Thursday 17th. March 2011

Another excellent weekend with nearly all scheduled matches being played. 248 League games were played in total, 1,211 goals were scored and there were hat-tricks or better from 69 players.

The five main matches I highlighted from last weekend turned out to be amazingly close, with only one goal separating winners from losers in four of the matches and the other game ending in a draw.

Spraire Lads "a" hosted Golden Flatts "a" in the top of the table clash in the Under 11 second division and Spraire Lads, with two games in hand, narrowed the gap to six points with a 2-1 win. Two goals from Harry Dyson of Spraire Lads and a goal from Thomas Harrison for Golden Flatts means this division looks like going right to the wire in terms of the eventual Championship winners.

In the Under 13 third division Spraire Lads travelled across to Nunthorpe Athletic "b" and couldn't quite emulate their younger age group going down by 2 goals to 1. Nunthorpe Athletic are still 100%in the League this season and look certainties to be visiting The Tall Trees to pick up silverware at the end of May. Goals for Curtis Tudor and Harry Williams of Nunthorpe with the Spraire Lads goal from Luke Allinson.

In the top mini-soccer match between Guisborough Town and Northallerton Juniors in the Under 9 North Riding third division, Northallerton came away with the three points in a close 3-2 win. Northallerton have extended their lead at the top and Guisborough will have to play at their best in their last four games to claim some silverware at the end of the season. Goals in that one from Louix Davidson-Pratt, Luke Rance and Jacob Stayman-Collin for Northallerton with Connor Berry getting both of Guisborough's goals.

Honours were shared in one of the big games in the fourth division at Under 11 when Stokesley travelled over to Coulby Newham. Bailey Fenwick and Dylan Gnaglo on target for Coulby with Isaac Wappatt getting both goals for Stokesley. That division is still wide open as we reach the final stages of the season.

A nine goal thriller, which was won by the odd goal, when Newton Aycliffe Juniors travelled the short distance across to Mount Pleasant Rangers of Darlington in the top game in the Under 16 second division. Newton Aycliffe secured the three points and inflicted the first League defeat of the season on Mount Pleasant as Tom Pilkington, Jack Slatcher and three goals from Lewis Wing secured the points. Strikes from Corey Aldus, Lee Swainston and two for Jim Wilson for Mount Pleasant in what must have been a great game of football. The referee Gary Mundell also received excellent marks off both teams, and this division is yet another which will need a few more weeks of games before Champions and Runners-up are known.

There were some other great games as well. Wynyard Village "a" kept their assault on the Championship very much alive with an excellent 4-0 win away at a useful Kader FC in the Under 11 top flight. Goals from Connor Gant, Jordan Jacques, Jake Petitjean and Joe Richardson in that one.

TIBS FC Under 13 dented the impressive 100% record of Primrose Hill in the fourth division with an amazing 3-2 home win. A great match, played with tremendous sportsmanship by both Teams and very well officiated by Match Referee Matty Roberts. Goals for Primrose Hill from David Powell and Daniel Smith with the TIBS FC goals from Liam Quigley and two from Jordan Woollett.

Cumby Rovers just edged out Golden Flatts "a" in the Under 10 Durham first division, winning by two goals to one. The Golden Flatts goal by Jackson McKie, but strikes by Robbie Lee and Liam Wright keeps Cumby Rovers top of the table for another week.

A seven goal thriller saw 100% TIBS FC extend their lead at the top of the Under 12 third division when they gained a 4-3 win over their closest rivals across at Richmond Town. Richmond are still favourites to attend The Tall Trees on Presentation Evening, along with TIBS, but they will have to keep picking up wins from their remaining games as challengers are breathing down their necks now. Goals in that game for Matthew Redfearn, Joe Shields and Danny Weatherill for Richmond with the TIBS goals coming from Lyndon Davies, Domonic Tiffany and Jacob Bradshaw who notched himself two.

In the Under 14 fourth division Eaglescliffe Elementis cemented their Championship hopes with a brilliant 3-1 win away to Newton Aycliffe Youth. Elementis are firm favourites for the title now, with goals last Sunday from Jason Elgie, Jack Parkinson and Thomas Young. The Aycliffe Youth goal from Jordan Howe.

A tremendous result for Greatham FC in the Under 16 top flight when they played over at Stockton Town. They kept themselves right in the frame for honours when they won 3-2 against a previous 100% team. Goals for Tom Atkinson and Steven Riddle not enough to protect Stockton's 100% record as Ryan Boddy, Joe Evans and Cameron Ingledew all scored for Greatham.

Finally, a brilliant game at our oldest age group when Marton FC entertained Stokesley FC "a" in the Under 18 top division. Two very good sides slugged it out with Marton FC scoring in the dying seconds to take a valuable point in a 3-3 draw. All three Marton goals from Josh Turner, with the Stokesley goals from Ged Livingstone, Jack Roper and Jack Williams. A great advert for the League within our oldest age group.

The top goalscorers last Sunday were Sam Harrison who knocked in seven for Billingham Rangers in the Under 11 third division, with Patrick Mulvey also hitting seven in that same division for Greatham FC "a". But the best performance last Sunday was by Thomas Hewison who knocked in eight goals for Stockton Rangers in the Under 12 sixth division.

Well, we have a full League programme with 238 fixtures scheduled and a further 8 catch-up matches in the TJFA Cup Competitions for the forthcoming weekend. My choices from another great looking fixture list would be:

Under 13 - Div. 5 - Great Ayton v Beechwood Youth - 11:00am
The incredible goals for tally of Great Ayton may be the deciding factor in this top of the table clash. They have scored 92 times in their 14 League games. Beechwood Youth would fancy their chances of making it to The Tall Trees if they can manage what would be a bit of a shock here, but they are a good side, presently sitting in third place, and not without a chance.

Under 14 - Div. 1 - Boro' Rangers v Marton Hall Drive - 1:30pm
A must see game for any neutral as Marton Hall Drive make the very short journey over to Boro' Rangers in a vital top of the table game. Boro' Rangers are top, boasting the best attack and Marton Hall Drive are in second boasting the best defence, with both teams having lost just one game each at this stage of the season. A cracking looking fixture.

Under 15 - Div. 1 - Whinney Banks YCC v Marton FC - 1:30pm
This very competitive division throws up yet another great game this weekend when top of the table Whinney Banks YCC host close rivals Marton FC at Sandy Flatts. Whinney Banks boast both the best defence and attack records in this division and will be hard to stop this season, but Marton are a very good side and are chasing League honours themselves. A must watch game.

Under 10D - Div. 2 - Mount Pleasant Rangers v St. Francis 2000 - 12:30pm
Perhaps the best mini-soccer game of the day over in Darlington as Mount Pleasant Rangers host St. Francis 2000 in the Under 10 Durham second division. Identical records in terms of the number of games won and drawn, with neither team having lost a single game in the League this season. A hard game to predict with a draw maybe the final outcome in a classy looking match .

Under 18 - Div. 2 - Hartlepool FC v Grangetown YCC - 1:30pm &
Under 18 - Div. 2 - Redcar Athletic "b" v 21st. Allstars - 1:30pm
The top four teams play each other in this division where the title race is really hotting up. Only two points cover these four teams, as Grangetown in fourth place face a tricky looking game over at top of the table Hartlepool FC and third placed Redcar Athletic "b" host 21st. Allstars of Darlington. Lots still to play for in this division and this is a massive weekend for these four teams. Expect close results in them both.

Some other quality games this weekend which include:

Under 9 N/R - Div. 1 TIBS FC "a" v Boro' Rangers - 12:30pm
Under 9 N/R - Div. 2 Richmond Town v North Ormesby - 12:30pm
Under 9 N/R - Div. 3 Northallerton Juniors v Redcar Town "b" - 12:30pm
Under 11 - Div. 2 Golden Flatts v Redcar Athletic - 11:00am
Under 11 - Div. 4 Stokesley FC v Leven AFC - 11:00am
Under 12 - Div. 2 Norton & Stockton Ancients v Redcar Town "a" - 11:00am
Under 13 - Div. 3 Spraire Lads v Newton Aycliffe Juniors - 11:00am
Under 15 - Div. 4 St. Francis 2000 "a" v Loftus FC - 1:30pm
Under 16 - Div. 2 Bishop Auckland St. Mary's "a" v Mount Pleasant Rangers - 1:30pm
Under 16 - Div. 3 Redcar Town "b" v Fishburn Park - 1:30pm

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