Thursday 20th. January 2011

Well, almost back to normal business as usual last Sunday with 196 games being played in the League and 1009 goals being scored in all competitions. Some great Team performances which we'll come onto later but there were 59 hat-tricks scored with two players scoring 5 goals each. They were Jack Oliver for Newton Aycliffe Juniors in their Under 13 third division match against Marton Hall Drive and James Wanley who scored his five against Hardwick Youth in the Under 14 fifth division. But the best goalscoring performance of the day by an individual was achieved by Dan Nicholson of Brompton Juniors who play in the Under 16 fourth division and he knocked in 6 of his teams goals against Prissick Rovers "a" last weekend.

Unfortunately the pitches over at Redcar Town hadn't dried out sufficiently to get my number one game on last Sunday but the others I highlighted all went ahead.

Stockton Town Under 15 proved yet again that they are a goal scoring machine last Sunday as they beat one of their closest rival, Cleveland Juniors, by 8 goals to 1 in the third division. That keeps them top and looking good bets to land the Championship. Two goals each for Reece Clamp, Jack Davies and James Mason with their other goals from Harry Hurst and Dwayne Ward with the consolation goal for Cleveland being scored by Louis Wheatley.

Spraire Lads had a couple of great fixtures last Sunday, one at Under 11 where they ran out 3-1 winners against Redcar Athletic to keep them top of the second division. Goals by Joe Andrew, Ethan Deehan and Lewis Shields with the Redcar Athletic goal coming from Cameron Dowson. Their Under 14's were also in action at home to top of the third division New Marske and that game ended in a 2-2 draw. Spraire goals from Cameron Callaghan and Harry Herraghty with New Marske keeping their excellent unbeaten record with two strikes from Billy Keane.

One of the top games of the day was in the Under 16 fourth division over at Thornaby on Tees, who were entertaining Stokesley FC. This was a match covered by the Evening Gazette photographer and I doubt he will have gone home disappointed. In a 2-2 draw goals from Dominic Booth and Louie Dunning kept Thornaby's unbeaten record intact while goals from Sam Gawthorpe and Matty Morley keeps Stokesley hot on the heels of the top teams chasing the honours in that division.

We mentioned recently that there were 4 teams who were 100% and hadn't conceded a single League goal and we gave a special mention to Great Ayton at Under 14 who were the only 11-a-side team to hold that record. Well, they conceded their first three goals of the League season over at Billingham Town last Sunday but still rattled in 10 goals, four of them from Flynn Johnson, to keep up their 100% record and they look nailed on for the title in the second division. The three mini-soccer teams keep their incredible records for at least another week.

Finally, a bit of a strange situation last weekend, with teams playing "catch-up", South Park Rangers over the Saturday and Sunday twice hosted North Ormesby and in the Under 14 Challenge Cup quarter final eased into the semi-final draw with a convincing 7-2 win, but in the second division League match North Ormesby reversed the trend and won by 2 goals to 1. None of the goalscorers in those two matches scored in both games.

Well, in all but the Under 13 and Under 18 age group, where some teams are playing their TJFA Cup fixtures, we have a big TJFA League weekend coming up, with around 263 fixtures scheduled in all competitions, and a few I have highlighted which should be great games:

Under 18 - L/C QF - Marton FC v Stokesley FC "b" - 1:30pm
An absolutely blistering quarter final in prospect as unbeaten and top of the third division Stokesley "b" make the journey across to Marton FC, themselves also unbeaten in the top flight. Stokesley "b" have already made it through to the final of the North Riding Cup and Marton will want to stop them gaining a possible unique treble. Previously postponed due to the weather earlier this month this is a game which will ask no quarter from either sets of players, as you would imagine in our oldest age group, and certainly not one for the faint-hearted.

Under 14 - Div. 5 - Prissick Rovers v Greatham FC "b" - 1:30pm
These two 100% teams meet over at Prissick with both teams having won their opening 7 League games. Prissick have scored 39 goals in the League so far and Greatham 44, with Prissick's defence maybe holding the key to this top of the table encounter. A great game in prospect.

Under 11 - Div. 4 - Coulby Newham v Guisborough Town - 11:00am
A great game on Sunday morning at Coulby Newham, when Guisborough make the short journey. Both teams have very similar records in their games so far and neither has lost a League match at this stage. Both teams are excellent in attack and this should be a must see game for any neutral.

Under 13 - Div. 5 - Lingdale Athletic v Great Ayton - 11:00am
Great Ayton travel across to Lingdale who have an excellent defence, conceding only 5 goals in their 6 League games so far. Great Ayton are prolific in attack though and have knocked in 48 goals in their opening 8 games. This looks a really tricky match to call and the spoils may have to be shared between these two good sides. We'll see!

Under 11 - Div. 1 - Kader FC v Stockton Town - 11:00am
Kader FC entertain Stockton Town in a game which should throw up lots of goalmouth action. Kader in second spot have scored 37 goals in their first 9 matches, with Stockton Town scoring 43 in their opening 8. Both teams are going for divisional honours this season, and this should be one of the matches of the day across at Sandy Flatts.

Other highlighted games:

Under 9 N/R - Div. 1 Redcar Town "a" v Marton FC - 12:30pm
Under 10 D - Div. 1 Golden Flatts "a" v Billingham Synthonia - 12:30pm
Under 10 N/R - Div. 2 Richmond Town "b" v Fishburn Park "a" - 12:30pm
Under 11 - Div. 3 Richmond Town v Darlington TSC - 11:00am
Under 12 - Div. 3 Coulby Newham v Darlington TSC - 11:00am
Under 12 - Div. 4 Stockton Town v Bishop Auckland St. Mary's "b" - 11:00am
Under 15 - Div. 2 St. Francis 2000 "b" v 21st. Allstars "a" - 1:30pm
Under 15 - Div. 4 Stockton Rangers v Loftus FC - 1:30pm
Under 16 - Div. 3 Redcar Town "b" v Bedale JFC - 1:30pm
Under 18 - Div. 3 Hardwick Youth v Brompton Juniors "b" - 1:30pm
Under 13 - L/C R3 Marton FC v Nunthorpe Athletic "a" - 10:30am
Under 13 - L/C QF Grangetown YCC v Redcar Town "a" - 10:30am
Under 15 - L/C r3 Stockton Town v Heighington AFC - 1:30pm

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