Newton Aycliffe Sports Club Under-9s and Under-10s competed in the Northwest-of-England Trophy over the Bank Holiday weekend and finished winners in both age groups.

The Under-9s, who won the title at Blackpool last year as Under-8s and a year later topped the group stage having been beaten only once during the two days.

The Under-9s Final, contested by Fleetwood YMCA A and NASC, saw both teams create an excellent spectacle for the supporters with competent football being played. Aycliffe pushed forward and looked the most likely to score first. The crossbar only denied Jack Slatcher when he struck a fierce shot from Kurt Matthews' corner. Moments later, Aycliffe indeed opened the scoring when Ben Stevens drove in a corner and Kurt Matthews fought through the defence and rose to volley into the side of the goal.

Aycliffe then started to play deep and this allowed YMCA to create some good football. Ryan Draffan and Thomas Iley now called upon more and more to deal with threat that their forwards posed. Moments before half time, YMCA equalised. They played the ball from their centre half to the wing and ran down the left side of the pitch. Aycliffe allowed the midfielder to run into the box before he passed to an unmarked player who was given the simple task of driving the ball into goal. Half time score: 1-1.

Aycliffe started the second half with determination, and only rash challenges by the opposition seamed to slow them down. Indeed Ben Stevens was unfortunate not to regain Aycliffe's lead when his free kick was drove into the goal and was cleverly stepped over by Kurt which left the opposing keeper chasing the ball back towards his own goal to see it shave the post and go out of play. Aycliffe now began to take hold of the game, Connor Lyon (on for Joseph Young) and Thomas Iley standing firm in defence and releasing the ball down the channels. Jack Slatcher winning all the aerial balls and challenges in the centre of the park, began to frustrate the opposition, and when he was awarded a free kick, Kurt had only one thing in mind. His shot, heading for goal was diverted back across the keeper by Stiv who had turned to volley the incoming strike into the back of the net. YMCA mounted more pressure on Aycliffe, Thomas Prior, the hero of the weekend, defending his goal tremendously well. Connor and Iley chasing every lost cause and Ryan Draffan running the ball out of defence ensured that YMCA were not going to spoil Aycliffe's day. Final score 2-1. A fantastic weekend was capped off when Aycliffe U9's were presented with the Fairplay Award for second year running. Well Done Everybody.

Tournament scorers: Ben Stevens (5), Joseph Young (4), Kurt Matthews 3, Jack Slatcher (2).

Player of the tournament: Thomas Prior

Team: Thomas Prior, Connor Lyon, Ryan Draffan, Thomas Iley, Jack Slatcher, Kurt Matthews (captain), Joseph Young and Ben Stevens.

Day one of the tournament saw NASC Jaguars Under-10s bag four points from six by beating Blue Star Juniors 3-1 in the first game and then drawing with Aycliffe's other Under-10s team, The Panthers, 2-2.

League standings upon close of play on the Saturday saw Thornton Boys (Liverpool) in top spot with six points, Jaguars second on four, Ryton (Newcastle) third with three points, Panthers fourth with one and Blue Star Juniors (Blackburn) trailing in on zero points.

Day two got off to the worst possible start for the Jaguars being soundly beaten by Thornton Boys 7-1. This was perhaps the worst performance of the season. With all of the other mornings results falling into place, the Jaguars were left needing a win against Ryton if they were to progress to the final on the afternoon.

After a delay due to a change of pitch, the Jaguars got stuck into Ryton with real vigour and dominated the whole game with fast, skilful and determined football eventually running out 5-0 winners.

The final was to be contested between Thornton Boys (undefeated throughout) and the Jaguars. Tension was extremely high amongst the Jaguars supporters whose ranks were now swelled by the jubilant Under-9s and the Panthers. It was a great show of support by all of the Newton Aycliffe Sports Club Junior FC.

Ten minutes into the game Niall Smith prodded home a ball from close range to give the Jaguars the lead , which they held onto until half time. Clearly lifted after the interval Thornton attacked with real menace and three minutes in grabbed an equaliser. With 12 minutes remaining Andy Burnham was replaced in defence by Liam Dodds. Thornton continued to press and were denied what appeared to be a goal, only to be scratched off due to the quick thinking of the Jags keeper, Michael Haykin, who was continuing to impress. Photographic evidence later revealed that the ball had crossed the goal line!

The final whistle went taking the game straight to a penalty shoot-out.

Niall Smith took the first, coolly slotting the ball into the corner. Michael Haykin saved the first and second Thornton penalties with Jake Wilson also finishing well for the Jags. James Cooper unfortunately put his penalty wide but Thornton again failed to score when they crashed the ball against the angle of the upright and the crossbar. The Jags needed to score to win the match. Liam Dodds strode up to the ball and smashed into the back of the net to win the final much to the delight of all of the Jaguars team and supporters. It was a fantastic end to the season and well deserved.

Player of the tournament was Michael Haykin

Team: Andrew Burnham (captain), Michael Haykin, James Cooper, Ben Taylor, Matthew Philippo, Jordon Steele, Matthew Atkinson, Joe Calder, Jed Leonard, Jake Job, Niall Smith, Jake Wilson, Liam Dodds

* Newton Aycliffe Sports Club Junior FC is accredited with the FA Charter Standard. Teams competing next season in The Teesside Alliance Junior Football League will include: Under-6s, 7s, 8s, 10s, 11s, 13s, 14s, 15s and 16s. If anyone is interested in joining the club in any of the above age groups, then ring secretary, Peter Sproates on (01325) 321449 or log on to nascjuniorfc.co.uk and contact the relevant manager.