Thursday 24th. March 2011

There were 245 matches played in all Competitions, with 1060 goals being scored and 48 players scoring hat-tricks or better last week.

First of all, massive congratulations to our very first Championship winners of the season. Without kicking a ball last weekend, Acklam FC were crowned Champions of the Under 12 sixth division. So we will be sending them an invitation in the next few weeks to enable them to pay a visit to The Tall Trees to collect their trophies and silverware in early June.

Top goalscorers last week were Will Syddall who scored six times for Richmond Town in the Under 11 third division, but that was bettered by Tyrone O'neill for Redcar Town "b", also in the Under 11 age group, but this time in the second division, who knocked in an amazing 8 goals for his team. We now only have 7 teams who boast a 100% win record and exactly the same number searching for their first League point. With around seven weeks of the League season remaining, we'll keep a close eye on all of those teams over the next couple of weeks. We'll start playing midweek matches as from next week, as the switch to British Summer Time allows us a little extra daylight on an evening.

Apart from one match I highlighted from last weekend, which was won fairly convincingly, the others were relatively close fought affairs.

Great Ayton Under 13 who play in the fifth division look absolute certainties for end of season honours now, after a convincing 6-0 win over Beechwood Youth at the weekend. Two players scored hat-tricks in that one, and they were Ben Coxon and Antony Huckle. Great Ayton are 10 points clear at the top, although Lingdale Athletic, in second spot, still have four games in hand.

In the Under 10 Durham second division the top two sides went head to head when St. Francis 2000 of Hartlepool travelled across to Mount Pleasant Rangers in Darlington. The 0-0 scoreline doesn't really reflect the fact that the game was absolutely brilliant to watch and these two teams will surely be at The Tall Trees for the awards ceremony in late May, early June. Both teams are still neck and neck and they still have to play each other across at Hartlepool. That could well be the game that separates the eventual Champions from the Runners-up and that match is actually scheduled for this coming weekend.

In the Under 14 first division Boro' Rangers hosted Marton Hall Drive and they opened up a bit of a gap at the top of the table with a hard-fought 2-1 win. The Marton Hall Drive goal from Michael McGouran, but the vital three points going to Boro' Rangers thanks to goals from Adam Jefferson and Ross Teasdale. That is a very competitive division and nothing is decided yet.

In the Under 15 first division Whinney Banks YCC march on towards honours with a tremendous 4-1 win over Marton FC. Goals in that game by Jake Hogg for Marton FC, but a Ben Askins strike and a hat-trick for Sam Calvert enough to keep Whinney Banks top of the pile. Stokesley are breathing down their necks though, only six points behind with two games in hand, and these two teams still have each other to play over at Stokesley.

There were two very competitive matches in the Under 18 second division which both turned out to be close run affairs. Redcar Athletic "b" stay top after a 3-2 win over 21st. Allstars of Darlington. The Allstars goals from Phil Park and Daryl Shaw, with Sam Dowson hitting two and a third from Billy Lumb for Redcar. Grangetown YCC kept the chase for the Championship wide open though, with a fine 3-2 win over at Hartlepool FC. Dale Campion and Simon Duncan for Hartlepool with Chris Latus, Michael Pickles and Josh Spence scoring for Grangetown. Still four teams in with a realistic chance of the League title.

There were some other cracking games as well.

North Ormesby had a magnificent 3-0 win across at Richmond Town in the Under 9 North Riding second division, with goals from Lloyd Griffiths, Tyler Smith and Jake Thompson and they must have been even more delighted when they heard that, in what can only be described as a bit of a shock result, Kader FC "b" won away to their nearest rivals Thirsk Falcons by two goals to nil. A tremendous Kader performance with goals from Joshua Lee and Lloyd Sheridan.

Another division which is still there for the taking is the Under 11 second division where Redcar Athletic went across to top of the table Golden Flatts in Hartlepool and came away with the three points following an emphatic 5-1 win. The Golden Flatts goal from Jack Lithgo, but two goals each for McCorrie Smith and Cole Stephenson and their fifth by Cameron Dowson makes this yet another division which still could be won by three or four teams.

In the fourth division at Under 11 and Stokesley FC kept up the pressure on their rivals with a narrow 1-0 win at home to Leven AFC. The all-important goal coming from Isaac Wappatt. Five teams in that division still in with a shout in terms of end of season honours.

The points were shared in the top match in the second division at Under 12 when Norton & Stockton Ancients hosted Redcar Town "a". The match finished 1-1 with goals by James Walmsley for Norton & Stockton and Ryan Pearson for Redcar Town. Top of the table New Marske took full advantage of that draw, as they won away at Greatham FC by two goals to nil to increase their advantage. Their two goals both scored by Morgan Corner.

A local derby across at Darlington Spraire Lads in the Under 13 third division as they hosted Newton Aycliffe Juniors and won by 4 goals to nil, to stay seven points in front of the third placed team. Their goalscorers last Sunday were Adam Oliver, Lewis Walton and a double from Kieron Stannard.

The top match in the Under 16 third division was undoubtedly the game between second placed Redcar Town "b" and top of the table Fishburn Park "b". But both sides had to settle for a point, as a strike from Robert Dean for Redcar Town "b" was cancelled out by a goal from Dougie Elias for Fishburn Boys. They were the first points lost by Fishburn Park this season but they still look good bets to land the title. In the same division, one of their closest rivals Acklam FC failed to capitalise from that match, as they lost at home to New Marske FC by 2 goals to 1. The Acklam goal from Josh McDermott, but the three points to a useful New Marske team were secured by strikes from Matthew Carter and Daniel Duffield. New Marske are still in with a shout for honours as that division remains very competitive. The reverse fixture between Fishburn Park and Redcar Town "b" is scheduled for this Sunday over in Whitby

Finally, a hard fought 1-0 victory gave Boro' Rangers the vital three points over at TIBS FC "a" in the Under 9 North Riding first division, the all-important goal coming from Harvey Ford. Yet another division which is going to take a few more weeks before the eventual honours are decided.

Well, we have a full League programme and some TJFA Cup matches, with 243 fixtures scheduled in the TJFA Competitions this weekend. A number of Teams may be able to secure their places at The Tall Trees depending on results this weekend. My selections from yet another great looking fixture list would be:

Under 11 - Div. 1 - Wynyard Village "a" v Boro' Rangers - 12:30pm
This fiercely contested division throws up another great fixture when second meet third, as Wynyard host Boro' Rangers. Wynyard managed to win by the odd goal in five when the teams met over in Middlesbrough earlier this season and this rematch is likely to be just as close again. Both teams are scenting honours and this should be one of the top matches of the day.

Under 12 - Div. 5 - Cumby Rovers v Newton Aycliffe Youth - 11:00am
A local derby, over in the Newton Aycliffe area, pitches two very useful sides against each other this Sunday. Top of the table Newton Aycliffe Juniors unbeaten so far, but up against a strong Cumby Rovers team currently in third place, having lost just the one League game. If Aycliffe win this they will be firm favourites for the Championship. A great looking derby match.

Under 9 Durham - L/C SF - Stockton Town "a" v 21st. Allstars "a" - 12:30pm
Into the TJFA League Cup for the third choice and a semi-final match which throws together the top two teams in the first division in the Under 9 Durham area. A really fabulous looking League Cup semi-final and whichever team wins this one would probably be firm favourites to lift the Cup over at Rockliffe Park on 15th. May. Stockton Town "a" are most likely to be the choice of most in this game looking at it on paper, but 21st. Allstars "a" are a very useful side who will make them fight all the way.

Under 10 North Riding - L/C SF - Richmond Town "a" v Marton Hall Drive - 12:30pm
The North Riding side of the water for an intriguing Cup semi- final with Marton Hall Drive, currently second in the top flight, travelling across to Richmond Town who are going well in the second division. Marton Hall Drive will be favourites, but Richmond have proved their worth in this age group and this could be a closer end result than some may think.

Under 11 - Div. 5 - Primrose Hill v Skelton United - 11:00pm
100% Primrose Hill entertain top of the table Skelton United in a must watch game for the neutral. Skelton have lost just the one match themselves and these two teams have to play each again this season after this weekend. Skelton score a massive amount of goals, having knocked in 81 in their 15 League games so far, but Primrose Hill are also useful in front of goal having scored 63 times and they have only conceded 9 in their 12 matches played. This really could go either way and should be a great game and a possible indicator of where the Championship will eventually end up.

Some other high class games this weekend which include:

Under 9 North Riding - Div. 2 North Ormesby v Richmond Town - 12:30pm
Under 9 North Riding - Div. 3 Northallerton Juniors v Redcar Town "b" - 12:30pm
Under 10 Durham - Div. 2 St. Francis 2000 v Mount Pleasant Rangers - 12:30pm
Under 10 North Riding - Div. 2 Normanby United v Northallerton Juniors - 12:30pm
Under 13 - Div. 4 Newton Aycliffe Youth v Middleton Rangers - 11:00am
Under 15 - Div. 2 St. Francis 2000 "b" v Brompton Juniors - 1:30pm
Under 15 - Div. 3 Stockton Town v Beechwood Youth - 1:30pm
Under 15 - Div. 4 Saltburn Athletic v Stockton Rangers - 1:30pm
Under 16 - Div. 3 Fishburn Park v Redcar Town "b" - 1:30pm
Under 18 - Div. 1 - Stokesley FC "a" v Redcar Athletic "a" - 1:30pm

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