Match Report NMJFC U9's vs Chinley Junior's U9's - 26/10/25

Season 3 - Episode 8: How many Halloween puns can we fit into a match report?!

As we approach spooky season there was plenty of tricks and plenty of treats from our under 9's... its Halloween week! The clocks went back so the parents were treated to an extra hour in bed but as we awoke to frost, it's safe to say the dress code has dramatically changed... dry robes for the Mum's, Bobble hats for the Dad's and warm shorts for the coaches! 🎃👻🕷

It was an unusual, eerie start for our New Mills number 1... when Chinley took full advantage of Reuben's misplaced goal kick, they then followed it up with a frightening free kick from distance that caught him cold! He might look like Egon Spengler but he's made of tough stuff and he quickly recovered to keep us in the game! We've seen opposition coaches and parents go mad when kids make mistakes but although we live in a neighbourhood where strange things happen, we don't have any of that around our group, as coach Joe always says "we only do positive"! Head up Egon... I mean Reuben 🤪 With Chinley showing their teeth we needed a goal... who you gonna call?! The ghostbusters number was no longer available so Myles would have to do! He had the Chinley defence under his spell in the first half, working his magic and just when we needed a goal he's finished off a great move and got us back into the game. His link up play was class and when he found himself in a dead end he turned back and looked for the pass, top stuff! We asked him to smile more this week... and he did... and it was great! It's sooo important to enjoy your football at this age, ignore all the noise on the touchline just go and have a laugh with your mates! It felt like ages since we last saw Mia (it's only been a week) but still we've missed her trying to tell us a random story whilst in the middle of something really important! She was awesome today, fully involved in our attacking play and when the ball fell to her on the edge of the area (we don't have areas in the metro but still) she's cracked a monster of a shot right into the top corner! Their keeper had an absolute worldie today but he wasn't stopping that one! We reinforced our back line with Max and Teddy, our reliable duo... the scooby to the others doo... the hocus to their pocus... the beetle to the juice! I won't say it 3 times but you get the picture! They just work in tandem, they trust eachother and when Max bombs forward its Teddy who sits in. Birthday boy Max, 9 going on 19, the big man got his goals today with some great finishing, hes like a ghost train the way he steams through the middle of the pitch! He's our top goalscorer so far this season and he plays almost every week in defence! Teddy played as the sweeper at times, desperately urging us to get forward and get back into the game. We moved him into our attack in the 2nd half where he was unlucky not to get us that goal but with their keeper on top form, in the end it wasn't to be. He dropped back into defence towards the end where he chopped up the Chinley attacks like Tedward Scissorhands... but with his feet 🤷🏼‍♂️ he flew in with some well timed tackles and some crucial blocks! We lacked energy at the start from our gruesome twosome, Harrison and Joseph, so with half time on the way we dug the cauldron out to whip up a potion to get the team firing again! In went half a pumpkin, a toffee apple, a parma violet and a bogey from coach Tom! We gave it a good mix and said the magic words in the thickest of high peak accents... "ayup spooky cauldron show us what you can do, we need some sliced up Oranges and some Jaffa cakes too!" Rasss it worked!! They came out in the 2nd half possessed! Harrison will give you nightmares the way he constantly snarls and bites at your heels when he's trying to win the ball back, the pressure that boy puts you under is unreal! You should see him in training, he's the reason why the coaches won't join in! He played some lovely passes to our forwards, another area of his game that he's improving on every week. After his goalscoring heroics last weekend it was always going to be tough to top for Joseph but he needs patience and encouragement. This week was about not only trying to get onto the end of chances but to be involved in the build up. His work on the training pitch is paying off, we're seeing a huge improvement in his balance, composure on the ball and a willingness to run into space when he's played the pass, another giant step in the right direction for our cheeky little devil Joseph! Leon was feeling under the weather before the game, we asked him if he wanted to take it easy... start as a sub and ease his way into the game... NO was the response! We love that! "Your starting upfront then!" He ran his socks off for his mates and when he moonwalked through the Chinley defence it was more Smooth Criminal than Thriller! What a finish! He's technically sound, with great feet and he's starting to create chances for himself infront of goal, we're still not sure where his best position is yet but anywhere in that forward line will do for us, we've got a plan for you mate, keep working hard and listening to the coaches, another great week for Leon! I went undercover in the 2nd half, like inspector gadget 🥸, blending in with the Chinley parents like a camouflage dry robe (I haven't got one but I was closer to Reuben that's why I stood there 🤣) but I overheard a conversation which made me cackle... "he's decent that number 14 isn't he" one of the Dad's said and then his mate replied with "yeh that's Finley Jones" Yes... he wasn't wearing a mask that is indeed Finley Jones! Back with us for the week after being hogged by the scousers... they could do with him in the first team at the minute, unnnnluckyyyy!! I was up at the witching hour so I arrived at the stadium 40 minutes before kick off to get prepared... Finn was already there warming up with his Dad... I thought I was early! I won't say too much but he was on another planet today, a supernatural display from our maestro 👽! One of his goals was a carbon copy of Casemiro from the other night against Brighton! It was an absolute treat and to see that giant grin for a whole morning because he's playing footy with his mates from school was absolutely priceless!

There were a few candidates today for player of the match but after her screamer in the 1st half it had to go to Mia! That ball flew in like it was riding a broomstick! She's been doing that in training all season so it was top to see one beat the keeper! She's worked on her game over the summer and it's showing, we've asked her to not be scared of getting stuck in and we know it's daunting because some of these lads are massive but believe in yourself Mia, the rest of the lads have got your back! Our player of the match today was Mia 🏆

There's no training this week as we break for half term and with our first cup game next Sunday its not ideal preparation... but we know what this group are capable of, they surprise us every week! So have a rest kids, enjoy the break, eat loads of sweets and enjoy the Halloween fun! 💛🖤

Myles ⚽️

Max ⚽️⚽️

Leon ⚽️⚽️

Finn ⚽️⚽️⚽️

Mia ⚽️🏆

⚽️🖤💛⚽️

#upthemillers