Saturday 3rd. November

Sale United Hurricanes 2 v 2 Roundthorn Rangers

The Hurricanes had been more like Sugar Canes at Crossford Bridge so far this season but they did manage to score their 1st goals and earned their 1st point at home against Roundthorn Rangers on Saturday after a great comeback.

The first period started scrappily and it took a little time for the Hurricanes to realise how much time and space they had on the ball in midfield as Rangers deployed 2 deep lying defenders who showed little mobility. In fact it was the visitors who fashioned the first 2 chances when at first Tom handled well after the Sale defence had inexplicably allowed an easy ball to get through and then when a ball found the Rangers striker unmarked at the far post, he hit an unstoppable shot that crashed off the underside of the bar. After that Ben E marshalled his defence superbly with a combination of good aerial play and solid tackling. This allowed Johnny and Smithy to start attacks for Michael and Josh to exploit the space in the middle of the park. Harrison's strong running and willingness to hold the ball up almost brought a goal for Josh whose shot sailed just over. Then Harrison could have scored himself but his shot was saved. Smithy grew more and more lively down the right and he set up another chance for Josh before on the other side a great ball down the line by Johnny found Michael who twisted his man inside out before having a shot blocked by a defender.

The second segment brought changes to the team but no let up in the attacking threat of the home side. Sale were camped in the Rangers half for the first 5 minutes but a combination of wanting an extra pass and some dogged defending meant there were not any real clear cut chances. Callum and Kieran were proving a real handful until that final pass or shot and Nat skillfully and repeatedly beat the full back and crossed dangerously. There was one passage of play inside the visitors area that looked like United were trying to walk the ball in the net and as pretty as it looked it was not effective in breaking the deadlock. In fact the closest the Canes came to taking the lead was from a 1st time left foot curled effort from the right edge of the box by Johnny that grazed the angle of post and bar. It only looked a matter of time before that elusive 1st goal was scored or on the other hand if you don't take your chances when they arrive you could get punished. In this case the latter was true when a speculative effort flew over Tom's head and somehow found the net. Worse was to follow soon after when the shellshocked home side were caught out of position and Tom could not prevent the ball rolling agonisingly over the line. Sale were 2 down with a mountain (or at least a steep hill) to climb.

The final third saw another change in personnel, one that was meant to keep the door closed to prevent a killer third by Rangers whilst trying to take the game to them to create chances. This was achieved firstly from good defending from Ben E and Johnny as well as a good save from Smithy deputising in goal for Tom and secondly as Michael exploded into the game. One exciting run ended in him trying to take on one man too many before he repeated the dribble but played an inch perfect cross to Harrison who coolly slotted home. Time was running out and after great work from Callum had set Harrison free he could not find Kieran who was now on to add even more goal threat. It looked like the chance had gone when after another blood-twisting run from Michael his through ball bisected Harrison, Kieran and Callum and found the keeper. However The Hurricanes rarely give up and when Rangers did not completely clear a corner Nathan retrieved the ball and produced a moment of real quality, instead of crossing the ball blindly he looked up and played a superbly weighted pass to Harrison whose control was good and his shot found the near corner of the net. Job done...Not quite. Back came Rangers, Ben E was unfortunately adjudged to have fouled his man in a dangerous position. The free kick was whacked in towards the top corner where Smithy showed excellent reflexes to jump and tip the ball over. Job done now... well a point anyway !

Man of the Match - Assured and determined at the back - Ben Eggleton

Saturday 27th October 07 Div 3 League Cup Prelim. Round

Timperley Villa 0 v 2 Sale United Hurricanes

Sale got their season back on track with a well deserved cup victory against their conquerors from the opening day of the season.

The first period saw Michael make his first start of the season after recovering from a broken leg and it was his ball inside that saw Johnny hit a speculative effort that was well held by the Villa keeper. Michael and Johnny combined again and Nat got onto the end of the winger's cross and shot just wide. The football was good from the visitors. Sean and Ben E easily broke up any Villa attacks with good reading of the game and strong tackles and Josh was proving to be a real thorn in the side with his quick footed dribbling. One Josh run forced a corner that United did not capitalise on and the another found the live wire Nat who shot just wide. The emergence of Ben E this season has given the Hurricanes an extra dimension as Sean can get forward more in the knowledge he has a player who can cover with pace and cunning. One typical run from Sean ended only when he opted to shoot with his right foot when it should have been his left and the chance went wide. A long range effort well handled by Tom was the closest the home team came in the opening exchanges.

The second spell started as the first had ended with Sale the dominant force. Rory went close with a free kick and Callum was lively down the left. Ben E and Sean had to be on their toes even more though as Timperley got a foothold in the game. Tom was commanding from a couple of long crosses and through balls and he communicated well with his defenders to ensure there would be no mix ups. James got in a couple of tackles and tried to play balls forward but it was starting to look a little predictable for the away side when they took the lead at exactly the right time. Despite Villa deploying two deep lying defenders they were made to look like statues as Nat drove into the box and finished clinically.

The final act was a lively one as Villa resorted to some pushing to prevent the speedy Sale midfield from getting around them although the ref also saw some wrongdoing from the visitors as a stream of free kicks ensued. Sale wasted a couple of corners but from another free kick the Villa keeper did well to hold a Callum drive at his near post. Sean's defensive heading had been outstanding throughout and the only time United were then caught out from a long ball it was along the floor, the ball found the Villa striker whose first touch although poor deflected it past the onrushing Tom toward the goal but quick of mind and foot Callum was there to clear. Michael then went forward and almost doubled Sale's lead and Callum marauded forward down the left before Villa hit back again and forced a corner that was swung in and destined for the far corner before Johnny made a captain's clearance heading the ball off the line. Games are often turned by events such as Johnny and Callum's efforts and so it proved again when in the next attack Nat killed the game with his and the Hurricanes second goal. It was a carbon copy of the first although this time from the inside left channel. It led their unfortunate keeper to ask where his defence was, well "Keeps" they were there all the time they just could not get close enough to Nathan who almost got a deserved hat trick when he flashed a fierce left foot half volley just wide with a couple of minutes to go.

Man Of The Match - Two goals and a tireless performance from Nat Pacitto.

Saturday 13th October

Sale United Hurricanes 0 v 1 Altrincham Jnrs.

The Hurricanes narrowly lost their basement battle with Alty on Saturday to the only goal of the game.

In a sterile opening period there were few chances. The quality of the football was average with the home side in particular running into cul de sacs and lacking a decent final ball. Smithy deputising for Tom in goal performed well. He communicated with his defence effectively, his handling was faultless and his distribution was good. As usual Sean defended well but even his energetic forays into the opposition half lacked any end product.

The second period was better for the home side as they had more posession but chances were few and far between. Josh's passing was better than in the 1st third and Kieran was lively. Ben PL also worked hard down the right wing. It was the visitors though that were cleverer on the ball with their number 4 the stand out player of the game as he easlily broke up United attacks and passed the ball well and delivered threatening set pieces.

The visitors scored early in the third period and it was a soft goal. The canes midfield offered little resistence as Alty poured forward then 2 tackles were missed inside the box and the chance was converted by the spare man at the far post. Sale tried to come back but they were not as bright as they were when they were down to a much better side last week. The only predictable thing that hadn't happened so far in a Sale United Hurricanes Under 10 home game is that the reds had not hit the woodwork, cue Sean to strike the post from just inside the box. After that Callum worked hard and Kieran and Harrison just failed to create a couple of opportunities. Still goalless and poitless after 3 at the Bridge.

Man Of The Match - Deserved a clean sheet for an excellent display in goal Sean Smith.

Saturday October 6th

South Manchester 3 v 2 Sale United Hurricanes

After last week's defeat to the division's top team there was a visit to the side currently in second place and the game could not have got off to a worse start for the away side. The ink was hardly dry on the match card when a corner came into the area and a combination of slack marking and erratic handling saw the ball hit the bar before dropping down, bouncing around and eventually being smashed into the back of the net. Sale started to get their passing together but too often their final ball let them down. They did have chances from a number of free kicks but Sean then Callum could not find the target. The Chorlton side doubled their lead with a great team goal. They always seemed to have a spare man as they switched play sweetly before carving out a shooting chance that was taken with aplomb.

The second period proved to be totally different. Harrison had a fantastic spell, his strong running with the ball was causing all sorts of problems. He was denied by a last ditch tackle then had a volley saved after he audaciously lobbed the last defender with one touch and shot with the second. Nathan also hit a good shot just wide. It was not all one way traffic however and Sale were grateful to the determination and bravery of Sean whose tackling and heading were imperious. Sale also suffered a couple of injuries as Ben PL and James were forced off with knocks. There were no further goals in this period.

The last third started the way the 1st started with a goal from South Manchester. Ben E did well to clear a dangerous situation and was unfortunate to see his clearance go straight to the South Manchester winger who hit a 1st time drive that took a deflection and beat Tom at his near post. Sale then picked up the pace of the game and started to worry the home side. It's a great sign that everybody wants to take up a challenge and both of the injured players declared themselves fit to return much to the disappointed of Callum and Smithy who performed admirably. With time starting to run out the Hurricanes finally produced a moment of quality from a set piece when Rory sent in a great ball and Harrison finished with a stopped header at the far post. Sale now really got the bit between their teeth and some end to end football ensued. The best example was when Tom just grabbed the ball on the line from a corner and sent Sean away on a counter attack. The rapid defender only had one thing on his mind as he raced away from 2 defenders before unleashing a powerful shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net. The home side were rattled as Sale steamed in for the last few minutes but they held on to record the victory that was much more hard fought than they had anticipated 45 minutes earlier.

Man Of The Match - Defensive rock and scored a great goal - Sean Thomson

Saturday 30th September

Sale United Hurricanes 0 v 4 FC Sporting Sale

The Hurricanes lost their second consecutive home game against unbeaten Sporting who are a team who have matured both physically and technically from this time last season.

The 1st period started with the visitors controlling posession and winning most of the midfield battles. Chances were few and far between with Sale's well organised rear guard limiting Sporting to long range efforts. United had also coped well with a string of Sporting corners until an innocously flighted ball found it's way in at the near post for the opening goal. Nathan did his best to get back the reds back into the gam and it was his pass to Harrison whose left foot shot was smothered at the near post by the visiting keeper. Sporting almost doubled their lead when Tom allowed a shot to escape his grasp; Johnny prevented the ball crossing the line with a powerful goal-line clearance.

The home side made changes at the break and at first were at sixes and sevens defensively but gradually they got a foothold into the game. They were urged forward by Rory and Callum and protected well by Sean. Smithy also provided good cover and got forward at every opportunity, his mazy run almost set up a chance for the ever willing Harrison . The Hurricanes suffered another kick in the teeth when after Sean had done well to cover the Sporting strikers run his clearance ricocheted into the United area, Tom did not come off his line quickly enough and by the time he did he got his angles wrong and the detremined striker rolled the ball in for 2 nil. After that Tom made 2 good saves, the second one from point blank range. Sale failed to put the finishing touches to a promising move from Josh and Callum just before the third ended.

The final act brought more changes and United were caught out in quick succession as they conceded 2 quick goals when at first they allowed the ball to bounce in the box and were then caught out by a good move by the rampant visitors. The home side did not lie down after this and did their best to rescue an almost impossible situation. Harrison went close again, then Josh rattled the crossbar with the shot of the match. The Hurricanes last foray forward found Smithy close to robbing the keeper and grabbing a consolation but it was not to be and the team remain pointless and goalless so far at the Bridge.

Man Of The Match - Sean Smith attacked and defended well at full back and was a threat as a makeshift striker late on.

Saturday 22nd September

Wythenshawe Amateurs Pumas 1 V 4 Sale United Hurricanes.

After a disappointing start to the league season where the Hurricanes had suffered 2 narrow defeats it was clear that the players and coaches needed to up their games to earn the rewards that their often attractive football merits. This happened on Saturday with a victory against a skillful, spirited and sporting Wythenshawe side.

Sale got off to a good start and Nat and Josh took control of central midfield, they also looked solid at the back with Johnny and Ben PL providing support and defensive cover. Harrison, up front was also proving to be a handful, he signalled his early intent with an early shot that drifted wide but was not to be denied moments later when he was put through by a slide rule pass from Josh. This time the tall striker took an extra touch to compose himself and stroked the ball across the keeper into the far corner of the net. The Hurricanes looked to press home their advantage, Harrison almost nipped in after a through ball from Johnny, then Nat linked well with Ben PL, to create a chance for Josh which went wide. The home side were also playing some good football, they found Sean in determined mood at the back when they did get the ball past the midfield.

The second period started with the Pumas tails up, they made inroads down their right and forced a couple of corners, one of which was well cleared by Sean, the ball found Josh who went on a strong run from inside his own half. With a combination pace and power he carried the ball to the edge of the area and unleashed a fierce shot that gave the keeper no chance. It was a fine individual goal that lifted United back into the ascendancy. Kieran had taken over from Harrison and his pace was worrying the Pumas defence. After one Getaway Carr moment was denied by a last ditch tackle he was not closed down the next time he received the ball from a pass by Josh, he knocked the ball forward and pressurised the advancing keeper who could only knock the ball to Nat who accepted the gift with a firm finish. Josh was replaced by Rory who was making his Sale debut against his former club. He added some steel into the midfield and was denied a goal when the keeper did well to parry his long range effort. Again though the Pumas did not fold, first James then Ben E had to be alert to deny well worked attacks from the home team. Another raid by their tricky right winger forced a corner which was swung into the near post and helped into the goal by Tom. The goal galvanised Wythenshawe and they should have pulled another back after a misplaced goal kick found their striker but with most of the goal to aim at he dragged his shot wide.

The final third saw Sale start strongly, Josh hit a shot over the bar, then the keeper somehow scooped another Rory effort over and Sean hit 2 long range pile-drivers just wide. Wythenshawe came back and had the ball in the net twice in quick succession, both goals were rightly ruled out but the home side could count themselves unfortunate that at least one did not count. Johnny was forced to the leave the field after second one as he received the ball in the stomach from point blank range, Sean had also been felled in the build up. James replaced Johnny and showed some quick thinking when he moved and received a short corner from Josh whose cross was almost nodded in by Kieran. Josh played Kieran in again and his firm right foot shot was half saved by the keeper who reacted well to smother the rebound from Nat. Finally Sale got their 4th to kill the game and again it was Josh who provided it with a clinical finish.

It was a fine performance from the Hurricanes who were the better side throughout, however some individual errors and lapses in concentration made the game closer than it really should have been.

Man Of The Match - 2 goals, an assist and an all round quality midfield display from Josh Farrell

Saturday 25th September

September Just Not Hurricane Season

Sale United U10 Hurricanes 0 V 2 Irlam Rangers U10 Thunder

Sale United Under 10 Hurricanes slow start to their league campaign continued as they were caught vainly huffing and puffing in an Irlam Thunder storm. The Canes took a while to get to grips with the task at hand last season and they are playing catch up again this season after suffering consecutive defeats.

The game started evenly then Sean had to use his pace and determination to make a last ditch tackle to atone for his own error after he lost the ball on the half way line. This corner was the first of many in quick succession as Rangers kept United pinned in their own half. Sale's passing game did not really get going and they were guilty of giving the ball away too often. Just as it looked like the home team had weathered the storm they fell behind, they allowed Irlam too much time at a throw in, a long ball followed that was flicked on neatly by the Rangers striker, the ball fell invitingly and the finish was strong and true. The home side improved somewhat after going behind, Josh hit a speculative long ranger just over and Harrison forced a good save from the keeper with a left foot snapshot that looked destined to creep in at the near post.

The second period was played much more in Irlam's half, driven on by the outstanding Nathan who covered every blade of grass and provided some quality crosses that were crying out to be converted the Hurricanes deserved to be level but first Josh, then Kieran fluffed chances in front of goal. Rangers warned Sale with a counter attack that ended when Tom flew across his goal to make a fine save. At the other end Smithy tried his luck with an acrobatic overhead kick that went narrowly over and Kieran and Josh forced a couple of corners after lively forays into the visitors penalty box from James' neat through balls.

The final third saw a Sale tactical reshuffle backfire as they allowed Irlam to double their lead. Another straight ball was allowed through and another clinical finish found the net. This took the wind out of the Canes sails for a few minutes as Irlam got back on top, Johnny stayed strong with some timely interceptions and tackles. Kieran and Josh were brought back into the match and they were instrumental in United's best move of the match. Inevitably Nathan started things and Josh carried the ball before returning it to Nathan who found Kieran out wide, he cut inside then laid a pin point pass to Harrison whose 1st touch was good and 2nd touch was a close range shot that hit the base of the post. Irlam comfortably saw out the last few minutes of the game to leave Sale pointless after 2 games.

Man Of The Match - Nathan Pacitto - Owned the midfield with a great box to box display.