Norton & Stockton Ancients
N&SA Match Reports 4 March 2008
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Norton's opponents were Teesside Athletic and in blustery conditions Norton kicked off into the wind in a close and intense battle. Norton scored early on, a ball from midfield played through. Jamie Graham bustled his way through took control and inside the box and one on one with the keeper squared the ball to Tom Wing who with his usual composure slid the ball into the bottom corner. With the wind behind them Teesside used it to their advantage putting pressure on Norton. The backline of Callum Musgrove, Captain Lucas Connor, Oliver Crisp and Kieran Anderson looked in fine form in goal with Tony Coleby brimming with confidence. Tony was soon tested with some long range shots coming in the resulting corner. From one of the shots saw a sliced clearance coming back towards goal in the wind, Tony managed to get fingertips to it but the ball fell into the back of the net. With Teesside still threatening, Norton's midfield of Jamie Graham, Bradley Walker, Sam McNiff and Jordan Ormerod worked hard feeding the ball to Norton's forwards of Tom Wing and Danny Watson but running into the wind Norton could not find the back of the net and the game played through to half time. With a change made Kieran Anderson made way for David Cooper. Norton now lined up with a 3-5-2 formation Cooper playing as the hole man and it was not long before Norton were made to pay for the attacking formation. A Teesside attack saw a shot drilled low and hard towards the bottom right. Tony Coleby dived and tipped the ball onto the post the ball coming back to Tony off the post with Tony ready to kick the ball out the referee gave a goal to Teesside a harsh decision but the ref made the decision and Norton accepted it. At 1-2, things were not going to plan. Word came through that Seaton were winning 2-0 and still in the first half so it was up to Norton to turn things around if they wanted the title this week. Danny Watson and Jamie Graham were linking up well. Cooper in the middle was finding space and had a few attempts at goal hitting the bar. With one Jamie Graham had a superb free kick saved by the Teesside keeper but it was Danny Watson who levelled the score when Jordan Ormerod surged into the box and was fouled. Danny grabbed the ball making sure he took the penalty - a nervous silence fell as Danny strode towards the ball hitting it low and hard into the bottom left. With the game level, there was a renewed optimism within the Norton players. Norton's defence were impeccable in the second half. Lucas Connor looking composed Oliver crisp having a blinder and Callum Musgrove was running like a whippet and it was one of Callum's overlapping runs which created Norton's third goal. Callum pushed forward, beat his man and put in a cross to Danny Watson who volleyed the ball home in spectacular style. Tom Wing played superb and was replaced by Adam Melville and with the score at 3-2 Norton new they couldn't relax with Teesside sometimes having a four and five man attack but the points were sealed again by Danny Watson after another Cooper shot was deflected. Danny took control of the edge of the box swivelled and hit a shot into the bottom corner. Norton now knew that they had gained promotion - it was just down to Seaton. For Norton the midfield duo of Sam McNiff and Bradley Walker were superb as were Brad Corners pin point accuracy all game. Brad made way during the game for Tom Kelly who was straight into his midfield role and within seconds of coming on won a crucial tackle mounting another Norton attack with the game ending 4-2 in Norton's favour. It was back to the club awaiting the phone call. With the boys enjoying their fizzy drinks and singing their football chants the call came through total silence was followed by exuberant celebrations Seaton won 2-0 Norton winning the league with four games still to play. Well done lads another great fighting performance playing some superb football everybody linking up together. Brad and Sam solid in the middle, both wingers playing really well a composed defence, strikers causing problems from start to finish and in goal Tony Coleby was superb although Tony conceded two one was a fluke the wind and spin of the ball took it in the goal from a good solid had and the second that wasn't was a great save that any keeper would have been proud of now all Norton have to do is try and win the remaining four games which will be tough but the lads have beat every team in this league at least once already.
Norton U15 Girls resumed their season after the Winter break in their first competitive match since 8/12/07 and it took East Durham 4 minutes to blow the cobwebs off Norton with a crisp finish 0-1. The Norton girls tried to break down the East Durham defence but to no avail, East Durham added another 4 goals before the half time interval 0-5. After the break East Durham continued their onslaught of the Norton goal with keeper Beth Pounder although on the receiving end of 5 goals was playing magnificently trying to minimise the shoreline. East Durham increased their lead with a venomous shot to make it 0-6. After a number of missed chances on goal Norton finally made their breakthrough on 63 minutes when excellent work by Brookes and Johnson found Stockton and her electric pace saw her break free from the shackles of the East Durham defence and this occasion she struck her shot into the roof of the net 1-6.This momentarily held the East Durham tide and prompted Norton to play some good football ending up with good strikes on target from Brookes and Roxby, but unfortunately this was brushed aside once again as East Durham once again fired home 1-7.Although on paper the score was heavily weighted against Norton their play and resilience totally outweighed that even when East Durham hit another brace on 65 and 67 minutes 1-8, 1-9,Norton carried on for the final 13 minutes playing and trying to increase their shoreline. When the final whistle blew excellently refereed by Rob Routledge the Norton girls were hurt by the shoreline but were by no means out picking up the plus points of the game and looking forward into taking these into the next game. Special mention goes to Amy Rowntree who valiantly undertook a girl to girl marking job on East Durham's playmaker for the whole game and to heroic keeper Beth Pounder opposition nominated player of the game congratulations. Final score 1-9
New Marske 0 v Norton and Stockton Ancients U15 Girls 3
1/3/08
Squad: 1.Beth Pounder
2.Amy Rowntree
3.Chelsea Buttery
4.Beth Rodgers
5.Sasha Howells
6.Emily Chesworth
7.Laura Roxby
8.Danielle Behan
9.Jess Stockton
10. Laura Brookes
11.Heather Johnson
12.Alex Turner
Norton U15 Girls visited New Marske for the first time and found the game a bit like the weather conditions bracing and blustery, but Norton from the onset playing against the wind found the conditions suited their game controlled and on the floor and with the defence held tight by the superb Howells outstanding in her command. New Marske decided to play the long ball game and use the wind at their backs but Norton keeper Pounder was in dominant mood snuffing out two good goals bound strikes. On 15 minutes Norton deservedly took the lead when Buttery won the ball in midfield and found Chesworth and her cross was met by top scorer Stockton who crashed the ball home 0-1. This spurred New Marske to push on and try and take advantage of the wind but although the tempo was upped to boiling point Norton kept their composure to take the lead into the half time break 0-1. The second half was barely 3 minutes old when with the wind at their backs Norton increased their lead when Johnson and Brookes combined to free Stockton she outpaced the New Marske defence to fire home 0-2.Norton were forced into a reshuffle when Behan left the field with an injury, Alex Turner making her Norton debut stepped into the fray with Buttery dropping back into a defensive position. Norton further increased their lead when Rodgers cleared her lines Jess Stockton evaded two lunging tackles to fire home to secure her third goal and complete her personal hat trick, but more importantly secure her sides three valuable points and in the dying embers of the game Stockton was denied her fourth when her firm header hit an upright and bounced off the New Marske goalkeeper to safety. Well done girls you did yourselves proud, congratulations to opposition nominated player of the match Jess Stockton. Final score 0-3
TJFA U15's League Div 1 Stockton West End 2 V Norton & Stockton Ancients U15's 5
A real poacher's hat trick from Ged Livingstone saved NASA from an unexpected defeat in this local derby game played in tricky conditions. West End took an early 2 goal lead taking advantage of hesitation in NASA's overworked defence. West Ends midfield dominated the early possession but NASA's pace and movement caused problems and Ged Livingstone turned sharp and finished well before shortly after heading home in a scramble to level the scores. Then just before half time Livingstone got in behind and finished from a tight angle to give NASA the lead. Tom Booth headed home Adi Nicholson's cross and sub John Allison scored a late superb individual goal to make it more comfortable for NASA who were tested to the limit in this match. Ged Livingstone, Steve Curnow and Adam Nicholson were excellent and Tom Booth and Tom Lee worked tirelessly.
Norton U12's visited Redcar with few players coming to grips with the opposition and windy conditions. Norton gifted Redcar's two opening goals while playing with the strong wind .There only threats coming from Jonny Dye well struck corners .They reduced the deficit shortly before half time with a Jonny Dye free kick. Despite a better start to the second half, they never really pressured the Redcar goal and eventually succumb letting in 3 goals without reply. The pick of the Norton players being Shane Hammond, Lee Hastie and Jonny Dye. Redcar town B 5 Norton & Stockton Ancients 1
Norton U11A's travelled across to Darlington to play TSC. After three
postponements the sides were eventually able to play although conditions
were far from ideal with a very strong wind blowing from one end of the
pitch to the other. Norton stuck with the team and formation that had seen
them beat TSC three weeks earlier in the league encounter. Norton kicked
off against the strong wind and were soon pushed back into there own half
with TSC winning a string of corners that were well defended. With Norton
defending to a man TSC were finding it hard to breakdown the well organised
Norton team with Joe Randall and Ben Phillips both playing at the top of
their games and some crunching tackles being put in by Ben Kemp. Michael
Graham and Aaron Thompson were also winning the lion's share of ball in
midfield and it was Graham who set Harvey Swann away, he beat his man
before hitting a rasping shot that was well saved by the keeper. Even
though TSC were seeing allot of the ball they were not really threatening
Keelan Buckingham's goal. Again it was Norton that created another good
chance when Sonni Coleman set Swann away again but this time his shot went
narrowly wide. Both sides were trying to get the ball down and play
football but the strong wind was causing havoc with two cross come shot
flying across the Norton box. Norton tried to get the ball wide whenever
possible to use the full width of the large pitch, with Jason Vaughan and
Josh Rayner coming into the game more and more. Norton made a change with
the hard working Luis Van Hoof being replaced by Ethan "Ozzy" Oswald. With
the half nearing its end Norton created the best chance of the game. Joe
Randall won the ball and played it to Josh Rayner on the wing who in turn
played a through ball to the on rushing Sonni Coleman, he outran his man
before hitting a low shot that the keeper made a superb save to keep out.
HT 0-0. Norton made a change at half time with Nat Twizell replacing Jason
Vaughan. With the wind at there backs Norton took the game to there host
but it was TSC that started the half better winning a couple of corners
that were cleared. Norton were shooting on sight with Michael Graham going
close from the edge of the box. Next to try his luck was Josh Rayner and
when the keeper made a good diving save Harvey Swann followed in twice only
to see both shots blocked by the keeper's legs. Norton were continuing to
look solid at the back with the pace of Joe Randall a real asset and the
positional play of the Ben's keeping TSC at bay. The deadlock was broken
midway through the half when a Josh Rayner corner was cleared back to him
and with a swing of the magical left foot the ball flew high over the
keepers head into the back of the net. Norton had a couple of half chances
to extend there lead but the TSC keeper was on top form and the game was
still in the balance. From a TSC attack down the left the ball was crossed
and took a bobble which caused Keelan Buckingham to fumble, as he went for
the rebound he was adjudged to have fouled the TSC forward and a penalty
was awarded. The penalty was duly dispatched to make the shoreline 1-1.
With Norton shell shocked TSC had a chance to take the lead minutes later
but the ball was scrambled clear. Norton regained there composure and
started to get back on top and a few half chances came and went. With the
game looking like going to extra time Norton grabbed a winner two minutes
from time. A ball was played over the top and when it looked as though it
would run through to the keeper Sonni Coleman did not give up the chase and
he was rewarded when he got to the ball first and lifted it over the
keepers head. Norton saw out the final couple of minutes to progress to the
Semi-finals. FT 1-2.
Team : K Buckingham, J Vaughan (N Twizell), J Rayner, B Kemp, B Phillips, J
Randall, A Thompson (T Heslop), M Graham, L Van Hoof (E Oswald, J Greenan),
H Swann & S Coleman.
This was a great Cup tie, played in good spirit and was a great advert for
the TJFA. Both sides endeavoured to try to get the ball down and play
football in very windy conditions. It was testament to both sides effort
and battling qualities that the game was only decided in the last minute of
play. After Norton had beaten TSC so easily in the league a few might have
thought that Norton only had to turn up, this was not the case and the lads
showed grit and determination especially in the first half against the wind
to go in 0-0. In my opinion the first half display was one of the best this
season as Norton snuffed out anything TSC threw at them and created three
really good chances themselves against a strong wind. The second half was
tense but Norton scored two really good goals that deserved to win any
game. Josh Rayner scoring with a great left foot strike from distance and
Sonni Coleman chasing down and lifting the ball over the keepers head with
only minutes remaining. Best on the day for Norton were Ben Kemp, Ben
Phillips, Joe Randall, Sonni Coleman and Josh Rayner - the rest of the lads
were not far behind in a battling team performance. Norton now progress to
the Semi-finals where they will face Great Ayton at home next month.
8:51am Sunday 9th March 2008
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