Thursday 12th. May 2011

The final League weekend saw us play 139 games with 744 goals being scored and 50 hat-tricks scored by the players involved.

Some amazing scoring performances and we start by selecting 5 players who scored 6 individual goals. They were Callum Brundle for Marton Hall Drive "a" in the Under 11 first division, Ryan Telford for Fishburn Boys in the Under 11 fourth division, Curtis Wilson for Guisborough Town in the same division, Dale Evans for Hardwick Youth in the Under 18 third division and again in the Under 18 third division, six goals for Hassan Rezaie who plays for Barwick Albion. But the best individual performance of the final League weekend went to Liam Wright of Marton FC who play in the Under 9 North Riding top flight and he helped himself to a magnificent 7 goals last Sunday.

I mentioned some matches last Thursday which would decide League honours as some divisions went right to the wire in terms of final League placements, and there were some great matches:

In our oldest age group, Stokesley FC "a" hosted Marton FC in the first division. Marton FC took the lead with a strike from Liam Kelley but Stokesley fought back and won the Championship as the very impressive Ben Whetter headed in an equaliser and Ged Livingstone notched himself a hat-trick with a goal just before the break and then two more in the second half, Stokesley eventually winning by 4 goals to one.

It was a double celebration for Stokesley at Under 18 level as their "b" team, who play in the third division, went across to Hartlepool and, in a tricky looking match against Saxon FC, came away with the three points and the Championship following a 1-0 win. The all-important goal in that one from Lewis Ramage.

New Marske FC faced a difficult looking match in the Under 14 third division over at Bishop Auckland St. Mary's "b" and had to settle for the runners-up position following a 2-2 draw. Goals from Dean Hutchfield and Wayne Whitfield for Bishop Auckland with Lewis Henderson and Billy Keane on target for New Marske.

Another massive game also took place at Bishop Auckland whose "a" team entertained Nunthorpe Athletic in the Under 16 second division last weekend where Bishop Auckland guaranteed themselves a visit to The Tall Trees presentation evenings with a 3-1 win. The Nunthorpe goal from Hamilton Flavio, but two strikes from Scott Stainton and a third from Sam Dixon enough to get Bishop Auckland over the line in that top match.

There's nothing like leaving it to the last couple of games of the season to ensure the Championship, as Sir Alec Ferguson once said it was "twitchy bum time", but that's exactly what Darlington TSC from the Under 11 third division did over the final week. First they won a midweek fixture by a narrow margin of 3 goals to 2 away at New Marske, and they then went on to secure the Championship over at Billingham Synthonia with a fine 6-2 win on Sunday. The Synthonia goals both coming from George Carne, but a couple of goals each for Jamie O'Brien and Nicholas Whiston with further strikes from Ellis Jackson and Oliver Theakston eventually getting Darlington TSC over the finishing line in top spot.

Another title decider played last Sunday was in the Under 10 Durham third division over at Stockton Rangers where a win for either team would have given them the Championship. In what I have been told was a great game the points were shared in a 2-2 draw which sees Stockton Rangers go to The Tall Trees as Champions and Fishburn Boys go as Championship runners-up. The goals for Stockton Rangers from Joe Howells and Conor O'Driscoll with Joe Jackson getting both of the Fishburn Boys goals.

Another team to eventually secure a visit to The Tall Trees for Presentation Evening who also left it right up to the final League weekend were Mount Pleasant Rangers "a" who compete in the Under 13 third division. Only a victory in their final game over at Nunthorpe Athletic would guarantee them some silverware. Nunthorpe b" scored through Louie Wyke but Mount Pleasant knocked in four in reply with Daniel Pigg getting himself two more goals for the season, with further efforts from Gary Bell and Matthew Wharton sewing up a great campaign for the Darlington outfit.

Redcar Town "a" wrapped up the Championship of the Under 9 North Riding first division with a 5-0 home win against Cargo Fleet Juniors in their final League match. Goals in that one for Daniel Bavin, Harvey Playforth and Liam Williams with Hayden Hackney scoring twice to ensure a visit to the awards ceremony at The Tall Trees.

Stockton Town Under 11 played three times last week and won them all to secure the runners-up spot in the first division. Boro' Rangers end the season as Champions as they won their two matches over the final League weekend in that division.

With Marton Hall Drive and Coulby Newham breathing down their necks, Guisborough Town had to win their final match last week and they managed that with an emphatic 8-0 win over Yarm Town Juniors. That win gives them the Championship of the Under 11 fourth division with goals coming from Oliver Haley and Kian Ward and six from the very impressive Curtis Wilson. Marton Hall Drive "b" just edged out Coulby Newham to finish the season as Championship runners-up in that division, after winning their final two matches last week.

All in all a very exciting League season came to a conclusion with many Championship and runners-up positions being decided on the very last day.

We have the 22 Cup Finals this Sunday over at Middlesbrough FC training headquarters at Rockliffe Park in Hurworth, where all of the Finals will be played to a conclusion and you can bet there will be some very exciting games, some very excited players and not least some very excited and passionate supporters as mams and dads go along to watch these end of season finales. I can imagine a few jangling nerves as Sunday morning dawns.

This is a great way to end a season and the thanks of the League must go to Middlesbrough FC and all of their staff for their support and assistance in making sure that we sign-off the season in style, allowing the youngsters to play these Finals on some of the best surfaces to be found anywhere in the country.

We hope everyone who goes along enjoys what should be a great day and that they all leave with very happy memories of the TJFA Cup Final day. Matches kick-off from 10:00am with the last games kicking-off at 3:15pm. The Cup and medals are presented on the day almost immediately after each Final comes to a conclusion.

It's always difficult to pick out or select matches when they are all finals, but there are some which do stand out and these are listed below:

Under 12 - LC Final Marton FC v Kader FC - 3:15pm
Two teams who have really dominated the Under 12 first division this season go head to head as the runners-up, Marton FC, try and prevent the Champions from gaining a massive season double. This really is a match which could go either way and it may just be that a single goal is the difference at the end. A must watch Final.

Under 15 - LC Final Stokesley FC v Whinney Banks YCC - 1:45pm
A similar situation in the Under 15 League Cup Final as the top two sides from the first division meet up. This should be a cracking match between the Champions, Whinney Banks YCC, who have won the division by a huge margin of 8 points and second placed Stokesley FC who were 8 points ahead of the third placed side at the end of the League season. Another match which could go either way and this should be a terrific advert for the quality and standard of the league and, indeed, this age group.

Under 11 - LC Final Stockton Town v Boro' Rangers - 1:30pm
Again the top two first division sides meet up in what should be a really tight game. Only two points separated these two teams when the League season ended with Boro' Rangers securing the Championship and Stockton Town finishing in the runners-up position. Two teams who score goals for fun and even though they have capable defences this could be a high-scoring Final and one of a number of great games for any neutral to watch.

Under 10 N/R - LC Final Marton Hall Drive v Marton FC "b" - 1:30pm
Two very successful Marton teams meet up as division 1 runners-up, Hall Drive, meet the Champions, Marton FC. Divided loyalties in this match for many people at the Club, but based on League positions the best two teams in this age group should give all supporters a Final to remember.

Under 18 - LC Final Grangetown YCC v Stokesley FC "b" - 2:15pm
Grangetown YC, who just missed out on divisional honours in the second division, eventually finishing in third place, play the third division Champions Stokesley FC "b" in our oldest age group. This should be a "no quarter asked or given" encounter between two very useful teams and it is almost impossible to guess who will come out as eventual winners in this cracking Final. A great-looking Cup Final in our oldest age group.

I would like to sign off by wishing all players and the teams every success on Sunday and may the best team on the day win the Final.

I would also like to give a special mention to Middleton Rangers on reaching the Under 12 TJFA Challenge Cup Final. They are the lowest placed League team enjoying a trip across to Hurworth as they operated this season in the fourth division. They have done remarkably well to reach the Final of these very competitive Cup Finals. We wish them well in their Final, as of course we do with all teams. We hope everyone going to Rockliffe Park on Sunday has a great day out.

All being well, these Reports will continue next season, around the third week in September.

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