Thursday 3rd. March 2011

Well, the rain came on Friday and hardly stopped at all on Saturday which caused a number of postponements last Sunday, but we still managed to play 152 League matches and 18 TJFA Cup ties. There were 838 goals scored in those Competitions, and no fewer than 52 hat tricks or better for the TJFA players. Two players get a special mention each this week, with Joe Drinkhall scoring seven individual goals for Moorsholm Athletic in the Under 15 fifth division against Broughton Hibs, but Robert Bell scored eight times for Middleton Rangers in the Under 11 sixth division when his team played over at Beechwood Youth. Amazing individual performances last Sunday by those lads.

Just before we talk about the highlighted games from last Sunday, a quick "heads-up" for a team with a magnificent record. Great Ayton (this season playing in the Under 14 second division) have now gone a magnificent 34 League matches unbeaten, which stretches back to season 2009/2010. They won again last Sunday and are sitting top of their division, 6 points clear of their nearest rivals. I would think that promotion is definitely on the cards, along with a trip to The Tall Trees in late May/early June, and we will keep a close eye on how that enviable record progresses over the remainder of this season.

Back to highlights from last weekend now and a great result for Leven AFC in the Under 9 Durham second division, when they travelled over to close rivals 21st. Allstars "b" in Darlington and won by 2 goals to 1. Leven goals from Benjamin Cummins and Oliver Wilson with the Allstars goal coming from Callum Vallis. Leven remain top and Allstars slip to third, although Allstars have games in hand over the team in second and they are also looking to gain end of season honours.

It wasn't such good news for Leven AFC Under 11 though as, in their top of the table clash in the fourth division away at Coulby Newham they went down by 3 goals to 2. Coulby go top with that win and Leven slip to fourth. Coulby's goalscorers were Lewis James, Ashley McCabe and Joe Rouse with both Leven goals scored by James Cauldwell.

Whinney Banks YCC inflicted only the second defeat of the season over Redcar Town "a" when the two teams met last Sunday at Sandy Flatts, in the Under 13 first division. Two goals for Alex McFarlane for Whinney Banks, with the Redcar goal from Robbie Clarke. That result keeps that division wide open in terms of divisional honours in May, with at least five teams still considering they have a chance to pick up some silverware.

In our oldest age group, the Under 18's, and in the second division, Hartlepool FC travelled across to Grangetown YCC and won a cracking game by 4 goals to 2. This is another tremendously tight division with four or five teams still having all to play for. All four of the Hartlepool goals from the impressive Craig Hutchinson, with the two Grangetown goals from Liam Beadnall and Chris Latus.

Another great result for Fishburn Park who play out of Whitby, when for the second successive week they beat Championship contenders in the Under 16 third division. Hosting Bedale they ran out 3-1 winners with the impressive Andrew Menzies again on the scoresheet, the other two goals from Luke Harrison and Harry Smith. The Bedale goal came from Josh Williams. Still all to play for in that division, but Fishburn Park are showing the rest the way at the moment.

Finally from last weekend, in the Under 9 North Riding third division a close match between Redcar Town "b" and FC Kader "b" ended with the Redcar team winning 2-1. That defeat might just have stopped FC Kader winning anything in the league this season, but Redcar Town "b" are still well on course to pay a visit to The Tall Trees at the end of may, beginning of June. The FC Kader goal from Sam Cummins and Nathen Grimwood and Ryan Skelton scoring for Redcar.

Well, to prepare for next week's semi final Cup draws (all 22 of them) which will be carried out live here on BBC Tees, we have 48 Cup ties scheduled, many of which are quarter finals, so we shouldn't have too many teams either side of the versus sign. Some of these are great looking fixtures and that's where we will start this evening:

Under 14 - L/C QF - Great Ayton v Marton Hall Drive - 1:30pm
A great game in prospect as the top team with a 100% record in the second division host first division opponents Marton Hall Drive, who are currently in second place, having lost just one match in the top tier all season. A mouth-watering Cup tie in prospect between teams with excellent defences to see who goes into the hat for the semi-final draw next Thursday.

Under 12 - L/C R4 - TIBS FC "a" v Billingham Town - 10:30am
A really difficult 4th. Round tie to guess the outcome of, as the division 3 top of the table and 100% TIBS FC "a" host first division Billingham Town. This should be a great game for the neutral and a match which really could go either way. TIBS impressive defence having conceded only 7 goals in 11 League games so far could hold the key.

Under 12 - Div. 3 - Richmond Town v Darlington TSC - 11:00am
Into the League for this big game, when Darlington TSC make the relatively short journey across to Richmond Town to play an Under 12 third division match. With both teams having lost just one match and winning eight, this looks a really competitive game. Richmond have the most goals for in this division having scored 64 times in their 10 games but Darlington TSC have a quality defence and have conceded only 8 in their opening 10 matches. Another superb looking fixture.

Under 15 - Div. 4 - Loftus FC v St. Francis 2000 "a" - 1:30pm
Sides sitting in second and third place go head to head across at Loftus in yet another highly competitive and closely fought division. This should be a high-scoring encounter with both teams averaging around 5 goals per game. Possibly one for spectators who are looking for a goal feast.

Under 18 - Div. 3 - Hardwick Youth v Stokesley FC "b" - 1:30pm
You would have to say that Stokesley "b" will be favourites for end of season honours if they win this match across at Hardwick Youth. Hardwick are in third place though and in with a shout themselves if other results go their way. Not one for the faint-hearted in the oldest age group the TJFA caters for.

Some other first class games this weekend which include:

Under 9 Durham - Div. 1 Stockton Town "a" v Norton & Stockton Ancients "a" - 12:30pm
Under 9 N/Riding - Div. 1 Marton FC v Boro' Rangers - 12:30pm
Under 11 - Div. 6 Middleton Rangers v Acklam FC - 11:00am
Under 12 - Div. 2 Norton & Stockton Ancients v New Marske "a" - 11:00am
Under 13 - Div. 5 Beechwood Youth v 21st. Allstars "b" - 11:00am
Under 14 - Div. 1 Boro' Rangers v Greatham FC "a" - 1:30pm
Under 14 - Div. 3 Fishburn Boys v New Marske FC - 1:30pm
Under 16 - Div. 1 Greatham FC v Kader FC - 1:30pm
Under 16 - Div. 3 Redcar Town "b" v Acklam FC - 1:30pm

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