FOOTBALL: A round-up of junior action

STOCKTON TOWN

Stockton Town U14 Yellows went out of the County Cup to Spennymoor Town Knights.

Drawing 1-1 at half-time, Stockton caved in in the second period, conceding four more goals. Jack White scored both of the Yellows' goals.

TRIMDON

THIS was a great weekend for Trimdon with all teams, including those in the development leagues, either winning or drawing. All the hard work and fun in the training sessions is beginning to pay dividends.

U8s

Trimdon Utd 5 Billingham Synthonia White 5

U9s

Billingham Juniors 0 Trimdon Utd 6 (Joe McKeown 2, Jacob Storey 2,Louie Grant 1 & Ethan Connolly 1)

U10s

Trimdon Utd 1 Barnard Castle 1

UNDER10s hosted Barnard castle today. From the start it was a fast, physical game. Trimdon took the lead within the first four minutes with a superb strike from Charlie Ashcroft.

Trimdon pressed forward from then on but couldn't find the net again.

Barnard castle created a few chances and missed a penalty before they levelled before half-time.

In the second half, Trimdon dominated possession and played some great football but just couldn't get that winning goal. The game finished 1-1 with Charlie Ashcroft getting the Man of the Match award for a strong all round performance.

U11s

Trimdon Utd Juniors 2 Marton FC Blue 2

TRIMDON United juniors U11s drew 2-2 with Marton FC Blue today in very testing windy conditions.

The lads got off to a great start, going two up with a great solo goal from Dean Wilkinson when he rounded the keeper and slotted home from around 20 yards. Then came an absolute screamer from Charlie Martin which seemed to have the lads on the way to three points but a spirited come back from a good Marton side saw them get two goals back, including a last-minute equaliser with a great strike from distance.

Overall we couldn’t be any happier with all of the lads as the right attitude and togetherness shone through again.

Man of the Match was Caleb Black who made a string of good saves in the windy conditions.

U12s

Trimdon Utd 12 (Josh Gibson 2, John Bolam 4,Joseph Hepworth 4, Jimmy Everson 1, Nio Zingarello 1) Thornaby FC Blue 2

U13s

Thornaby FC Blue 4 Trimdon Utd 6 (Shaw 3, Hennessy 3 MOM Hennessy)

U13s

The U13s won 6-4 today away to Thornaby FC in a really strong competitive game in which both teams played really well.

The match started with a perfectly observed minute's silence and then both teams served up an excellent match.

The whole squad played really well with Shaw, three, and Hennessey, three, getting the goals, Hennessey was the Man of the Match.

U15s

Grangetown Boys Clubs 3 Trimdon Utd 3 (Bradley Lynch, Ryan Foster, Riley Orpen)

U11s

Cleveland Junior Jaguars 4 Trimdon Utd 4 ( Cody Clenahan 2, Ben Davey & Salmon

THIRSK

Thirsk Falcons 3 Cleveland Jnrs 1
Sponsored by DGAP Solutions

After a minute’s silence, impeccably observed by everyone in attendance, the game kicked off.

The conditions were not great. A damp and extremely worn pitch was one thing, but the wind was gusting all over the place making for a difficult game. Although we had played Cleveland earlier in the season, they were stronger in personnel and ready to prove themselves.

We began into the wind and it was clear early on we were not enjoying the pitch as passes were short, shots scuffed and even the keepers were trying desperately to read the ball.

Ben down the right tried to feed Lewis, who failed to get enough on his effort. Drew was sent racing through only for the keeper to get a block in before a freekick gave Adam a speculative chance on goal. His sliced strike didn’t threaten the keeper.

Cleveland were gaining in confidence with two chances that could have easily resulted in a goal. The second brought a block from Matty that was brave, throwing everything at the ball.

It was a battle out there against the opposition and the elements.

It was end to end until Adam broke free through the centre, taking on a defender and then keeper only to be fouled when ready to strike. Penalty.

He picked himself up and cool as you like buried the ball into the left-hand corner of the net (1-0). Drew had a shot blocked in the box having tried to turn his marker before Cleveland fought back.

A warning strike followed by and equaliser when their striker found space to run into our box and we were even (1-1). In fairness Cleveland had created the better chances in the first half and deserved their goal. Half Time.

At the break Luke, Nathan and Captain Jack were introduced and Tim, Dylan and Harvey withdrawn. The anticipation was high in the second period of the game that we could up the tempo and get the winning goals we needed. The spectators were not to be disappointed!

We played on the front foot and pressed high. Sam’s runs were becoming more direct and his left foot strike rattled the Cleveland keeper early.

A through ball through defenders saw Lewis break free, however his usual composure deserted him, and he fired wide of the post. Luke slashed a shot high and wide, but he was making inroads on the right and soon after he played a ball back to Lewis who swivelled and fed Jack.

Jack picked up the ball and with the outside of his right foot accurately placed an unstoppable shot into the top right corner.

The goal was ten minutes from the end and a huge relief. 

U9 Blues v Boro Rangers City
(Sponsored by HG1 Build Ltd.)

A bright but breezy morning greeted Blues U9s as they travelled away to Boro Rangers City, and after an impeccably observed minutes silence we kicked off.

The pitch was in perfect condition and it suited the Blues passing game to a tee with all the early running going our way. The pressure paid off with some fantastic passing moves paying dividends, and although real goal chances were relatively few and far between in the first half pressure went our way. 

City did come back into the game coming up to the break forcing a couple of saves from the keeper.

The second half was a more even affair, but it was still lacking lots of goalmouth action despite great approach play from both teams – all credit to some top goalkeeping at both ends.

Another good day with all the boys enjoying themselves but something to work on over the coming weeks is distribution from defence.

Thirsk Falcons Seniors First Team v Harlow Hill
Sponsored by Twisted | Calverts Carpets

The top of the table clash at the Flatts had both in form teams matching up to each other.

Harlow Hill played some possession play early on without creating any clear chances, until a bit of a defensive mix up allowed them forward to flash an effort across the goal.

Thirsk started to take a grip of the game and when a delightful cross from Josh P found Mark Cobb at the back post he headed the ball into the back of the net for 1-0.

Harlow Hill started to play balls forward through their mobile forwards and created a couple of half chances just before the equaliser came to make it 1-1 a side foot finish from their striker.

Minutes later the tenacity of the Harlow forwards drove them forward and a ball winning tackle from Dave Young which the referee deemed to be a foul and awarded the penalty.

The Harlow striker struck the ball well slightly to the left and the Thirsk keeper saved the penalty well.

Into the second half it was mainly Harlow Hill who pressed more with Thirsk trying to counter on the break. Both sides gave everything in the second half but struggled to create that clear chance.

With around ten minutes to go Mark Cobb crossed the ball to Dan McCalmont who found a yard of space but couldn't get his header on target and it went over the bar.

Harlow kept pressing for a winner and the keeper pulled off a good save from their striker to deny them the lead.

Final Score 1-1, probably the right result from two teams topping the division.