PLAYED two, won two. Willington Under-15s' pre-season programme has got off to a victorious start - but what's that they say about performances being more important than results?

After an 8-0 defeat of our Under-14s three weeks ago, we were fully stretched by First Division club Houghton Hawks last Thursday.

We won 4-1, but rather than papering over cracks in our team, the scoreline was akin to trying to cover the Grand Canyon with a sheet of A4.

Coaches are told to encourage their teenage players; to accentuate the positive. Of course, personal and hurtful attacks on 14-year-olds would be anathema; so would destructive criticism.

But luckily, my lads are big enough (and ugly enough) to cope with some straight talking.

And not one of them disagreed with the description of our display in the first ten minutes of our game with Houghton as hopeless.

Fortunately, Adam Robinson, our goalkeeper, resembled his Leeds United namesake Paul as he made two superb saves to keep Houghton at bay.

I had decided not to give any instructions to my players during the game - the phrase "give them enough rope to hang themselves with" leaps to mind. I stayed true to that vow, but only just.

Four substitutions were made at half-time - a couple of which put key players back into positions they were more comfortable with - and that did the trick.

Despite our litany of mistakes, we were 2-1 up at the interval, but we took control immediately after the restart and never looked like losing.

So, there were some reasons to be cheerful, and at least we've got another two weeks and several more friendlies to iron out the problems.

And my worst fear - that we'd concede from a corner - wasn't realised. At least that saved me from carrying out my promise to jump into the River Wear!

I am still feeling my way into my first job as coach, as the Houghton game highlighted. I was indebted to the help of a handful of people to put the goal nets up - but my inexperience shone through shortly before kick-off.

We hadn't appointed an independent referee; there's nothing unusual in that.

But what was unusual was that the man who volunteered to officiate did not have a whistle!

I sprinted into Parkside Comprehensive School, where we are based, to search desperately for one. Finally, after rifling through the supply room, we turned up a whistle.

The alternatives - a car horn or just plain yelling on the referee's behalf - were too ridiculous to contemplate!

Like all kids' teams, Willington are reliant on sponsorship to exist (the £1.50-a-week subs paid by the players only go so far, you know).

I am currently working my way through the money provided by the local community association, but that too won't sustain the club through a nine-month season.

Which brings me to my task for the week: finding sponsorship for my Under-15s.

I've made a couple of inquiries - one discreet, one blatant - but so far my efforts have come to nought.

Not to worry, however. I remain confident that I will beg, steal or borrow the money required before the league campaign starts in nine days' time.

And at the time of writing, I am about to ask a company close to my heart for assistance. I'll keep you posted with how I get on!