Thursday 15th. September 2011

We started the new 2011/2012 League campaign on Sunday with 257 matches being played, 1,300 goals being scored and 70 players scoring hat-tricks or better.

There were three players who scored five goals each, but a "heads-up" for a couple of players who scored even more: Ash Lavan scored 6 times for Grangetown YCC "b" in the Under 18 third division, but our top goalscorer last weekend was Robert Bell, who plays for Middleton Rangers Under 12 in the sixth division, and he helped himself to 7 individual goals.

Some excellent matches last week and I went over to Hall Drive in Acklam to watch my "pick of the day" as Marton FC "a" entertained Kader FC in the Under 13 top flight. With both teams paying each other the utmost respect and realising that any slip-ups, even at this early stage, would cost valuable Championship points it was always going to be a close-run affair. Marton were slightly the better side in the first half and scored with a good strike from Marcellus Kerr, but Kader applied pressure throughout the second half and deservedly levelled when a loose ball was seized upon by Reece Breslin and he made no mistake. The final scoreline of 1-1 was probably the expected outcome in a match which pitted two very good sides together in the very first game of the new season.

Another game which failed to separate the teams was in my top pick within the mini-soccer age groups, as Thirsk Falcons "Clarets" made the journey up to North Ormesby in the Under 10 North Riding first division. Two very good sides, promoted to the first division this season, played out a 2-2 draw with Lloyd Griffiths and Jake Thompson scoring for North Ormesby and Andrew Suffield and Archie Whitfield on the scoresheet for Thirsk.

Richmond Town proved too strong for Cumby Rovers in the Under 11 first division and came out 6-2 winners. Thomas Kavanagh scored twice for Richmond with their other goals from Logan Newall, Edward Sabey, Ethan Taylor and Harvey Websdale. The two Cumby Rovers goals both came from Steven Dawson.

In the Under 12 top flight Spraire Lads "a", from Darlington, travelled over to Redcar Town and secured a 5-2 win. Again these were two promoted sides with great attacking players and while Cameron Park and Jack Sullivan scored for Redcar, Spraire Lads started the season the better and wrapped up the three points with goals from Joe Andrew, Callum Coleman, Jack Hudson, Karl Jones and Luke Sinclair.

A closely fought match over at TIBS saw newly promoted TIBS FC "a" win by the odd goal in five against Norton & Stockton Ancients in the Under 13 second division. N&S Ancients scored through Jack Chapman and Liam Matthews with the three TIBS goals coming from Jacob Bradshaw, Samuel Candlin and Callum James. This was a good performance by TIBS as N&SAncients finished in third place in that division last season.

Great Ayton posted a clear indication of their intentions in their first match in the top flight at Under 15 with a comprehensive victory over Greatham FC "a". Greatham are a very good side and were many people's idea of possible Champions at the end of this season after having had a great season last time around, but newly promoted Great Ayton ran out comfortable 5-1 winners. Jonathan Boal, Nathan DiCicco, James Goodings, Joe Marsay and Oliver Parker all on the scoresheet for Great Ayton with the single goal for Greatham from Carl O'Sullivan.

Rossmere Rangers possibly went into the Under 16 first division match down at Brompton Juniors as slight favourites but the end result was a 1-1 draw for these newly promoted sides. Brompton's goal came from Adam Wilson with the Rossmere strike from Clint Dodd.
In the same division, last years TJFA Team of the Year, Whinney Banks YCC, didn't find things going all their own way as they hosted Greatham FC, although they eventually came away with all three points in a 4-2 win. Goals in that one from Sam Calvert, Mason McNeill, Damon Miller and Elliot Wattis for the "Banks", with Karl Hammond and Jack Taylor on the scoresheet for Greatham.

Finally in the matches I highlighted last week, Marton FC "a" started their Under 18 first division campaign with a comfortable 6-1 home win over Hartlepool FC. Laurence Hutchinson and Liam Kelley scored twice for Marton FC with their other two goals coming from John Rosbotham and Josh Turner. The Hartlepool FC goal was scored by Luke Naylor.

Two other games of interest:
Stokesley FC "a" gave a tough baptism to newly promoted New Marske FC in the Under 13 first division and took the three points with goals from James Brooks, Alex Bruton, Louie Goldsack and Jake McNaughton.

Leven AFC edged out Nunthorpe Athletic "b" in a closely fought game in the Under 14 second division, Leven's goals coming from Elliott Longstaff and Richard Parkin. Ross Taylor-Watson scored for Nunthorpe Athletic.

This coming Sunday sees most teams start out on their TJFA League Cup campaign which will eventually lead to the finals being played next May. Although there is also a handful of League matches scheduled there are some cracking looking Cup ties and a few I've chosen to highlight would be:

My "pick of the day" would be in the Under 12 first round League Cup tie, when Hardwick Youth host Middleton Rangers. Hardwick from the fifth division won 7-0 in the League last Sunday, whilst Middleton Rangers won 11-2 in their first game. This should be a high-scoring, entertaining and very close match between two very capable teams. (10:30am)

A good-looking mini-soccer "local derby" match will kick-off in Darlington as TSC entertain 21st. Allstars "a" in the Under 9 Durham area. Last week Allstars "a" won their first League match by 4 goals to nil in the first division and Darlington TSC won by the identical scoreline in their first game in the second division. A hard match to call but this should draw a large crowd and I don't think they will be disappointed at the skills on show. (12:30pm but "flexible)

Another great-looking mini-soccer match kicks-off at Stokesley FC in the Under 10 North Riding area when they play hosts to Kader Rangers. Stokesley sit top of the first division having won last week by 11 goals to nil and Kader Rangers are top of the second division after an emphatic 7-2 win in their opening League match. This should be a super game between two very useful teams. (12:30pm but flexible)

In the Under 13 League Cup Coulby Newham make the journey across to Billingham to play a first round match against Wolviston Juniors. Two teams separated by just one division, who both appear to be at the top of their game following wins for both of them in the League last weekend. Wolviston gained a 5-1 win last week and Coulby won 6-3 in their opening League game. Yet another tough Cup tie to guess the outcome of. (10:30am)

The afternoon kick-offs also whet the appetite with some equally mouth-watering Cup ties taking place, Leven AFC host Redcar Athletic in the Under 16 first round. Both teams are competing in the second division this season and both opened their accounts with good displays, Redcar Athletic drawing 3-3 with a useful Stockton Town outfit and Leven winning 4-2 against Hardwick Youth. (1:30pm)

In our oldest age group at Under 18 a second round Cup tie between Stokesley FC "a" and Greatham FC is scheduled. While Stokesley are some peoples favourites for the title they didn't have an opening league match last week, but Greatham did and they won their first game by 9 goals to 1. This should be a no quarter asked or given encounter and is sure to be a great match for any neutral supporter. (1:30pm)

Finally, in my "highlight" list, two Cup ties taking place down at Whitby as Fishburn Park entertain Northallerton Juniors in the Under 11 age group. Fishburn Park made a pleasing start with a 3-2 League win in the third division last week but they will be fully tested on Sunday by a Northallerton team who sit top of the second division having won their first match by 5 goals to 2 last week. (10:30am)
Also at Fishburn Park, their Under 16 fourth division team entertain division 1 Redcar Town "a". A great start to the season by both teams with Fishburn winning 10-1 last weekend and Redcar Town winning 3-0 in a fiercely contested and highly competitive first division. This should be one of the "matches of the day". (1:30pm)

Other cup ties would include:

Under 14 - League Cup 1st Round Lingdale Athletic v Redcar Athletic "a" (1:30pm)
Under 15 - League Cup 2nd Round Spraire Lads v Newton Aycliffe Youth (1:30pm)

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