Thursday 17th. February 2011

A great weekend just gone with 200 games in total played, 1,026 goals scored and 46 hat tricks or better for the TJFA players.

Two players grabbed themselves 6 goals each and they were Benjamin Dawkins for South Park Rangers "a" in the Under 11 third division and James Curry for Kirk Merrington in the Under 11 fifth division. But the top goalscorer from last weekend was David Powell who found the net 7 times for Primrose Hill in the Under 13 fourth division.

A few games lost out to the weather last weekend but some of my top choices which went ahead proving just why so many people enjoy junior football played to a very high standard in the TJFA.

In the top of the table clash in the Under 16 fourth division over at Thornaby on Tees, Eaglescliffe Elementis were the visitors. I watched the reverse fixture earlier this season when Thornaby came out on top, but the outcome in this one was much different. Elementis won 3-0 with two goals from Jack Bradburn and the third from Johnny Bullock. Those two teams are joint top, level on points now, with Thornaby on Tees having a vital game in hand.

I mentioned a couple of mini-soccer games, one in each County and in the Under 10 North Riding first division Marton FC "b" travelled the short distance over to Nunthorpe Athletic and came away with the three points with a 3-1 win. Nunthorpe's goal from Christopher Willard, but two for Charlie Graham and another from Billy Sheard keeps Marton "b" top of that division.

The other mini-soccer game highlighted was in the Durham area over at Billingham Synthonia who were hosting Cumby Rovers in the Under 10 top flight. This was a very even encounter with the sides having to settle for a point each in a 2-2 draw, as Jack Hall netted twice for the "Synners" and Bailey Leybourne and Liam Wright scoring for Cumby. Both of those teams are still pushing for end of season honours.

Two matches guaranteed to be match-pleasers were 11 goal thrillers with final scores of 6-5 in each. The first was over at Normanby United who were hosting Spraire Lads "b" in the Under 11 sixth division with Spraire Lads winning by the odd goal. Goals in that one for Normanby from Thomas Keogh and Luke Leka who both scored two each, and another by Bradley Hutchinson. A couple of the Spraire Lads players also scored twice and they were Jacob Cherrington and Daniel Waldock with additional goals from Terry Bell and Taylor Scott eventually gaining them the three points.

The other 11 goal thriller was in the Under 16 second division when Stockton West End nearly sprang a bit of a surprise over at Mount Pleasant Rangers. Mount Pleasant just managing to keep their unbeaten record intact winning 6-5. Three players in that one scored two goals each for Mount Pleasant's and they were Jack Garbutt, Lee Swainston and Jim Wilson, with the Stockton West End goals from Matthew Dixon (2), Dean Griffin, Joe Humphries and Nathan Hunnam. Mount Pleasant are going well this season and are definitely in the hunt for League honours come May.

In the Under 11 sixth division Prissick Rovers had an astonishing 7-1 win over at Middleton Rangers. Middleton remain the top scoring team in that division, but the Prissick defence must have been awesome at the weekend. Goals in that one from Curtis Blair, who hit a hat-trick, Lewis Clyburn, William Helm, Anthony McDonald and Ben Ramrekha for Prissick, with the goal for Middleton scored by Joshua McKendrick.

Middleton Rangers Under 13, who play in the fourth division, fared much better than their younger team, with a 4-2 home win over their close rivals Newton Aycliffe Youth. Asaaf Rahman netted twice for Middleton with strikes from both Brendan Brown and Joseph Powell. The Newton Aycliffe goalscorers were Daniel Fitzgerald and Johnathan Hampshire.

We move to our oldest age group at Under 18 and in what always looked a tight game in the top division, Marton FC kept up their push for the title with a close and hard fought 4-3 win across at Redcar Athletic "a". A couple of goals for Marton from Liam Kelley (2), with Nathan Newman and Jamie West scoring the others. A hat-trick for Redcar Athletics Andrew Tullock not quite enough to salvage a point.

Finally from last weekend and again in the Under 18 age group, but this time the second division, 21st. Allstars had an excellent 5-1 win over Redcar Athletic's "b" team. A hat-trick for Allstars from Phillip Park with two from Bradley Simpson, and the Redcar goal from Samuel Dowson. That's yet another division which looks like going right to the wire in terms of honours later this year.

Well, a full programme of fixtures scheduled this coming weekend with around 264 League matches and a couple of "catch-up" games in the TJFA Cup Competitions to look forward to. A massive weekend for many Championship hopefuls and it was difficult with so many quality games to pick a top handful, but here goes:

Under 12 - Div. 2 - New Marske FC "a" v Redcar Town "a" - 10:30am
A great local derby in prospect as teams with very similar records in the first division go head to head. Both teams have lost just the one game so far and sit top and second top of the division respectively. The key pointers in this match may be the excellent defence of Redcar Town "a" and the prolific attack of New Marske "a". A match which just might decide who will be crowned the Champions in May.

Under 16 - Div. 3 - Acklam FC v Fishburn Park - 1:30pm
Quite a few people have been waiting for this fixture to come around. Acklam FC sitting in third place and unbeaten, host 100% Fishburn Park from Whitby, in what should be one of the games of the season in this division. A very tough match to call the final outcome of, but a great game for the neutral. To be played at the Acorn Centre, Acklam Grange School.

Under 18 - Div. 3 - Spraire Lads v Stokesley FC "b" - 1:30pm
In our oldest age group, second placed Spraire Lads host the 100% Stokesley FC "b" outfit who are still chasing three awards this season. This is another hard match to call, but Stokesley will almost be able to smell the Championship with a win in this one. Spraire Lads are going well this season and will not be easy prey as they are searching for League honours themselves.

Under 12 - Div. 6 - Brompton Juniors v Acklam FC - 10:30am
Acklam FC make the journey down to Brompton Juniors knowing that a win here will almost certainly guarantee the Championship. But Brompton are sitting in second place on merit and they would be hot on the heels of the League leaders if they take the three points on Sunday. A massive game.

Under 9 N/R - Div. 2 - Thirsk Falcons v North Ormesby - 12:30pm
Top host second in this smashing looking game between two teams who are both going well in the League this season and these two are miles clear of the other teams. Both teams have almost identical League records and this is one of the trickiest matches on the calendar this weekend, but a mini-soccer game which should have some excellent talent on show.

Some other cracking games this weekend as well,

Under 9 Durham - Div. 1 21st. Allstars v Norton & Stockton Ancients "a" - 12:30pm
Under 9 Durham - Div. 1 Greatham FC v Stockton Town "a" - 12:30pm
Under 11 - Div. 3 TIBS FC "b" v Billingham Rangers - 11:00am
Under 12 - Div. 5 Cumby Rovers v Thornaby on Tees - 11:00am
Under 14 - Div. 1 Boro' Rangers v Stockton Town - 1:30pm
Under 14 - Div. 1 Greatham FC "a" v Marton Hall Drive - 1:30pm
Under 15 - Div. 1 Stokesley FC v Marton FC - 1:30pm
Under 16 - Div. 2 Newton Aycliffe Juniors v Nunthorpe Athletic - 1:30pm

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