COLTS WIN ON TRAVELS

EK WANDERERS V MOTHERWELL COLTS

The Colts travelled to East Kilbride for the first away game of the season against a Wanderers side who were the only side to defeat Motherwell in the league the previous season.

An extremely hard fought game against a physical Wanderers side resulted in a goal less first half with neither side able to beat the dead lock.

Motherwell started the second half with much more determination and their passing game saw them taking more and more control.

Ryan McMillan broke the dead lock when he cut in field and slipped the ball under the Wanderers keeper.

Billy Neil came off the bench to score his first goal of the season and secure all three points for Motherwell.

SEASON KICKS OFF

Motherwell Colts v Eastfield Burgh

Motherwell kicked off the new season in the top flight against last seasons runners up Eastfield Burgh.

Following an unbeaten pre-season Motherwell started over confident and slack play allowed Eatfield to race into a 3-0 lead.

Sean McEnroe cut in from the left and pulled a goal back for the Colts before Eastfield restored the three goal advantage.

Motherwell made changes at half time bringing on Ross Main and Nathan Morson which sparked a Colts revival.

Two goals drom Nathan Morson and goals from Mathew Lafferty and Ross Main earned Motherwell an unexpected point.

FINAL RESULT : - MOTHERWELL COLTS 5 V 5 EASTFIELD BURGH

Colts Start The New Season

Pre-Season 2006-2007


The Colts returned for the new season with some new signings to add to last season's successful side.

In came Jonathon Boal, Ross Main and Scott Sommerville and they would be joined later in the season by Paul Daly, David Mann, Peter McGinn and David Knight.

Full Squad Season 2006-2007

Grant Thomson, Martin McIntyre, Paul Daly, Gary Stirling, Paul Byrne, Gerry Smith, Jim Gibbons, Mathew Lafferty, Billy Neil, Sean McEnroe, Saaf Elzubaidi, David Adams, Jonathon Boal, Ross Main, Scott Sommerville, David Mann, Peter McGinn and David Knight.

The first pre-season friendly was against old rivals from last year Lanarkshire United. Motherwell started where they finished the previous season with slick passing and clever movement.

Two goals from Sean Mcenroe a goal from Gerry Smith and a debut goal from Jonathon Boal had the Colts cruising and when Scott Sommerville lobbed the United goalkeeper from the half way line Motherwell eased to an impressive 5-1 victory.

The final pre-season game was against a vastly changed Strathaven side. This was a very strong physical contest with neither side treating this as a friendly.

Motherwell fell behind in the first half to a scrappy goal and despite having a goal disallowed for a reason known only to the referee the Colts drew level when David Adams forced the ball into the back of the Strathaven Net.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

MOTHERWELL COLTS
LYFDA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
SEASON 2005-2006

COLTS WIN LYFDA LEAGUE

MOTHERWELL COLTS LIFT LEAGUE TITLE


The Colts lift the Lanarkshire Youth Development League title for the first time.

Motherwell went into the final two games of the season knowing EK Wanderers were chasing them for the league title.

The Colts travelled to EK Burgh United and despite dominating the first half fell a goal down when United hit them on the break early in the second half.

With ten minutes left it looked as though the title may be slipping when Martin McIntyre hit a stunning free kick from outside the box into the top right hand corner of the united net.

The Colts went all out for the victory and in the final minutes Sean McEnroe broke clear from the EK Burgh defence to slip the ball under the advancing united goalkeeper and win all three points for Motherwell.

FINAL RESULT:- EK BURGH 1 v MOTHERWELL COLTS 2

Despite not knowing how the other results had gone the Colts knew that they would lift the league title with a home win against a strong Wishaw Colts side who had held them to a draw a couple of weeks earlier.

Motherwell attacked Wishaw right from kick off playing a high tempo passing game. By half time Motherwell had raced into a three goal lead including one of the goals of the season when Mathew Lafferty collected the ball in his own half and after playing a serious of one-two's lifted the ball over the advancing Wishaw goalkeeper.

Wishaw hit back immediately after half time with two quick goals. Nerves began to show in Motherwells play and before long Wishaw had pulled the score back to 3-3.

The Colts now began to push hard for the winning goal and Mathew Lafferty completed his hat trick when he collected the ball on the edge of the Wishaw box and drove it into the bottom right hand corner of the net leaving the keeper with no chance.

The celebrations were now in full flow as the Colts lifted the Lanarkshire Youth Football Development League Title by an impressive eight points and in doing so ensured a place at the National Finals.

FINAL RESULT:- MOTHERWELL COLTS 4 v WISHAW COLTS 3

BARRACHNIE STAR LEAGUE FIXTURE 27/11/05

COLTS IN CONTROL


This was a much changed Barrachnie team who traveled to Ladywell for this league fixture.

This new look Barrachnie team however were no match for Motherwell who took full control of this match from kick off.

Mathew Lafferty and Jim Gibbons took full control of the midfield battle opening the Barrachnie defence time after time.

Both Colts strikers were being frustrated at the countless offside decisions being awarded by the referee who was being caught out by their pace.

Sean McEnroe opened the scoring from the edge of the box from a cut back.

Billy Neil then raced onto a through ball to finish well past the on coming keeper to increase Motherwells lead.

Motherwell then added a third when Mathew Lafferty beat the offside trap to race clear of the defence before rounding the goalkeeper and calmly rolling the ball into the Barrachnie goal.

Two further goals before half time from Gerry Smith and a second from Mathew Lafferty saw the Colts putting the game beyond doubt.

Barrachnie pulled a goal back though before half time when a through ball got stuck in the mud allowing wrong footing the Colts defence and allowing the Barrachnie striker to finish well.

Despite being so far behind Barrachnie Star tried to put Motherwell under pressure in the second half but found Paul Byrne and Fraser Marshall impossible to get past.

Both Billy Neil and Mathew Lafferty completed their hat tricks and Sean McEnroe added a second to inflict a heavy defeat fof Barrachnie Star for the second time this season.


FINAL RESULT : - MOTHERWELL COLTS 9 V BARRACHNIE STAR 1

League To Date :-
Played 10
Won 9
Lost 1
Drawn 0
Goals For 65
Goals Against 12
Points 27

NEWTOWN WANDERERS LEAGUE FIXTURE 20/11/05

LUCKY THIRTEEN

The Colts traveled to Cumbernauld to play a team high in confidence after winning their last four matches.

Motherwells squad was at full stretch with only twelve fit players able to make the journey.

The Colts took control straight from kick off immediately putting the home team under pressure.

Mathew Lafferty was in outstanding form in the middle of the pitch and it wasn't long before Motherwells superiority began to show.

Billy Neil opened the scoring showing good strength and control to round the goalkeeper.

Sean McEnroe then added a further two well taken goals before Martin McIntyre allowed the ball to run across himself before spinning and firing the ball into the top right hand corner of the net.

The Wanderers tried to re-organise for the second half but could find no way past with Gary Stirling controlling the defence.

The Colts dominated the second half with Billy Neil and Sean McEnroe showing great strength and movement and now scoring for fun, and helping themselves to six goals each.

The pick of the goals being Billy Neil's spin and top corner finish and Sean McEnroe's back post header from a corner.

FINAL RESULT :- NEWTOWN WANDERERS 1 V MOTHERWELL COLTS 13

LANARKSHIRE UNITED LEAGUE FIXTURE 6/11/05

KILLER FINISH


Both teams were looking forward to this game after the not so friendly pre-season game which Motherwell won with a late goal.

The game was switched to Ladywell due to a frozen pitch.

Motherwell started with the same team that had won the previous week.

This was a high tempo match with both teams playing exciting attacking football.

The colts were producing the better chances with the Lanarkshire goalkeeper being called in to action on a number of occasions.

Grant Thomson pulled off a fantastic full length save to push the ball over for a corner mid way through the first half.

A defensive slip allowed Lanarkshire to take the lead right on the stroke of half time.

The Colts took the game to Lanarkshire in the second half pushing hard for an equaliser.

Motherwell got rewarded for their good play when Mathew Lafferty rose well above the United defence to power home a header from a Gerry Smith corner.

Lanarkshire tried to respond but could find no way past the Colts defence of Gary Stirling, Paul Byrne, Fraser Marshall and Ryan McMillan.

Motherwell were denied a penalty in the last ten minutes when Ryan McMillan was clearly brought down inside the box by the united central defender.

The game looked to be heading for a draw when in the dying minutes Billy Neil flicked a low cross over the Lanarkshire keeper high into the roof of the net.

FINAL RESULT

MOTHERWELL COLTS 2 V LANARKSHIRE UNITED 1

EK BURGH LEAGUE FIXTURE 30/10/05

HIGH FIVE

Forced changes to the squad meant this was going to be a real test against a strong EK Burgh team at Ladywell.

Things started badly for the Colts when a mix up in the defence allowed the EK Burgh striker to nip in and flick the ball over Grant Thomson who was starting in goal.

Motherwell quickly fought back and were level within minutes when Sean McEnroe cut in from the left to send a low drive past the advancing goalkeeper at the near post.


The Colts continued pressure paid off when again Sean McEnroe broke free from the left and sent the ball into the opposite corner of the net.

Billy Neil added a third before half time when he ran on to a through ball from Mathew Lafferty to send a thunderous shot into the top of the net from a tight angle.

The second half started with more pressure from the Colts and a good move down the left resulted in a low cross to Jim Gibbons to finish at the back post.

EK Burgh pulled a goal back when the ball spun free off the wet surface and was turned in from close range by the on rushing forward.

EK Burgh now started to put Motherwell under increasing pressure and an excellent save by Grant Thomson from a direct free kick allowed the colts to attack at pace down the right hand side with Billy Neil breaking free to finish the game off with a well taken fifth.

FINAL SCORE

MOTHERWELL COLTS 5 v EK BURGH 2

PLAYER AWARDS SEASON 2004-2005

1991 SQUAD PLAYER AWARDS
SEASON 2004-2005

AWARDS TABLE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
RYAN McMILLAN

PLAYERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
SEAN McENROE

TOP GOAL SCORER
BILLY NEIL 1991 SQUAD
MARK JACKSON 1992 SQUAD

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
GARY STIRLING

BEST NEW PLAYER
PAUL BYRNE

PARENTS PLAYER AWARD
FRASER MARSHALL

GOAL OF THE SEASON
MARTYN BROWN

SPECIAL THANKS TO CRAIG SPEIRS AND FREDDY HOEY FROM ALL THE PLAYERS AND COACHES FOR ALL THE AWARDS DONATED, SPONSORSHIP, FUND RAISING AND CONTINUED SUPPORT.

LEAGUE TABLE

LEAGUE TABLE 1991

LEAGUE POSITIONS TO 23/9/05

MOTHERWELL COLTS 12 POINTS

EK WANDERERS 10 POINTS

EK BURGH 9 POINTS

WISHAW COLTS 9 POINTS

STRATHAVEN DYNAMO 7 POINTS

LANARKSHIRE UNITED 6 POINTS

MOSSEND BC 3 POINTS

NEWTOWN WANDERERS 3 POINTS

BARRACHNIE STAR 0 POINTS

ASTON VILLA 0 POINTS

LEAGUE FIXTURE 9 OCT 2005

COLTS BOUNCE BACK

Motherwell Colts bounced back from last weeks disappointing defeat by E. K. Wanderers, with a hard fought victory over Strathaven Dynamo.

This was always going to be a hard game for the Colts with the squad reduced to twelve players before the kick off.

Motherwell started well with Jim Gibbons coming back to centre midfield and Grant Thomson starting at right back.

Gerry Smith opened the scoring for Motherwell after 5 minutes, with a thundering dipping shot after running onto a defence splitting pass from Mathew Lafferty.

The Colts continued to control the first half and excellent link up play saw Billy Neil send Sean McEnroe through to send the ball low past the Strathaven goalkeeper, into the bottom corner of the goal.

Motherwell continued to press but failed to add further goals and were caught out with minutes left of the first half, when Strathaven broke at pace down the Colts right side and the cut back was forced home by the Strathaven number 10.

Strathaven forced the play more in the second half relying on the long ball, but Motherwell held strong with Paul Byrne holding the back four together.

Martyn Brown kept Strathaven at bay with some fine saves. A goal line clearance and some last ditch tackles from Gary Stirling ensured Motherwell held on.

FINAL RESULT

MOTHERWELL COLTS 2 V 1 STRATHAVEN DYNAMO