Thursday 10th. March 2011

A brilliant weekend, with most games going ahead and a lot of catch-up matches played in both TJFA Cup Competitions. 241 matches and 1,169 goals with 63 players scoring hat-tricks or better.

The highlights from last weekend now and a couple of players who must have enjoyed it more than most with Josh McKeown knocking in 7 goals for Trimdon United Under 13 in the sixth division, but this was beaten out of sight by Brandon Chaytor who scored ten for Tollesby Athletic Under 12 in the sixth division.

I went over to Great Ayton to watch a match I had listed on here last week and this turned out to be an absolutely brilliant game of football, when the Ayton team took on Marton Hall Drive in the Under 14 quarter final of the TJFA League Cup. After Hall Drive had a goal disallowed for offside, the Great Ayton lads took the lead when Brad Malone fired home. The game was end to end and opportunities were created by both teams, but it was Great Ayton who went further ahead with a cracking strike from Flynn Johnson. Hall Drive, to their credit, worked tirelessly to get back into the tie, but Great Ayton wrapped up a semi-final place when Brad Malone scored his second and Great Ayton's third. 3-0 probably flattered Great Ayton a little bit, as Marton Hall Drive could have had a number of goals themselves, but a big heads-up to all who attended. Sometimes with a match of such high profile things can get a bit over-zealous, but the supporters, the officials and the players were an absolute credit to the League.

In the Under 12 third division Darlington TSC travelled across to Richmond Town where Richmond came out rather comfortable winners by 6 goals to 2. Richmond are fast becoming one of the favourites to pay a visit to The Tall Trees at the end of the season. Two goals each for Richmond Town from Euan Corbett and James Donoghue, with one from Ben Edwards and an own goal. The TSC scorers were Josh McLay and James Wood.

In the Under 15 fourth division Loftus FC entertained St. Francis 2000 "a" and kept this division wide open with a 3-1 win. Only six points covers the top five teams in this division. The goals for Loftus from Jamie Everington, Leon Sayers and Alan Watson with the St. Francis goal from Brandon Roberts.

The Under 18 third division is also looking really wide open with Stokesley FC "b", a little surprisingly, going down 5-2 at Hardwick Youth. That's Stokesley's second successive defeat and after looking as though they were nailed-on for the Championship they are in the mix with both Hardwick and Spraire Lads as the season enters it's final phase. Two goals for Dale Evans for Hardwick, with their other three coming from Adam Brownless, Ben Pavlou and Curtis Thompson. The Stokesley goals from Lewis Ramage and Luke Telford.

Stockton Town "a" remain top of the Under 9 Durham first division after a 2-0 home win over a useful Norton & Stockton Ancients. That win puts Stockton 4 points clear with games in hand over their closest challengers. Harry Green and Harry Healy on target for Stockton in that one.

In the top division at the Under 9 age group, but this time in the North Riding area, Marton FC hosted Boro' Rangers and came away with the three points with a narrow 1-0 win, the all-important goal coming from Liam Wright. That's another tight division with any of the top five teams in with a major chance of honours come May.

A tremendous result for Acklam FC over at Middleton Rangers in the Under 11 sixth division as they kept their hopes of silverware alive with a 6-3 win. These two teams are goalscoring machines and this must have been a great match for the neutral. Two goals each for Acklam from Cory Dolan and Louis Hall with strikes by Lucas Brown and Beckham Stockton. The Middleton goals from Robert Bell, who hit two, and Joshua McKendrick.

Top of the table New Marske are almost within touching distance of the Championship of the Under 12 second division now, as they travelled across to third placed Norton & Stockton Ancients and came away with the three points with a very useful 4-1 win. A hat-trick for Morgan Corner and their fourth from Elliot Clark. The Norton & Stockton goal coming from James Walmsley.

Beechwood Youth are still going well in the Under 13 fifth division and with lots of games in hand over teams above them they could still be in with a major chance of League honours this season. Last Sunday they hosted 21st. Allstars "b" from Darlington and won 3-1 with Tommy Leech scoring twice and their third from Nicholas Neale. The goal for Allstars "b" from Majid Hajmahmoud.

Boro' Rangers stayed top of the Under 14 first division winning by the odd goal in five when Greatham FC were the visitors last Sunday. Goals for Boro' Rangers from Adam Jefferson, Macaulay Langstaff and Jackson Wardell with the two Greatham goals from Tony Barclay and Ryan Meggs. Still a lot to play for by a number of teams in that division.

The second and third placed teams had to settle for a point each in the Under 14 third division when New Marske travelled across to Fishburn Boys. A 1-1 draw was the final result with the Fishburn goal from John Gibson cancelled out by a goal for New Marske by Billy Keane.

Finally from last Sunday, a great result in the third round of the Under 11 Challenge Cup for Wolsingham AFC who entertained a team four divisions higher in Whinney Banks YCC and came out winners by 6 goals to 5 to progress into the quarter final stage of that Competition. Two goals each for Wolsingham from Alex Bell, Elliott Macnab and Connor Stevenson with the Whinney Banks goals coming from Jordan Harding and Sam Taylor who hit two each, with their fifth from Elliot Breckon.

Well, we have a full League programme this coming weekend with 252 matches scheduled and my choices from a great looking fixture list would be:

Under 11 - Div. 2 - Spraire Lads "a" v Golden Flatts - 11:00am
Unbeaten and top of the table Golden Flatts from Hartlepool travel across to second placed Spraire Lads "a" in Darlington, who have lost just the one League game so far. This is a cracking looking fixture. Golden Flatts prolific in front of goal having scored 75 goals in their 15 League games, but Spraire Lads have an excellent defence which has conceded only 8 goals in 13 games. Golden Flatts would be firm favourites for the title if they win this one, but they will have their work cut out against a very useful Spraire Lads outfit who will make them fight all the way.

Under 13 - Div. 3 - Nunthorpe Athletic "b" v Spraire Lads - 11:00am
Spraire Lads again, as this time their second placed Under 13 third division team travel across to high-flying Nunthorpe Athletic "b". Nunthorpe are 100% this season and will be firm favourites for the Championship title if they take the three points here. The top two goalscoring sides in this division and this could be a great game to watch.

Under 9 N/R - Div. 3 - Guisborough Town v Northallerton Juniors - 12:30am
One of the best mini-soccer games this weekend could be the top of the table clash between Northallerton, sitting top, and Guisborough in second place in the Under 9 North Riding third division. Again, these two teams score goals for fun and this should be a great little match to watch and, if Northallerton win this one, they will be in the driving seat for the League Championship.

Under 11 - Div. 4 - Coulby Newham v Stokesley FC - 11:00pm
Top host second in this great looking game, with Stokesley perhaps just the slight favourites, but this is a big game and the final outcome is probably too close to call. Another division of good quality, with any number of teams all scenting honours. This will be the top game of the day in this division.

Under 16 - Div. 2 - Mount Pleasant Rangers v Newton Aycliffe Juniors - 1:30pm
Again we have the top two teams in a division going head to head, when the leaders Newton Aycliffe travel the short distance down to Darlington to take on Mount Pleasant Rangers. Both teams are unbeaten and have won all their League games bar one, which they have drawn. This should be a pulsating game with, on paper, a draw perhaps the most favourable bet.

Some other quality games this weekend which include:

Under 10 Durham - Div. 1 Cumby Rovers v Golden Flatts "a" - 12:30pm
Under 10 Durham - Div. 2 Wynyard Village v Mount Pleasant Rangers - 12:30pm
Under 10 N/R - Div. 2 Northallerton Juniors v Normanby United - 12:30pm
Under 10 N/R - Div. 3 Tollesby Athletic v Fishburn Park "b" - 12:30pm
Under 11 - Div. 1 Kader FC v Wynyard Village "a" - 11:00am
Under 11 - Div. 6 Wolsingham AFC v Middleton Rangers - 11:00am
Under 12 - Div. 3 Richmond Town v TIBS FC "a" - 11:00am
Under 12 - Div. 4 Middleton Rangers v Stockton Town - 11:00am
Under 12 - Div. 5 Newton Aycliffe Youth v Thornaby on Tees - 11:00am
Under 13 - Div. 2 Leven AFC v Barnard Castle - 11:00am
Under 14 - Div. 4 Newton Aycliffe Youth v Eaglescliffe Elementis - 1:30pm
Under 16 - Div. 1 Stockton Town v Greatham FC - 1:30pm
Under 18 - Div. 1 Marton FC v Stokesley FC "a" - 1:30pm

The TJFA Semi-Final Cup draws took place this evening on BBC Tees. Good luck to all remaining Teams in both Competitions.

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