Thursday 29th. September 2011

A weekend which saw the TJFA go back to League action with 225 games taking place, 1,394 goals being scored and there were 81 players who scored hat-tricks or better. Before I mention the prolific goalscorers, which this League seems to throw up week in week out, a quick mention that many of the games were really close run affairs. Quite a few people remain under the misconception that junior football matches are always very one-sided, well that is simply untrue in many of the matches played. From the 224 games played 92 either ended in a draw or were won by just the odd goal.

The top goal-scorers last Sunday included a couple of players who scored 7 goals each and they were Luke Hartnett for fourth division Skelton United Under 12 and Benjamin Hughes for Billingham Town Under 15 who play in the second division. But this week's top target man was David Powell who plays for the Stockton based team of Primrose Hill Under 14 who scored 8 times at the weekend in the third division. A very useful striker this lad, and he always seems to be on the top goalscorers list come the end of the season, indeed he has been for a few years now. He's now scored 12 goals in his two League games so far.

A tremendous win for Eaglescliffe Elementis in the Under 14 fifth division to beat Tollesby Athletic by 3 goals to 2. This was Elementis' first win for almost two years, their last being in October 2009 and for much of the game they played with only ten men and on one occasion, for a short period just after the half-time break, with only nine players on the field. A really spirited performance by the whole Elementis team last Sunday. The Tollesby goals from Ethan Azam and Chris Carey, but the three points to Elementis after Alex Robson lobbed the 'keeper, a long-range effort from Luke Blackburn crept in and the eventual winner came via a powerful strike by Adam Maroney.

I watched an excellent match at the weekend, in the very competitive Under 16 first division over at Redcar Town, where Whinney Banks YCC were the visitors. After an evenly matched first half Redcar Town took the lead following a great free kick from Matty Bell, who found the bottom corner from about twenty yards. The second half started with Whinney Banks YCC in the ascendancy and it was no surprise when a corner kick was curled in and Sam Calvert found a deft touch to flick the ball past the 'keeper. Two teams who paid each other the utmost respect throughout the match shared the spoils in what again looks to be a division where there will be a really close race for the Championship.

South Park Rangers "Red" team have started their season in great style in the Under 10 North Riding second division and they powered to a 5-1 win away at previously unbeaten TIBS FC "b" on Sunday. The TIBS goal coming from Joseph Naylor, but two goals for William Llewellyn and further strikes from Lewis Baldam, Ben Ford and Harry Howes puts South Park clear at the top of the division at this early stage.

The top match in the Under 11 third division saw Darlington TSC make the journey across to Seaton Carew and come away with all three points winning by 6 goals to 3. There are only two 100% teams remaining in that division, even at this early stage of the season. Goals for Darlington TSC from Euan Lee-Shields who got two, Robert Illingworth, Jonathan Parr, Callum Rankin and Joel Tyler for TSC, with Seaton's goals from Tegan Atyeo and Lewis Scott who got two.

A really tight game over at Darlington between two very useful sides saw Middleton Rangers beat Acklam FC by the odd goal in seven to currently head the Under 12 sixth division. Middleton's goals from Robert Bell, who helped himself to a hat-trick, and Lucas Waller, with the Acklam replies from Louis Hall, who scored twice, and Aaron Smith.

Nunthorpe Athletic's defence held firm when they visited a good North Ormesby outfit in the Under 13 top flight and they managed to take all three points home with them when Dennis Sturman fired home the only goal of the game.

Great Ayton suffered their first League defeat for a couple of seasons when they travelled over to Bishop Auckland "Aces" at the weekend, in the Under 15 first division. I did mention that this would be a difficult game for Great Ayton and so it proved with Jake Findlay, Ryan Matthews, Ben Pickering and Nathan Wall all firing home for the Bishops. The Great Ayton goals from Nathan DiCicco and James Goodings. This already looks like being a very competitive top flight this season.

The points were shared in one of the top matches in the Under 18 first division as Stokesley FC "a" entertained Spraire Lads from Darlington at Broughton Road on Sunday. Strikes by Liam Fox and Jack Williams for Stokesley cancelled out by goals from Joynull Hussain and Matthew Plumb for Spraire Lads. These two sides are certain to be in with a shout for honours again this season.

Thornaby Central went to the top of the Under 16 third division with a hard fought win over Newton Aycliffe Youth. Both goals in that game from Matthew Appleby.
Also in the Under 16 age group a seven goal thriller across at Barnard Castle when they hosted Eaglescliffe Elementis in the fourth division, a game which saw Barnard Castle go top following a 4-3 win. The Elementis goals from Callum Dent, Ollie Dryden and Kieran Warren, but two goals from Harvey Saunders and further strikes from Ben Clarke and Reece Tully making certain the three points went to Barnard Castle.

Finally from last weekend a narrow win by three goals to two for Northallerton Juniors who entertained Redcar Town "a" in the Under 11 second division. Northallerton remain one of only two 100% teams in that division thanks to a couple of goals from Saul Bamber-Lister with their third from Jack Stapley. The Redcar town goals in that game from Curtis Holmes and Jack Williams.

We have another TJFA Cup weekend to look forward to this week with the start of the Challenge Cup running alongside the League Cup competition which started a couple of weeks ago. My pick of the day has to be the League Cup third round tie between Cargo Fleet Juniors and Greatham FC at our oldest age group, the Under 18's. Both teams have made really positive starts to their League and Cup campaigns and, as you would imagine within this age group, there will be no quarter asked as these two very good sides go head to head. (1:30pm)

After a good start to the season by Greatham FC in the Under 13 second division, this weekend sees them host first division New Marske who haven't been firing on all cylinders as yet. A close League Cup match to call and a tie which could go either way. (10:30am)

A Club derby game is on the agenda for Sunday when Nunthorpe Athletic "b" play their "a" team in the Under 16 League Cup second round. The "b" team have won both their opening matches in the third division and will want to make it difficult for their second division opponents and Club rivals. An intriguing Cup match in prospect on Sunday afternoon. (1:30pm)

A couple of top matches in the Under 12 League Cup, as Boro'Rangers host Marton FC "a" in the second round. This all first division clash will certainly have a good crowd in attendance as these local rivals go head to head in a cracking looking Cup fixture. Yet another match which may see a very close result at the end of normal time. (10:30am)
The other Under 12 Cup tie sees Thirsk Falcons travel up to Hartlepool to play Golden Flatts, also in the second round of the League Cup. Thirsk are top of the second division at this early stage and have scored 13 goals already in their two opening League fixtures. Golden Flatts also got off to a good start in the League winning their opening fixture 4-0. Another good-looking Cup tie and difficult to predict the final result. (10:30am)

Two 100% sides play each other in the Under 11 Challenge Cup second round as Hardwick Youth play hosts to Eaglescliffe Elementis. Hardwick have knocked in 14 goals against just 2 in their opening two matches in the sixth division and they will be looking to take the scalp of fifth division Elementis who have also won their opening two League matches. Expect a great game between these two on Sunday morning. (10;30am)

Barnard Castle have started their Under 16 League campaign on a really high note, winning their opening three League fixtures to sit top of the fourth division. They travel up to Heighington AFC from the top flight who have struggled a little bit in the early stages of the season. This could be a great first round TJFA Challenge Cup game between a free-scoring Barnard Castle team and their first division hosts. (1:30pm)

Possibly the best mini-soccer match on Sunday could be the clash between Billingham Town and Mount Pleasant Rangers in the second round of the Under 9 Durham League Cup. Billingham Town currently sit top of the second division after winning their opening two League games and rattling in 13 goals while conceding only 1, but Mount Pleasant Rangers also know where the back of the net is, having scored 11 goals in their two games in the third division, conceding only twice. A super looking mini-soccer match. (12:30pm)

Finally, almost a repeat of last weeks League match, albeit at the alternative venue, as South Park Rangers "Blue" host Cleveland Juniors in the Under 16 League Cup third round over at Smiths Dock Park. Cleveland Juniors gained the three points in the League match with a narrow 2-1 home win last Sunday and this Cup tie looks as though it will be every bit as close. Very difficult to predict the final result as these two very useful sides meet for the second time in a week. (1:30pm)

Other good-looking fixtures this weekend would include:

Under 14 - LC-2 Brinkburn FC v Stockton Town (1:30pm)
Under 15 - LC-3 Coulby Newham v New Marske FC (1:30pm)
Under 12 - CC-2 South Park Rangers "Red" v Northallerton Juniors (10:30am)
Under 14 - CC-1 Thornaby on Tees v Redcar Athletic "a" (1:30pm)
Under 16 - CC-1 Hardwick Youth v Wolviston Juniors (1:30pm)
Under 16 - Div. 1 Whinney Banks YCC v Stokesley FC (1:30pm)

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