Thursday 22nd. September 2011

There were goals galore as we started out in the TJFA League Cup campaign last Sunday. While there were an additional 15 League matches undertaken, we played 217 League Cup games which, in total, amassed an incredible 1,564 goals. No fewer than 142 players scored hat-tricks or better and there were incredible performances by a number of sharpshooters, with the main three to mention being Joshua Walshaw of Boro' Rangers Under 11's who scored 7 times, Josef Ozcan of Redcar Town Under 15's who knocked in 8 goals and a sensational 11 goals for Nathan Wiles who plays for TIBS FC Under 15.

There were some close-run affairs as well and no fewer than 12 Cup ties were won after normal time and extra time had produced no outright winners, and the ties were eventually decided on the nerve-racking penalty shoot-out.

Some excellent performances by lower division teams against higher placed opponents. Mount Pleasant Rangers from the third division at Under 9 ran out 3-0 winners over at Stockton Town who compete in the top flight. Goals from Charlie Kinnear, Connor McCarthy and Ben Pickering making sure Mount Pleasant are in the hat for the second round.

A similar story over at first division Cumby Rovers as Thirsk Falcons from the fourth division played their first round League Cup match at Under 11 level. Thirsk came out winners by five goals to one. The Cumby goalscorer was James le Poiderin, but a brace of goals from Edward Lake with further strikes from Alfie Dickson, Dylan Leach and Thomas Scott saw Thirsk reach the second round.

In our oldest age group at Under 18 level there were two games which produced a bit of a shock, when Acklam FC from the third division knocked out Ferryhill Town from the second tier with a single goal scored by Michael Bond. South Park Rangers "Blue" who play in the second division at Under 18 also gained the upperhand, this time against first division opponents when they secured a 3-2 win over Hartlepool FC, played at Smiths Dock Park in Normanby. Goals from James Coupland, Hamilton Flavio and Bradley Wright for South Park with Hartlepool scoring through Dylan Billyard and Luke Naylor.

It turned into quite a good opening Cup day for Acklam FC, as their Under 12 team from the sixth division also gained the upper hand away to Fishburn Boys from the fourth division, Acklam securing a comfortable 5-0 win with goals in that one from Sam Burnett, Harry Canham, Dylan Elliott, Louis Hall and Beckham Stockton.

A couple of matches I had highlighted from last week were really close fought affairs. At Under 14 Lingdale Athletic, from the fourth division, hosted Redcar Athletic "a" from the second division and they couldn't be separated after the match finished 0-0 at the end of normal time and 1-1 at the end of extra time. Goals from Ryan Cane for Lingdale and Lewis Treloar for Redcar forced the tie into a penalty shoot-out, with Lingdale eventually coming through the shoot-out by 3 goals to 2.

Stokesley's Under 10's had a slightly less nerve-racking passage into the next round with a 3-0 home win over Kader Rangers. Stokesley's goals coming from Adam Peacock, Henry Prest and Thomas Swales.

But, another game which had to be decided on penalties was the Under 11 game down at Whitby as Fishburn Park hosted Northallerton Juniors in the Under 11 League Cup. After the scores were level at 2-2 at the end of extra time, with strikes from Rory Hansell and Dylan Swales for Fishburn Park being cancelled out by goals from Gavin Arneil and Joseph Vickers for Northallerton, Fishburn Park eventually won the tie 3-2 on penalties.

Finally, from those games which went to the dreaded penalty shoot-outs to decide the eventual winners a couple astonishing games over at Stokesley where firstly their Under 9's won 10-9 on penalties after they drew 1-1 with Marton FC "a". Goals in normal time in that game from James Ralston for Stokesley with the Marton "a" goal from McKenzie DiCicco. But the Stokesley Under 18 "a" team weren't so fortunate in their penalty shoot-out as they lost 11-10 after the match against Greatham FC had finished all square at 3-3. Goals in normal time from Jack Williams who got two and Fionn Crawley for Stokesley with the Greatham goals coming from Joe Evans, Ryan Fletcher and Bradley Wright.

A thrilling 6-4 win for North Ormesby in their Under 12 first round Cup tie against 21st. Allstars "a" from Darlington. Two goals each from Josh Lee and John Vinter with further strikes from Paul Cardwell and Isaac Fadian-Laherty too much for a plucky Allstars side who scored through Tom Kelly and Sebastian Stevens with Sam Ions scoring two.

Great Ayton defied the odds when they met higher division opponents in the Under 10 North Riding first round match, getting the better of Northallerton Juniors by 2 goals to 1. The Northallerton goal from Josh Watson but Reece Craster and Theo Southall scored for Great Ayton to put them into the second round.

Finally from last Sunday, Richmond Town from the third division at Under 16 played hosts to Darlington TSC from the second tier and won by three goals to one. The Richmond goals from Oliver Gorman, Josh Heslehurst and Thomas Wallis, with the TSC goal coming from Adam Brown.

The next League Cup rounds will be played on October 2nd., when the TJFA Challenge Cup will also start in all age groups from Under 9 to Under 18 inclusive.

We have a League weekend to look forward to this week and my pick of the day has to be the mouth-watering game between Redcar Town "a" and Whinney Banks YCC in the Under 16 top flight. These two sides are many people's favourites for title honours and this looks to be a cracking looking fixture, both teams having won their opening day fixtures a couple of weeks ago. Both sides play excellent football, so if anyone wants to see quality players and the high standard of football played in this League, they should take a trip over to the east coast this weekend. They shouldn't be disappointed. (1:30pm)

One of the top mini-soccer games could be over at Thornaby when TIBS "b" entertain South Park Rangers "Red" in the Under 10 North Riding second division. Both teams won their opening fixture, with TIBS knocking in 11 goals in that game, but South Park Rangers are a useful team who won their opener in the League by 4 goals to 1 and this is a tough match to call. (12:30pm)

Seaton Carew Under 11 host Darlington TSC in the third division on Sunday with these two teams in the top two positions at this early stage. Seaton won their opener by 5 goals to one and TSC almost matched them winning their first game 4-1. Another good-looking game for the neutral to watch. (11:00am)

The match which looks like it could be goal-filled in the Under 12 age group is the encounter between Middleton Rangers and Acklam FC over at Darlington Education Village in the sixth division. Middleton scored no fewer than 11 goals in their opening fixture, whilst Acklam have won their first two League matches. This could be another great junior game. (11:00am)

At Under 13 the top four sides are all playing each other in the first division, with Nunthorpe Athletic travelling the short distance over to North Ormesby and Billingham Town heading across to Stokesley. These are the only four 100% teams left in this division even at this early stage and something will have to give this weekend. (11:00am)

Great Ayton Under 15 will want to continue their long unbeaten streak as they travel across to Bishop Auckland St. Mary's "Aces" this coming Sunday. Promoted from the second division last season, Great Ayton will be tested to the maximum by a very good Bishop Auckland side who, after winning their opening fixture a couple of weeks ago, are unlikely to make things easy for their opponents. Another match which could go either way. (1:30pm)

Finally, in our oldest age group at Under 18 Stokesley FC "a" host Spraire Lads from Darlington. This is Stokesley's first league match of the season and it will be tough against a very useful Spraire Lads outfit. On paper a draw may be the best bet, but this is yet another high quality match which could throw up a very close end result. (1:30pm)

Other good-looking fixtures this weekend would include:

Under 9D - Div. 3 Mount Pleasant Rangers v Newton Aycliffe Youth "Falcons" (12:30pm)
Under 9N/R - Div. 2 Skelton United v Nunthorpe Athletic (12:30pm)
Under 10D - Div. 3 Stockton Rangers v Hartlepool Pools Youth (12:30pm)
Under 10N/R - Div. 2 Yarm Yown Juniors v Stokesley FC (12:30pm)
Under 11 - Div. 1 Marton FC "b" v Richmond Town (11:00am)
Under 11 - Div. 2 Northallerton Juniors v Redcar Town "a" (11:00am)
Under 11 - Div. 4 Thirsk Falcons v Grangetown YCC (11:00am)
Under 12 - Div. 4 Tollesby Athletic v Northallerton Juniors (11:00am)
Under 13 - Div. 2 Redcar Athletic v Billingham Rangers (11:00am)
Under 13 - Div. 3 Darlington TSC v Coulby Newham (11:00am)
Under 14 - Div. 3 Middleton Rangers v Newton Aycliffe Youth (1:30pm)
Under 15 - Div. 2 Spraire Lads v Brinkburn FC (1:30pm)
Under 15 - Div. 4 Prissick Rovers v Coulby Newham (1:30pm)
Under 16 - Div. 3 Thornaby Central v Newton Aycliffe Youth (1:30pm)
Under 16 - Div. 4 Barnard Castle v Eaglescliffe Elementis (1:30pm)

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