Gregory Celtic 0 Ise Lodge 3 (Murphy, Overton, Johnson).

THE boys reached their fourth cup final in three years with a resounding win at Gregory Celtic.
The steely determination in the eyes of every player showed their desire and commitment to winning this semi-final.
Gregory Celtic were well up for it but once Gordon Murphy's shot took a wicked deflection and flew past the startled Celtic keeper in the 13th minute the result was never in doubt.

Murphy was played in by Kyle Bowdler, who along with Ben Johnson and Jordan Gatting took complete control in the middle of the park.

Further chances were forged - the impressive debutant Tyler Overton going close and Gatting forcing a good save from the keeper.

But it took until the final minute of the half for the boys to register the second killer goal.
Will Newman swung in a beautiful cross, which was controlled by Jon Tite. His shot was well saved by the keeper but bounced back for Overton to smash in.

The back line of Will Stanley, Marcus Merrill and Liam Mutch had protected keeper Danny Maber to such an extent he was rarely called on at all in the first half.

The second half continued in the same manner. Just a few minutes in Murphy's surging run ended with him being pulled down. Johnson's penalty was saved but the skipper hammered in the rebound.

Subs Seb Gaziano and Adam Sturges were introduced and helped maintain control of the match.
Quite how the score stayed at 3-0 was a mystery. Overton went close again and Bony shot just over.
But when the final whistle went the boys could look back on a great performance. The win was achieved without the injured Andy White, Ross Knox and Se Anderson, who had all played their parts in previous rounds

KINGSTHORPE JETS A 1   ISE LODGE 6.

AFTER an edgy first few minutes the boys started to get on top in this game and once Kyle Bowdler had chased down a long ball and put us one up it was fairly straightfoward.

Further chances came and went before Jon Tite rounded the keeper and slotted home after good work by Liam Mutch. A similar goal from Andy White made it 3-0 before Jordan Gatting looped a shot over the keeper to make it four before half-time.

The second half continued in the same fashion but against the run of play Kingsthorpe pulled one back after a free kick was awarded 30 yards out.

But with the defence staying firm and Ben Johnson and Bony becoming more and more influential through the middle, White popped up to score his second of the game.

In the last minute Adam Sturges stabbed the ball home to make it 6-1.

ISE LODGE 3 (Sturges, Murphy 2) v KINGSTHORPE JETS BLUE.

THE lads moved into the semi-finals of the cup - and a date with Gregory Celtic - after a hard-fought win against lower league opposition.

Kingsthorpe defended doggedly for the first half and although Kyle Bowdler headed against the bar, Gordon Murphy headed narrowly over and Jon Tite volleyed high, we couldn't break the deadlock - Se Anderson's corners providing our best opportunities.

But in one of our better moves the balls was moved down the left from Seb Gaziano and then Andy White and after bobbing around in the box Adam Sturges shot home a minute before half-time.

The second half saw us play some better football but still not make a breakthrough. Eventually Gordon Murphy latched on to a loose ball and coolly scored. A minute later Kingsthorpe made it 2-1, two minutes further on Murphy scored again with a nice finish.

Further chances came and went but the score ended 3-1. Well done to the boys and well done to Kingsthorpe for a battling display.

ISE LODGE 2 (Mutch, Tite) v Welland Valley 0.

THREE points are three points and despite a disppointing performance the lads showed their remarkable durability to dig out another win.
Remember, Welland Valley were last season's Northampton League double winners and although they were short on manpower it was always going to be a tough game.
The first half saw a lot of pressure from the boys but few real chances - Gordon Murphy heading narrowly over from a great cross from Jordan Gatting and Jon Tite volleying over the bar.
Welland Valley were defending well and it took a penalty for our first clear chance - Andy White being brought down as he moved in on goal. Sadly, Ben Johnson's spot kick went wide but the captain played his part in rallying the boys with his never-ending encouragement and discipline.
Eventually, just three minutes into the second half Liam Mutch prodded the ball home after a corner and there were sighs of relief all round.
Tite scored our second goal after Mutch's cross was pushed out by the keeper and the boys started to relax a little more.
All the lads played their part in a battling win,including the substitutes, Ross Knox, Se Anderson and Adam Sturges, when they came on.

WHITEFIELD NORPOL 1 v ISE LODGE 4 (Murphy, Bowdler 2, Tite).

A DEVASTATING 12 minute spell at the end of this match showed just what the lads are made of.
The game started tentatively but we started to get on top after about ten minutes and after a couple of long range efforts, Gordon Murphy opened the scoring with a superb half volley from outside the box after he'd juggled his way through the Whitefield midfield.

Three minutes later Murphy teamed up with Kyle Bowdler who shot wide, before Will Newman and Kyle Bailey woked well down the right hand side. Bailey's cross found Jon Tite, whose ferocious first-time shot smacked the bar.

Bony then went close with a header and as the half ended we didn't look in too much trouble - Liam Mutch in particular marshalling the defence.

But the home side got on top at the start of the second half and equalised with a great long range effort.
Just 12 minutes were left when the comeback started. On a big pitch, the lads started to tire a little but the pitch seemed to take more out of Whitefield.

Still, it took a fabuolous goal to give us the lead. Bony picked up the ball up and from 35 yeards fired an unstoppable shot.

Just a minute later Bailey's deep cross was forced in at the far post by Tite and then in stoppage time Adam Sturges combined with Tite for Bony to fire in his second.

ISE LODGE 8 (Bailey, White (2), Mutch, Tite, Johnson, Bowdler, Stanley) v  LIONVERGE 0:

THIS was more like it. The boys started attacking straight from kick-off and Andy White hit the bar after just two minutes. Three minutes later and we were ahead when Jon Tite and Kyle Bowdler opened up the Lionverge defence with two crisp passes before Kyle Bailey slotted home confidently.

Tite and White switched flanks and the move paid dividends when Tite's shot was well saved by the Lionverge keeper, only for him to see Whitey sweep the ball home.

Rare Lionverge attacks were mopped up confidently by Marcus Merrill, Liam Mutch and Will Stanley and Ross Knox was rarely called upon.

The boys got goal number three shortly before half-time. Skipper Ben Johnson swung in a beautiful corner and Mutch nodded the ball home.

The formation was switched after half-time with subs Seb Gaziano and Danny Maber coming on first before Se Anderson and Adam Sturges made their bows later in the game. Goal number four came from Bony's superb cross which was headed into the far corner by Tite.

With Jordan Gatting and Gordon Murphy marshalling the midfield goal number five soon followed when Johnson struck a superb shot from outside the box. The captain was at it again minutes later when his cross-shot hit Whitey before flying in.

Tite just failed to connect with a beautiful ball in from Anderson before seeing his strike parried by the keeper. Bony was on hand to lash the ball home.

With seconds left Will Stanley hit his first goal of the season after exchanging a clever one-two with Tite.

ISE LODGE 5 (White 3, Murphy, Bowdler) BILLING UNITED 0.

ANDY White's sparkling hat-trick was the highlight as the lads eased into the quarter-finals of the cup.

Billing took the game to us early on but White's cracking 25-yard drive settled us down and with the defence getting to grips with Billing's attacking formation and Ross Knox in commanding form in goal, the boys grew in stature as the half wore on.

With Adam Sturges and Ben Johnson, who hit the post, battling like tigers in the midfield, the stage was set for White to continue to make some sparkling runs and he notched his second just before half-time when Jon Tite's trickery on the right of the Billing box led to to a simple tap-in.

The team was switched around a little at the sart of the second-half and we went 3-0 up when White struck a crisp left-foot shot from just inside the box.

Gordon Murphy, with a classy finish, made it four, before Kyle Bowlder, who had worried the Billing defence all afternoon, wrapped up the scoring from close range after a determined run and cross by Will Newman.

PARKLANDS TIGERS 0 ISE LODGE 0.

In a tough game both teams cancelled each other out in their quests for the title.

The lads started the brighter and Kyle Bailey shot narrowly wide after out-stripping the home defence.

We were indebetd to Danny Maber for some smart goal-keeping at times in the first half and our defence, particularly Marcus Merrill, were on top of their game.

But during the last five minutes of the first half we penned Parklands deep into their own territory and when the whistle went the home side was probably relieved.

The second half was much of the same - some breakaways by Parklands causing problems but we probably had the better chances.

Skipper Ben Johnson called their keeper into action and Kyle Bowdler headed narrowly over.

Some strong play by Gordon Murphy also saw the ball flash across their goal-line but no-ne was able to capitalise.

ISE LODGE 1 Hellenic 1 (Hellenic won 5-4 on penalties).


THE lottery of a penalty shoot-out dumped us out of the county cup.
Despite having more of the play and more chances on goal the full-time score remained 0-0.
Andy White and Kyle Bowdler had worked the Hellenic keeper and Jon Tite, Gordon Murphy and Jordan Gatting had also gone close.
Certainly the Hellenic keeper had been busier than Danny Maber!
In extra-time Hellenic began to get more of the play and went ahead mid-way through the first period.
The lads pressed for an equaliser and it was Bowdler who provided it with a sharp, left foot finish.
And so to the lottery of penalties. One missed spot-kick and we were out...
...back to the league campaign now...

ISE LODGE 2 (Tite, Murphy) WOOTTON ST GEORGE 2.

QUITE how we managed to drop two points after being 2-0 up inside four minutes was beyond everyone.

It all started so well...

Andy White's great through ball on two minutes put Jon Tite through and he smacked a ferocious shot from the edge of the box to put us 1-0 up. It was Tite's 50th goal for Ise in all competitions since he joined in February.

And it got better two minutes later when Kyle Bailey's shot was prodded home by Gordon Murphy.

Then the wheels came off. Despite numerous chances the score stayed at 2-0 until half-time.

Not long after the re-start Wootton scored a great goal to get back into the game.

Then they began to get on top and scored a deserved equaliser - another great strike - near the end to make it 2-2.

Jordan Gatting and Murphy both narrowly headed over as we pressed for the winner and Bailey and Liam Mutch went agonisingly close but it was not to be.

GREGORY CELTIC 0 ISE LODGE 1(Bailey):

KYLE Bailey's goal ten minutes from the end of a pulsating match settled it.

Bailey out-ran the home defence to slot home.

It was just reward for a battling and spirited display by the lads, particularly after Gregory Celtic started the match the brighter - we were indebted to to Liam Mutch's clearance off the line and some resolute defending by Will Stanley, Mutch and Marcus Merrill in the first 15 minutes.

But with Danny Maber in commanding form, the boys started to get their game together with Andy white and Will Newman foraging down the wings.

Indeed, we should have gone in at half-time one up when  White's cross was swept home by Jon Tite - the home linesman gave off-side.

We lost the influential Kyle Bowdler through injury just before half-time but with substitutes Seb Gaziano and then Gordon Murphy settling in well we began to look more dangerous - particulary when Jordan Gatting, Ben Johnson and later Merrill began to win the midfield battle.

Bailey hit the bar and White forced a save from the keeper before Bailey scored.

BRIXWORTH 1 ISE LODGE 2 (Bowdler 2):

TWO-goal Kyle Bowdler eased us into the next round of the cup but the lads had to battle all the way.

The opening exhanges were tentative before some neat work by Will Newman led to the ball falling at Kyle Bowdler's feet some 25 years out.

Bowdler's shot struck the post and flew in.

But to Brixworth's cedit they held out with some dogged defending and although Kyle Bailey went close it wasn't until Bowdler scored again in the second half after some good by Andy White that we had some daylight.

The Brixworth keeper pulled off two magnificent saves from Jon Tite and White although was a little lucky not to concede a penalty when Tite was brought down.

Minutes from the end Brixworth got their reward for some brave play by pulling one back.

Well done to Brixworth some excellent defending along with some fantastic goal keeping...... well Played

Oct 18th 2004 WELLAND VALLEY 1     ISE LODGE 4 (Bailey 4).

FOUR-goal Kyle Bailey was the star of the show but all the lads performed brilliantly as they beat last year's Northampton champions 4-1.

Bailey had put Ise three up within the first 17 minutes with a clinical show of goal scoring.  Moves involving Jordan Gatting, Jon Tite and Gordon Murphy all lead to - Bailey putting the ball into the back of the net.

Any threat from Welland Valley was snuffed out by superb performances by Marcus Merrill, Liam Mutch and Will Stanley at the back and with Danny Maber in commanding form there was no way through for our opponents.

The midfield, with Ben Johnson in inspirational form, continued to pull the strings and although we had to change things around a bit in the second half it made no difference to Bailey who scored his fourth at the start of the half.

Welland pulled one back but we had still had a couple of chances to make the scoreline even more emphatic.

ISE LODGE 2 (Mutch, Bailey) Whitefield Norpol 0:

THE lads should really have won this game by a bigger margin but the two goal victory keeps us unbeaten in our first season in the Northampton league.
After 12 minutes of pressure an Andy White shot was pushed around the post by the Whitefield keeper. Skipper Ben Johnson swung in a dangerous corner and Liam Mutch reacted quickest to prod the ball home.
The waves of attacks continued with Kye Bailey and Kyle Bowdler going close before the opposition keeper pulled off another good save from Jon Tite's drive.
Whenever Whitefield pressed forward the defence coped well although Danny Maber did have to dive low to his right to prevent an equaliser just before half-time.
The second half continued to see the boys attack, but Bailey's goal after the keeper parried a Bowdler shot, was all they had to show for it.

Sept 26th Lionverge 0 Ise Lodge 8 (Tite, White 3, Gatting, Murphy 2, Bowdler).

Despite a heroic performance by the Lionverge keeper, the lads ran out 8-0 winners.
Jon Tite set them on their way after a great through ball by Andy White. Strikers Kyle Bailey and Gordon Murphy then went close before White stabbed in number two after a goalmouth scramble.

The waves of attacks contrinued with Tite and Tom Legg nearly doubling the lead before Jordan Gatting drove home after great work by Murphy.

The second half continued in the same manner. Murphy made it four with a great individual goal just after half-time before White hit the fifth after Will Newman split the defence.

Kyle Bowdler, Murphy and White, completing his hat-trick, wrapped up proceedings.

Report filed by Lionverge follows

"Ise Lodge gave Lionverge a lesson in the art of football.

Such was their dominance and ability the scoreline doesn't reflect how big a gap there was in class. Ise could, and should, have won by 20 and would have done but for a combination of desperate defending and a display of world class keeping from the exceptional Joe Weatherall.

Lionverge to their credit never gave up and on another day a performance like this will see us give someone a hammering. A special thank-you to everyone associated with Ise - you a credit to your team!" First, thanks to the Lionverge manager - your team was a credit to you and never gave up.

And you're right your keeper was brilliant! Second, nice to see someone take us on face value and not have preconceptions about us!

Sep 12- Drayton Grange (a) 5-1 (Bailey 3, Murphy, Tite).

We kicked off our first campaign in Northampton with a 5-1 win against Drayton Grange.

The boys started brightly and Kyle Bailey put them ahead after just three minutes. Despite more pressure, Drayton Grange equalised against the run of play just seven minutes later.

The game went away from the boys for a few minutes but they quickly re-asserted themselves, creating numerous chances before Gordon Murphy scored.

After more heavy pressure a slick move involving Jon Tite, Liam Mutch and Jordan Gatting led to Bailey's cool finish.

Thye second half continued the theme of more and more pressure from the boys but they only had two more goals from Tite and Bailey (completing his hat-trick) to show for it.