Thursday January 6th. 2011

A reflection on the season so far, with a couple of mentions. The current leading goalscorer in the whole of the TJFA thus far is Josh Mckeown with 28 League goals. He plays for Trimdon United in the under 13 sixth division and although, not unexpectedly with a target man like Josh, who has scored those goals in just eight matches, they are top of that division, this is a very tight league with both Wynyard Village and Stockton Rangers snapping at their heels. Teams in this division will have played eighteen games when the season eventually comes to a close in May, but I've got to say that one of my top League matches this coming weekend will be the clash between Trimdon United and Wynyard Village in this division and that's due to kick-off at 11:00am.

There are currently 23 Teams who have a 100% win record but amazingly 4 of those 23 have yet to concede a single goal. Three of the four are within the mini-soccer age groups and we have one at 11-a-side, which is a remarkable achievement. The mini-soccer teams are Stockton Town "a" in the Under 9 Durham first division who have played 7 games and have scored 31 goals, North Ormesby in the under 9 North Riding second division and they have played 9 and scored 39 goals, and the other mini-soccer team is St. Francis 2000 from the under 10 Durham second division and they have scored 19 goals in their 6 league matches so far. But a special mention must go to Great Ayton's Under 14 team who play 11-a-side and who have played 6 games and scored 26 goals without conceding, an absolutely brilliant record at 11-a-side.

There are also 23 Teams who start 2011 looking for their first points of the season, so good luck to all of those.

We have a TJFA Cup & League weekend coming up, with around 242 fixtures scheduled, but a few will be postponed, not necessarily through the weather, but because of a number of outstanding County Cup ties. I have highlighted a few TJFA Cup matches worthy of a watch:

Under 12 - LC/R4 - New Marske FC "a" v Marton FC - 10:30am
I think the best Cup game of the weekend by a country mile when the top second division team host the top first division outfit at Under 12. Wouldn't like to call this one, as both Teams have lost just one League match so far. Both teams score goals for fun and have more than capable defences. An absolute belter of a cup tie.

Under 9D - CC/QF - Leven AFC v B. Auckland St. Mary's "b" - 12:30pm
The best mini-soccer cup tie of the day as Bishop Auckland's "b" team pay a visit to Leven AFC. Leven are top of the second whilst the "Bishops" lie third in the same division. Both have very impressive defences with only 4 being conceded by Leven and 5 by Bishop Auckland. Another tight one to call and I wouldn't like to guess which of these teams will be in the hat for the semi-final draw.

Under 18 - LC/QF - Marton FC v Stokesley FC "b" - 1:30pm
An absolutely blistering quarter final in prospect as unbeaten and top of the third division Stokesley "b" make the journey across to Marton FC, themselves also unbeaten in the top flight. Stokesley "b" have already made it through to the final of the North Riding Cup and Marton will want to stop them gaining a possible unique treble. A game which will ask no quarter from either sets of players, as you would imagine in our oldest age group, and certainly not one for the faint-hearted.

Under 11 - LC/R4 - Stockton Town v Spraire Lads "a" - 10:30am
An even-looking Cup tie with Spraire Lads from Darlington travelling the short distance over to Stockton. Stockton have won five of their 7 League games and are going very well in the top flight scoring bundles of goals, whilst Spraire Lads "a" are going for League honours in the second division having lost just one match out of eight so far. Another great Cup tie.

Under 16 - LC/R3 - B. Auckland St. Mary's "b" v Acklam FC - 1:30pm
Another excellent looking Cup tie when B. Auckland "b" host Acklam FC. St. Mary's, just above halfway in the top flight, take on the second division leaders, Acklam FC, who are having a great season. Can't see more than the odd goal separating these two at the final whistle. This just might be one of those "extra time and penalties" matches!

Other highlighted games:

Under 10 N/R - LC/QF Redcar Town "a" v Marton FC "b" - 12:30pm
Under 12 - LC/R4 Richmond Town v Greatham FC "a" - 10:30am
Under 13 - Div. 6 Trimdon United v Wynyard Village "a" - 11:00am
Under 16 - Div. 1 Marton FC v Kader FC - 1:30pm
Under 18 - Div. 1 Stokesley FC "a" v Great Ayton - 1:30pm

Back