was met by the head off 23 year old Matt Smith, who out jumped Sebastien Coates and via a deflection powered his header into the back off the net, the goal really summarised the physicality of what was to come in the game. Soon after this there was a confrontation between Brad Jones and Robbie Simpson, who scored in the previous meeting between the two when Liverpool beat the Latics 5-1 at Anfield.

 Liverpool struck on the 17^th minute when Suarez picked up the ball on the left hand side and drove at the Oldham defence, attempting to play a one two pass with Daniel Sturridge, Suarez passed the ball straight off Cliff Byrne and back to himself almost as if it was deliberate before slotting the ball into the bottom left hand corner off Dean Bouzanis’ goal. Suarez then thought he had doubled Liverpool’s tally when he converted a Jordan Henderson cross before the goal was rightly disallowed for offside. The Uruguayan then linked up with Fabio Borini who back heeled his pass into the path of young Raheem Sterling who should have scored but hit his shot straight into the gloves of former Liverpool Goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.

Oldham withheld Liverpool pressure for 15 minutes before they got their noses back in front. Smith who scored the first goal of the day, was at it again. A low cross from Reece Wabara should have been dealt with easily by Brad Jones but instead was spilt straight to Lee Croft who squared the ball straight to Smith who passed the ball into the net. Oldham went in to the half time interval leading the illustrious Premier League big boys.
  

Liverpool started the second half brightly and should have equalised but Fabio Borini could only hit his shot over the bar. The Merseyside giants’ defensive fallibility was punished again in the 48^th minute when a Carl Winchester cross was met by the head of Manchester City loanee Reece Wabara who powered his header into the bottom left hand corner off the goal via the bar.

Soon after this Steven Gerrard was brought on from the bench and the England captain almost brought Liverpool a goal back but a fantastic block from Jose Baxter stopped the Liverpool captain shot finding the bottom left hand corner of the Oldham Athletic goal.

Liverpool aimed to save their blushes. A shot from Joe Allen soon found the net after a deflection from Jose Baxter with only 11 minutes left but Oldham held on to reach the 5^th round where they will play Everton at Home.

Man of the Match: Matt Smith, used his physical stature all game till he went off through injury. Smith bullied two very physical defenders in Skrtel and Coates all game and scored a brace which proved decisive in Oldham victory on the day.

Reece Wabara powers a header towards goal

Statistics

Oldham	Team Statistics	Liverpool
3	Goals	2
2	First half goals	1
7	Shots on target	7
7	Shots off target	7
0	Blocked shots	10
2	Corners	13
8	Fouls	10
3	Offsides	4
3	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
61	Passing Success	75
21	Tackles	15
76.2	Tackles Success	86.7
37.6	Possession	62.4
52.8	Territorial Advantage	47.8
290	Total Passes	408
15	Total Crosses	20
181	Lost Balls	195
49.9	1st Half Possession	50.1
25.6	2nd Half Possession	74.4

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (4) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)

Oldham Athletic

13 Bouzanis

03 Grounds

05 Mvoto

16 Byrne

23 Wabara (Booked)

04 Wesolowski

07 Croft

22 M'changama (Winchester - 10' )

10 Simpson (Booked) (Taylor - 77' )

14 Smith (Booked) (Mellor - 84' )

20 Baxter

Substitutes

01 Cisak

02 Brown

26 Winchester

06 Tarkowski

28 Sutherland

29 Mellor

19 Taylor

Liverpool

01 Jones

16 Coates

37 Skrtel

47 Wisdom (Gerrard - 55' )

49 Robinson

14 Henderson

24 Allen

31 Sterling (Booked) (Shelvey - 72' )

07 Suarez

15 Sturridge

29 Borini (Downing - 55' )

Substitutes

42 Gulacsi

23 Carragher

08 Gerrard

19 Downing

21 Lucas

33 Shelvey

30 Suso

Ref: Probert

Att: 10,295

Johnny’s on the Spot.

Heitinga scores late winner as Everton progress in the FA Cup.

By Connor Bennett, at the Reebok Stadium.

John Heitinga scored a dramatic late winner away at Bolton Wanderers to give Everton a passage into the Fifth round of the FA Cup. 

Everton opened the scoring after 18 minutes when a Victor Anichebe shot rebounded off

Bolton Keeper, Andy Lonergan and bounced in to the path of Steven Piennar.  Bolton leveled the proceedings through a well worked goal that saw Darren Pratley turn away from Leighton Baines and play the ball into the path of Marvin Sordell at the near post and he stroked the ball past Tim Howard.

The game signalled Everton manager David Moyes’ 500th game in charge. Heitinga who was an 80th minute substitute for the misfiring Nikica Jelavic was brought on to, what it seemed to many of the fans, consolidate on a draw and take a replay back to Goodison Park, the change was greeted with many jeers from the travelling Everton support, but provided to be a masterstroke even if it wasn’t intended to be.

Everton welcomed back Kevin Mirallas from injury but his Afternoon was cut short after 15 minutes with, what looked like to be either an ankle or hamstring injury. Everton were without full-back, Seamus Coleman and Central Midfielder Darron Gibson who was sat with the Everton fans. Bolton had Kevin Davies back from a slight knock.

Everton lined up:

Howard

Neville Jagielka Distin Baines

Mirallas Osman Fellaini Pienaar

Jelavic Anichebe

Bolton lined up:

Lonergan

Ricketts Knight Ream Alonso

Lee Vela Pratley Spearing Eagles

Sordell

Subs
Bolton: Bogdan, Mears, Holden, N’Gog, K Davies, Afobe, C Davies
Everton: Mucha, Heitinga, Duffy, Oviedo, Naismith, Gueye, Vellios

The Bolton Ground Staff did a tremendous job to get the game on

Both sides were looking to be in the hat for the next round and this was evident as for the first 20 minutes Everton were the better side and scored while they were on top. After the Steven Pienaar goal, Bolton pulled Everton out of shape, constantly switching the ball from side to side where their quick wingers, Chung-Yong Lee and Chris Eagles ran at the full backs while being supported by their full backs, Sam Ricketts and Marcos Alonso, respectively.  Bolton, playing their football in the Championship, looked like the better side from then to half time, scoring to get back into the game and almost taking the lead 30 seconds later when Marcos Alonso struck a shot at Tim Howard which caused the Everton Keeper to only parry the shot down but quickly grabbed the loose ball.  Victor Anichebe should of given Everton the lead on the stroke of Half time but his header glanced just wide of Andy Lonergan’s net.

Half time came and went and Everton were out earlier than Bolton, surely due to a dressing down from the manager. When the second half started, Everton started like they did the first, knocking the ball about well and showing their FA Cup credentials. Bolton quickly grew into the game and frustrated Everton for periods.  Darren Pratley had a free-kick in a dangerous are just outside Tim Howards box but it flew over the bar without any danger.  
Magaye Gueye headed wide a Leighton Baines cross that should have really tested Andy Lonergan in all honesty.

Everton piled on the Pressure with 10 minutes to go in the tie with a great curling Steven Pienaar effort that produced an excellent save from Bolton Keeper Andy Lonergan who sprawled low to his right to keep the tie at 1-1.

Bolton tried to weather the Everton storm but it came to nothing in the 91st minute when a Magaye Gueye corner bounced around the box with shouts of Penalty from a few Everton players, the ball bounced out to John Heitinga who struck the ball low to Andy Lonergan’s left and found the net sending 6,000 Everton fans into raptures. Heitinga who, this season has not lived up to his last season’s Player of the Season award scored his first of the season. Within 30 seconds of the restart, Everton found themselves under pressure from Bolton but Substitute Benik Afobe could only blaze over and Everton hung on to the win.

Heitinga fires the blues into the 5th Round, which save the blues  a replay at Goodison

Man of the Match (Everton): Sylvain Distin. The defender who earnt a contract extension during the produced a top class performance as usual.

Man of the Match (Bolton): Marcos Alonso. The fullback troubled Everton all afternoon and could have had a goal for his efforts if it was not for Tim Howard.

Stats.
Possession: Bolton 45% Everton 55%
Shots: Bolton 10 Everton 11
Fouls: Bolton 5 Everton 13

Bookings.
Bolton - Spearing
Everton - Fellaini

Peter Murphy: Professional Footballer with Accrington Stanley

My name is Peter Murphy I am 22 years old and a past pupil of All Saints, and I am currently a professional footballer for Accrington Stanley in League 2 of the English Football League.

1. Achievements to date?

I have made over a 100 appearances in the football league. I was in the Accrington team that reached the playoffs for League 1, back in 2011. I have also had the honour of captaining Accrington for the first time this year.

2. Inspirations and motivation for taking up football? Any particular role models that have inspired you?

My dad first and foremost was my first role model and it was him who got me into football.

I would go and watch him play of a Saturday afternoon playing for local Kirkby teams. Then as I got older I would go and watch Everton play. So from a very early age my dream was to be a professional footballer. Steven Gerrard is a player I have always admired and still do. However I play centre half, so I always look at the likes of John Terry, Jamie Carragher, to see how they play in that position. I look at how they read the game and use the ball.

3.What are your goals?

My main goal is to play at the highest possible level in the football league. To do that I must play well for Accrington Stanley, and hope we can rise up the leagues. I am also trying to get on the physiotherapy course at Salford University.

4.How is your training structured? What does a typical week look like for you?

Diary of the week

Monday is a recovery day for the lads that have played on the Saturday, which entails a trip to the gym for a bike session, a swim, and a Jacuzzi. Any teammates who never got any game time will go and do a training session.

On a Tuesday we will all get in for half 9 and training will start at half 10 which involves possession games, passing drills, and small sided games. We will be back inside for dinner at half 12 before we have an afternoon session, which will either be cardio work or strength training, depending on what the manager feels we need.

Wednesday we will be off but most people will do their own training to keep themselves in peak condition.

On a Thursday we will be in for half 9 again, then training at half 10. Training is focused more towards the game of a Saturday. We will go through team shape and patterns of play, and end with some 6 a-side matches.

On a Friday we won't do much, just go through some set pieces for the game on the Saturday. We have dinner as a squad then home to rest.

Saturday is game day, we will meet at the ground for half 1 and start to get ready for the game. The manager will read the team out just before 2 o clock, I will then start to focus on the game and follow all the instructions that the manager has asked of me.

Sunday is a recovery day which the manager will either give is a day off if we have had a good result, or get us in if he feels we need speaking to.

5.What does a typical diet consist in preparation for a game?

Your diet has to be very good to give yourself the best possible chance to perform at your best so no junk food for me. On a Friday I will normally have pasta to get the carbohydrates (energy food) in for the next day. The day of a game I don’t overeat. I get up and have Weetabix, and then at about half 11, I will have 2 pieces of toast and some beans.

6.What do you like to read? What is your favourite book?

 I like to read autobiographies of people associated with sport. I have recently finished reading Gary Neville’s “Red”. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in football and seeing the character needed to be a top professional.

7.Favourite music genre and favourite artist?

I don't really have a particular type of music I am into. I like quite a lot. I have got One Directions album in my car at the moment though if that tells you anything about my taste in music.

8. What is your proudest moment to date?

 My proudest moment would have to be making my football league debut away at Wrexham. They needed to win to stay up so there was a very good crowd. I've never been more nervous in my life but once the game started I settled down and we eventually went on to win 3-1.

9. What does coming from Kirkby mean to you and what is good about it?

Coming from Kirkby means a lot, it’s where I have lived all my life. It’s good because people like to see you do well for yourself. People are always asking my family and friends how I am getting on. People want to see me being successful. I appreciate their encouragement and support. When I am about Kirkby, people will wish me good luck or ask how are Accrington doing. There are also a lot of successful footballers and sports people who have come from Kirkby which also inspires you to do as well as you can. 

Thanks for reading!

Regards

Peter Murphy