the 2025/26 Preseason friendlies.
COBCAR B TEAM VS BALL INN FC
1-4 Win
The 2nd preseason match against CobCar open age side, was a roaring success on Weds night this week, with another convincing win. Comfortably sealing a 4-1 away win at the forge ground in Hoyland.
The pitch was dry and unkempt but that didn’t matter to the Ball inn players who passed the ball around with confidence and expertise.
The back 3 was a familiar line up of Andy Crawford, Jame Murray, Dec Foggarty, (out of retirement) but was accompanied by young Dillon Swift (goal keeper Brads son) at right back.
Midfield started with Raffo, Adj and help-out players Mackenzie & Dave Cooper. Completing the starting 11 was Brad in goal and Juicy and Neil up top.
The ball players largely kept possession over their young opponents, and it became obvious that the extremely talented midfield pairing of Adj & Macca was going to play a big part on the night. The pair broke free at will and created many chances for both themselves and the front pair. Lee (juicy) Jones went closest with two good saves from the CobCar goalie in the first 15 minutes, resulting in around half a dozen corners. Those saw the Big Man Crawford stride up from the back, and he came close to breaking the deadlock.
The Ball defence were exposed to the pace and long balls over the top, but Brad Swift dealt with most things thrown at him and complimented his defence well.
The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes with a smart goal from Adam Littlewood punching low past the keeper. It was followed 10 minutes later by Littlewood’s 2nd, with an adapted cycle kick – come volley, from 7yards which gave the keeper no chance.
Jay (Jason) was introduced on 25 minutes on the left in his customary role for Dave Cooper and gaffer Nathan Griffin for Dec at left back.
Brad Swift was called into action a number of times before the break and kept his clean sheet in tach with great one on one saves. Including some poor finishing from the CobCar front 3.
The formation was changed in the final minutes of the first half, and Steve Raffo was brought into the midfield to allow the defence to go 3 at the back. Solidifying the central area that move gave the dynamic duo in the centre a chance to again roam the pitch.
This move combated the CobCar midfield and enable a couple of breakaways by the Ball attack, one of which found Neil Barrett threaded through neatly on the right by Adj to see him squeeze the ball into the opposition goal at the near post.
3-0 at the break and coasting.
The side remained the same for 20 minutes in the 2nd half and CobCar were found to be playing 4 up front for much of that time, but Brad Swift denied every approach on his goal. Adj & Macca again started to find their silky pairing which resulted in a free kick around 25 yards out. Adam (Adj) Littlewood struck an out of this world strike into the top corner, leaving the opposition keeper cemented to the floor, and crowning off his hat trick and MOM performance in style.
The CobCar team got a consolation goal back in the final throws of the game but the Ball team saw out the win, with the help of late arrival and Club Captain Tyrone White for the final 20 minutes.
Well done everyone and big thanks to those extras who helped us out on the night when the squad saw 17 players unavailable.
MOM Adam Littlewood
Extras, Dillon, MacKenzie, Dave, Dec
next Game- Middlewood (Home) Venue TBA.
BALL INN VS THORNCLIFFE O45s
4-1 win.
The new season got off to a positive start with a convincing win over Thorncliffe o45s of the top division. Comfortably sealing a 4-1 away win at the TFC ground.
The squad was depleted because of unavailable players but the 16 players on show put on a great team performance. After a rusty start by both teams the deadlock was broken on 18 minutes by Matt Wragg who showed a great turn of pace to beat both TFC centre backs, putting himself clear and one on one with the keeper, to coolly place it past him into the net.
Sadly we lost debutant Ian King around 20 minutes into the game to a calf injury, which was a shame as the side looked well balanced with the left footer on the wing. That injury saw the introduction of Neil Barnett up front and a repositioning of Lee Jones to left wing. Another debutant Mark Oliver did well at left back and unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury in the second half, to be replaced at that time by our Chairman Mark Grierson.
After the 1st half drinks break on 25 mins, TFC matched up the Ball Inn formation which got them back into the game and they had a spell of dominance for 10 minutes, but a nice distance pass out from the back by Jame Murray saw Ball break away, neatly passing through the TFC defence to find Matt Wragg again who slotted past the keeper to make it 2-0.
On 35 minutes some sloppy passes by Ball Inn led to a break away through the defence, and Paul Robinson found himself making a last ditch challenge in the area, but unfortunately conceding a penalty.
it was brilliantly saved by Ball goalie Brad Swift onto the post, but the rebound fell kindly for the on running TFC players who finished well.
Not 5 minutes later Neil Barnet who his best game todate, found himself jinking through the TFC defence only to be brought down before he could get a shot off, resulting in a penalty. Taken by Lee Jones but saved for a corner by the TFC keeper.
That corner saw an expertly delivered ball into the box by Captain Tyrone White and Ryan Heap finished well at the back post with a bullet header.
Half time score 3-1, saw the introduction of Steve Raffo for Mark Joyce to bolster the midfield, and give some much needed energy along side Ty and Ryan.
TFC had a period of 20 minutes after the break testing the Ball defence and keeper. But they could not find the much needed goal, and a way back into the match. Right winger Garry McKenny found himself free on the hour mark and drove a well hit cross into the TFC box, which got a deflection off a defender and made its way into the TFC goal past the stretching keeper.
This pretty much demoralised TFC and although they fought to the end, they never really threatened the Ball Inn goal afterwards. Will Armitage was introduced on the left wing for Lee Jones.
All in , a throughly good performance by the Ball Inn squad, with a Superb MOM performance by Jon Wragg at the back for Ball Inn, never put a foot wrong and was imperious in starting many Ball Inn phases of play.
A good start to the preseason and now the Ball move onto CobCarB Team on the 20th August.