Thursday 14th. April 2011

One of the busiest weeks of the season last week with an astonishing 292 matches played, 1339 goals being scored and 64 players scoring hat-tricks or better.

There were two players who scored six goals last weekend and they were Joe Jackson for Fishburn Boys Under 10 in the Durham third division, and Nicholas Neale for Beechwood Youth in the Under 13 fifth division.

To the games highlighted from last week now and you might remember I mentioned that TIBS FC "a" had an Under 12 third division home game against Richmond Town at the top of the table. Well, TIBS came out on top by two goals to nil to secure the Championship. Both goals for TIBS FC "a" in that game from Jacob Bradshaw. Richmond now have a really tough fight on their hands as they play Thirsk Falcons away this coming Sunday in a match that's likely to decide who goes to The Tall Trees as Championship runners-up in that division.

In the top match in the Under 14 third division the Bishop Auckland St. Mary's "b" team travelled across to New Marske and came away with three vital points with a narrow 2-1 win. The goal for New Marske from Liam Hall, with Wayne Whitfield and Brandon Wilson scoring for the Bishops. Those two teams are still in the hunt for honours in a very tight division.

Acklam FC Under 16 got their push for end of season honours in the third division right back on track with a useful 2-1 win over a very good Redcar Town "b" team. It was a game Acklam had to win, as defeat would surely have seen League honours go to Redcar Town. Full credit to Redcar, though, who battled all the way through the game with just 10 men. Goals in that one for Acklam from Sandy Davison and Elliot Graham, with the Redcar goal from the prolific Ryan Jennings.

The third division in our oldest age group saw a cracking game over at Hardwick Youth who were hosting Spraire Lads. This was always going to be a close match and that's exactly how it turned out. Spraire Lads maintained their push for the Championship with a narrow 3-2 win. Goals from Adam Brownless and Dale Evans for Hardwick, with Spraire Lads very much keeping the pressure on Stokesley FC "b" scoring through Stewart Cocker, Jamie Russell and Zak Tervit.

All but seven teams are now into the TJFA Cup Finals at Rockliffe Park and the two semi-finals I highlighted from the 15 played last Sunday both went to penalty shoot-outs. Wynyard Village "a" hosted Stockton Town in the Under 11 League Cup semi-final and, after Russell Bradley and Kieron Parnaby had scored for Wynyard and Ewan Gray and Chris Gregory has scored for Stockton, the game was won by Stockton Town on those nerve-racking penalties.

The same 2-2 scoreline at full time in the Under 18 League Cup semi-final match between Hartlepool FC and Stokesley FC "b", after goals by Luke Naylor and Grant Shears for Hartlepool were cancelled out by strikes from Isaac Gallon and James Weighell for Stokesley FC "b". Stokesley FC "b" eventually booking their place in the final at Hurworth, winning the penalty shoot-out by 6 goals to 5.

Back into the League and a fine 3-1 home win for Golden Flatts over Cumby Rovers in the Under 10 Durham top flight means another division is going all the way to the end, in terms of identifying Champions and Runners-up. Goals in that game for Golden Flatts from Andrew Buttery and two for Joshua Lester, with the Cumby goal scored by Robbie Lee.

An amazing 4-4 draw in the Under 11 sixth division as Middleton Rangers hosted Wolsingham. A hat-trick from Robert Bell and the other goal from Joshua McKendrick for Middleton Rangers, with Wolsingham scoring through Elliott MacNab who got two, Alex Bell and Scott Egglestone. Wolsingham will have to put the champagne on ice for another week or so as that division also goes right to the wire.

Stokesley's Under 16 team took three vital points in a very good game over at Eaglescliffe Elementis in the fourth division last Sunday, with goals from Sam Gawthorpe and Jack Suggett giving them a 2-0 win. Stokesley still have a number of catch-up games to play before the end of the season and they are still in with a major shout for honours if they win their games in hand.

In the Under 18 first division the top match was between Stockton Town and Marton FC and neutrals won't have been disappointed as Marton FC came out winners by 4 goals to 3 in a great game. A hat-trick for Josh Turner and a goal from John Rosbotham for Marton FC, with the Stockton goals from Callum I'anson, who got two, and Shaun Briscoe. Marton FC look the favourites for the title in that division, but it's yet another really tight division and there are still a number of outstanding fixtures to be played.

Well, yet another extremely busy weekend of junior football coming up as we close in on the end of the season, with another 276 matches scheduled, including the last seven semi-final matches in TJFA Cup Competitions, making this another fascinating week. Selections from this coming Sunday's fixture list would be:

Under 14 - Div. 4 - North Ormesby "b" v Newton Aycliffe Youth - 1:30pm
A match which is highly likely to determine the divisional runners-up. With only one point separating the two teams and both of them having just two matches left to play, this is a crunch encounter between two very useful teams. They have very similar League records and this is a match which could go either way.

Under 14 - Div. 1 - Marton Hall Drive v Boro' Rangers - 1:30pm
Hall Drive are hosting top of the table Boro' Rangers and, while Boro' Rangers look like they will be crowned the eventual Champions, Marton Hall Drive need to get something out of this match in their quest for divisional honours. A massive game with two very good sides competing against each other and this should be a really good game for the neutral supporter.

Under 10 North Riding - Div. 2 - Northallerton Juniors v Richmond Town - 12:30pm
Probably the biggest game of the season in this mini-soccer encounter between the top two teams. A match which really could go either way and, with Fishburn Park "a" breathing down both team's necks, this is a vital game for these two teams. Both are prolific in front of goals and they also have equally capable defences. A must see match for any neutral.

Under 15 - League Cup - S/F - Redcar Town "a" v Whinney Banks YCC - 1:30pm
The first of two very attractive League Cup semi-finals throws two old stalwarts of the League together over at Redcar, as Whinney Banks YCC make the journey across to play Redcar Town "a". Redcar Town "a" have probably lost the chance of League honours this season, but will want to take the scalp of the current first division leaders in this massive Cup match. It's been proved over the last five seasons that these two teams always have cracking matches against each other and this is a game which it is really hard to call. Should be a great advert for the game.

Under 10 North Riding - League Cup - S/F- Nunthorpe Athletic v Marton FC "b" - 1:30pm
A tremendous mini-soccer Cup match in prospect within one of our younger age groups as Marton FC "b" travel the short distance across to Nunthorpe Athletic in the Under 10 North Riding League Cup semi-final. Marton FC "b" have secured the Championship of the first division and will be looking for a "double", but they won't have everything their own way as Nunthorpe, also in the battle for the League runners-up position, try and make it through to Rockliffe Park in a few weeks time.

Some other excellent fixtures this week include:

Under 11 - Div. 5 Skelton United v Primrose Hill - 11:00am
Under 12 - Div. 3 Thirsk Falcons v Richmond Town - 11:00am
Under 12 - Div. 6 Stockton Rangers v Brompton Juniors - 11:00am
Under 15 - Div. 5 Newton Aycliffe Youth v Newton Aycliffe Juniors - 1:30pm
Under 16 - Div. 1 Greatham FC v Kader FC - 1:30pm
Under 18 - Div. 1 Stockton Town v Redcar Athletic "a" - 1:30pm

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