Thursday 24th. November 2011

We played 251 matches in the League last Sunday, including a catch-up TJFA Challenge Cup match with a total of 1282 goals being scored. There were 65 players who notched hat-tricks or better, with two players helping themselves to seven goals each. They were Joshua Lester for Golden Flatts (from Hartlepool) who play in the Under 11 first division and Trenton Spriggs for Beechwood Youth in the Under 11 fifth division.

Fishburn Park Under 9 did it again! I have mentioned this Team over the last few weeks as they are the only Team to have won every League game and are still to concede a goal. Well, they travelled across to Northallerton Juniors on Sunday and kept their amazing record intact with a 2-0 win. Again the prolific Brandon Finn scored, with their other goal coming from Max Burnett. That's now nine games without conceding. Only another eleven League games to go, so just under halfway through their League season. This Sunday they face third placed Brompton Juniors who are the second top scorers in this division, so they will have another stern test this weekend.

There were some really close games from the ones I highlighted last week and the top mini-soccer match produced a 0-0 draw between Leven AFC and Newton Aycliffe Juniors "Panthers" in the Under 9 Durham second division. It was hardly surprising that this game finished goalless, with both defences being in superb form so far this season. Newton Aycliffe have conceded only 3 goals in their opening 7 games and Leven only 5 goals in the eight they have played.

One of the top mini-soccer matches in the North Riding area was the one between Kader Rangers who were hosting Tollesby Athletic in the Under 10 third division and this one was decided by just a single goal scored by Sam Cummins of Kader Rangers. Kader have gone a point clear at the top with this win, while Tollesby slip to third.

Moving to eleven a side the Under 16 clash between Marton FC and Stokesley in the top flight was the usual hard-fought battle with Marton remaining top of the table and 100% following a 3-2 win. The all-important goals for Marton from James French, Bradley Mills and Adam Stanley with both of the Stokesley goals coming from Gerry Richardson. Marton have extended their lead to a healthy five points as Stokesley slip back to fourth place in a very high quality division.

Also at eleven a side, Boro' Rangers extended their lead at the top of the Under 12 first division with a very good 2-0 win over close rivals Wolviston Juniors who have stayed in second place on goal difference. The Boro' Rangers goals from Kieran Brown and Isaac Walker.

The top game at Under 15 level served up a real treat when second placed Bishop Auckland "Aces" travelled across to League leaders Cleveland Juniors in the first division. The game finished all square at 3-3 with Tom Bligh, Jordan Evans and Ellis Fallow on target for Cleveland and Ryan Matthews, Alex McGrath and Matty Price scoring for Bishop Auckland. Cleveland were 3-0 up in this game, but credit to Bishop Auckland for a spirited second half performance. Indeed, they almost snatched all three points at the end. This division is really tight at this stage of the season with only 6 points covering the top eight Teams.

In our oldest age group Stokesley "B" gained the upper hand when they travelled over to Brompton Juniors in the third division at Under 18 level and they kept their unbeaten run going with a narrow 2-1 win. The Brompton goal from Dan Nicholson, but the all-important three points to Stokesley with strikes from Henry Chadwick and Calum Reaich.

The points were shared in the Under 16 second division top of the table encounter between Redcar Town "B" and Seaton Carew with the final score ending at 1-1. The Redcar Town goal from Charlie Leech, with the Seaton Carew goal courtesy of Leo Kirkbride. Both teams remain unbeaten at this stage of the season and, although Redcar maintain their lead at the top by four points, Seaton Carew have two important games in hand on the League leaders.

Another high scoring draw in the Under 16 third division, as top of the table Stockton Rangers hosted an unbeaten Richmond Town side. The points were shared as the game ended 3-3, with Shaun Hughes, Jamie Russell and Aaron White on target for Stockton Rangers and Sam Pickersgill scoring twice for Richmond, their third coming from Dylan Wardale.

The bragging rights in the Kader Club "derby" match went to the "FC" team as they edged out their "Juniors" team by two goals to one in the Under 9 North Riding first division. That win keeps Kader FC top of that division, both of their goals were scored by Jake Picken, with the Kader Juniors goal coming from Aiden Catterson. Marton FC "A" are also going well in that division, although they were made to work very hard for the three points to gain a narrow 3-2 win over near rivals Boro' Rangers. A great hat-trick for Max Butler of Marton with both goals for Boro' Rangers from Owen Lister.

The Under 10 Durham first division is another where four of five Teams are all in with a shout for Championship honours, and this was helped when the game between 21st. Allstars "A" and Stockton Town "Yellow" ended as a 1-1 draw. The Allstars scorer was Stefan Hornsby with Conner Rennison replying for Stockton Town. Allstars still lead the way on goal difference, but Leven AFC leapfrog Stockton Town and moved into second place with a comfortable 6-2 win away at Bishop Auckland St. Mary's "Aces". The Bishop Auckland goals from Matthew Moffat and Aaron Willoughby, but four excellent individual strikes from Ben Cummins and two more for Aidan Moffat pitches Leven right into the scrap for honours at this stage of the season.

Northallerton Juniors gained an excellent 5-2 win when they entertained Leven AFC in the Under 11 second division. Northallerton are now a massive seven points clear of the second placed team with Joe Vickers on target twice, and further goals coming courtesy of Gavin Arneil, Ethan Donachie and Jack Stapley. The two Leven goals were scored by Matthew Cooney and Calum Dunning.

Brompton Juniors move to within three points of Dormanstown as they had an excellent win by three goals to nil over at Cargo Fleet Juniors in the Under 14 fifth division. Cargo Fleet had lost just one game in the League prior to this, but goals from Paul Harrison, Daniel Tarren and Ben Taylor-Probst secured all three points for a very useful Brompton outfit who are going along very nicely at this stage of the season.

Finally, the points were also shared in a goalless game over at Redcar Town where their "A" team were entertaining Nunthorpe Athletic in the Under 10 North Riding top flight. Redcar Town kept their unbeaten record, but will want to turn more of their drawn games into wins as the season progresses. Nunthorpe drop to third place with this draw, but this is yet another division which sees five or six Teams all in with a shout for honours.

There are 257 League fixtures being played this coming weekend with another batch of great games to enjoy. A few of these are as follows:

My number one choice this weekend would be the clash between the two top teams in the Under 13 third division when Skelton United entertain Middleton Rangers. Skelton are in second, level on points with table-topping Middleton Rangers but have a game in hand. Both teams will want the three points to keep their push for promotion on track. This could be a very close game. (1:30pm)

My number one mini-soccer match is in the North Riding area of the League and would be the game between South Park Rangers "Red" and Stokesley FC, being played across at Smith Dock Park. South Park are top but are just one point in front of the unbeaten Stokesley team and this could be a great game for the neutrals as the top goalscoring teams in this division go head to head. (12:30pm)

Another difficult looking game in store for high-flying Marton FC Under 16 this Sunday as they make the short journey across to Sandy Flatts in Acklam to take on a very good Whinney Banks YCC team. Marton have managed to win all their games so far but Whinney Banks, currently in second place, will prove a stern test and they will want to stop the League leaders opening up an eight point gap on Sunday. A must watch game between two of the top sides in this division. (1:30pm)

A similar situation for Marton FC "B" in the Under 11 top flight as they look to extend their 100% record and increase their lead at the top of this division. However, they meet a "goal machine" when Golden Flatts from Hartlepool pay them a visit over at Hall Drive. Golden Flatts are currently second and have scored no fewer than 40 goals in their first 8 League matches. It will be interesting to see if the excellent Marton defence, which has conceded only 5 goals in their first seven games, can withstand the attacking flair of Golden Flatts. The final score may be closer than some people imagine. (11:00am)

Another massive game at Under 11, this time in the fifth division, as Skelton United host Hartlepool Pools Youth. Skelton are having a great season and are currently in top spot with a 100% record from their 8 games so far, but Pools Youth have lost just one game themselves and, sitting in second place, will want to close the gap on Sunday. A cracking looking match. (11:00am)

East Cleveland looks the place to be this weekend as, from a Club perspective, Skelton United are enjoying a great season and their Under 12 team also have a top of the table clash this coming Sunday, as they entertain a really strong Primrose Hill side from Stockton. If people like to see goals this is arguably the match to pay a visit to this weekend. Both with very similar records, top of the table Primrose Hill and second placed Skelton United have both scored 51 goals in seven matches. This should be a great game for the neutral who can expect lots of goals. (1:30pm)

The top match at Under 15 level has to be the fixture between St. Francis 2000 and Richmond Town over in Hartlepool. Two teams who are already eleven points clear of the third placed team and this match could just decide who finishes this season as Champions. Very evenly matched in terms of goals scored this season, this game could be decided by the excellent defence of St. Francis 2000 who are currently 100%. But Richmond Town are unbeaten so far and this is probably the biggest match of the season in this division so far. (1:30pm)

The top Under 16 match this Sunday would probably be the fixture between Stockton Rangers and Thornaby Central in the third division. One of three unbeaten teams in this division, Thornaby in second place are level on points, but have an all-important game in hand over Stockton who head the table on goal difference. Again, two teams with very similar records and this could be a very close game. (1:30pm)

Also in the Under 16 age group the top game in the fourth division will be down in the Whitby area as Fishburn Park host Great Ayton. Great Ayton continue to go from strength to strength this season and boast a 100% winning record from their first 6 matches, but Fishburn Park have lost just the once so far, and with very similar records these two teams may just have to settle for a share of the points on Sunday. We'll see! (1:30pm)

Finally for this Sunday, the top two teams play each other in the Under 11 sixth division as Hardwick Youth welcome 21st. Allstars from Darlington. Hardwick are probably the peoples favourites to win this match, after winning all of their opening eight League fixtures, but 21st. Allstars are a good team in their own right and will want to stop a gap opening up at the top of this table. This could be a goal filled match, with Hardwick having scored 40 goals already and 21st. Allstars having scored 41 in their eight games so far. I expect a really close end result in this one. (11:00am)

Other selected fixtures this weekend would include:

Under 10 Durham - Div. 1 Norton & Stockton Ancients "A" v Leven AFC (12:30pm)
Under 10 North Riding - Div. 1 Nunthorpe Athletic v TIBS FC "A" (12:30pm)
Under 11 - Div. 3 Middleton Knights v Fishburn Park (11:00am)
Under 12 - Div. 1 Stockton Town v Boro' Rangers (11:00am)
Under 12 - Div. 5 Prissick Rovers v Kirk Merrington (11:00am)
Under 13 - Div. 2 Richmond Town v Redcar Athletic (11:00am)
Under 13 - Div. 4 Newton Aycliffe Youth v Wolviston Juniors (11:00am)
Under 15 - Div. 1 Stockton Town v Cleveland Juniors (1:30pm)
Under 15 - Div. 2 Billingham Town v New Marske FC (1:30pm)
Under 15 - Div. 4 North Ormesby "B" v Coulby Newham (1:30pm)
Under 18 - Div. 3 Thornaby on Tees v Brompton Juniors "B" (1:30pm)

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