Reds scuppered by weather in shield campaign
Last updated 13:13, Thursday, 13 November 2008
PROLONGED periods of wet weather have left pitches in a sorry state and postponements continue to badly disrupt the Tyne Valley Insurance Tynedale Mini-soccer League programme.
With winter just around the corner, teams have to decide whether to fulfil their game and make playing conditions even worse, or where youngsters are concerned, err on the side of caution and postpone with a backlog of fixtures building up.
The first round of the U10s League Challenge Shield took place on Saturday morning.
Holders Prudhoe YC Reds were due to play their Blues side but unfortunately lost out to the weather.
In-form Haydon Bridge highly impressed as they swept into the second round with the 6-1 defeat of Stocksfield Rangers.
Less than a minute had gone when a scramble took place in front of the Haydon Bridge keeper Matthew Charteries but the visitors broke quickly with the talented Cedwyn Scott slotting his side into the lead.
A long clearance by Stocksfield’s Daniel Del Prete was headed away by Owen Graham in fine style and as the Bridge countered strongly Scott turned his marker brilliantly to fire in an effort which was charged down in a crowded goal area.
Scott was again prominent in setting Nathan Barwick free but home keeper Oliver Hanifa raced off his line to drive his clearance against the onrushing Barwick but fortunately for Stocksfield the rebound cleared the bar.
A delightful chip down the line by Owen Graham found twin brother Dale and his dangerous cross was well gathered by Hanifa.
Barwick tried his luck from distance but failed to test the keeper but Stocksfield’s relief was short lived as Scott cut inside to score a second.
The visitors went further ahead when an attempted clearance cannoned off a defender to fall rather fortuitously into the path of Dale Graham who made no mistake in adding a third.
Jamie Callander, Tom Storey and Del Prete were kept at full stretch against the pacey visitors and Callander had to look lively to check the run of Dale Graham.
Owen Graham drove an effort onto the post, with Dale Graham firing over from the rebound.
Callander made a timely tackle on Matthew Hutton and Hanifa was quickly off his line to fly hack the loose ball away to safety as Jacob Brown moved in for the kill.
Josh Watts went close for Stocksfield before play switched to the opposite end where John Clarkson and Callander combined to halt the progress of James Hollingsworth.
Alexander McHarg set up Brown who dragged his effort just wide of the keeper’s left hand post while a shot-cum-centre from Dale Graham flashed across the face of the goal.
Hanifa made a great save from Hollingsworth but the visitors’ number eight was not to be denied as he headed his side further ahead at the end of the first half.
McHarg hit the bar after the break and second half keeper Charlie Weatherhead dived full length to turn away a Barwick shot but was left helpless as Owen Graham found the net with a fifth.
Connor Rushton played a long ball through to Owen Graham but once again Weatherhead was equal to the task in saving well.
Stocksfield were not giving up without a fight and their efforts were rewarded as Storey and Watts created an opening for Bradley Maughan who had time and space to slot the ball past the exposed keeper.
The hosts came forward again with Watts making a good run and hitting a shot which Charteries saved well but this led to a frenetic goalmouth scramble with the visitors lucky to survive.
The Bridge hit back to increase their advantage with Scott blasting home a well deserved hat-trick.
A Del Prete corner just needed a touch but escaped the attentions of attackers and defenders alike as it flashed across the face of the goal and into touch on the far side.
Haydon Bridge continued to surge forward with pace and in numbers and only the brilliance of Weatherhead prevented late goals by Scott, Hutton and Dale Graham.
This could well be a season to remember for the Haydonian youngsters whose teams are currently in top spot in both divisions of the U10s league while their U8s are enjoying a great run their strictly for fun games.
Sporting Stocksfield and Throckley Magpies Inter were involved in a typical cup tie of cut and thrust with the Black and Whites edging it 5-4 after extra time.
Man of the match Jack Croucher netted four with Dean Boulton also scoring while James Doneathy starred in hitting a brace for Stocksfield who also netted through Charlie Allan and Daniel Kirsopp.
Hexham Greens proved too powerful for Second Division Wylam Rockets Whites with Dominic Weller, Jake Dunlop, Hamish Forsyth, Liam Henderson, Thomas Jepson, Calum Thomas and Ryan Gardner amongst the goals.
High flying Division Two side Allendale put up a great fight before going out to a lone strike from Corbridge United U10s Ben Harris.
Oliver Handcock greatly impressed in defence for the Dale with Lee Purvis excelling for the winners.
Haltwhistle United proved too strong for their younger Blues counterparts in hitting eight without reply.
Billy Rogan (2), Dylan Fairless, Jake Findlay, Cavin Glenwright, Dion Parker, Lewis Weeks and the prominent Jack Mitchell were the marksmen with the Blues best served by Daniel Heppell.
The only First Division fixture to go ahead was at Wylam where the Rockets Blues shared the spoils with Wark after a 2-2 draw.
Home midfielder Lol Watson is enjoying a fine season and was once again in fine form with skipper Josh Buchanan starring for Wark.
Ben Drake and Johnie Anderson were on target for Wylam with Jack Johnston and Luke McCormick scoring for the North Tyne outfit in a truly cracking encounter which greatly impressed on looker Sunderland FC scout Mike Ingoe and was further enhanced by the excellent performance of referee Laura Graham.
A restricted Second Division programme of three games was played with Haydon Bridge U9s consolidating their position as leaders by hitting nine without reply away to Throckley Magpies U9s.
Owen Murtough was again on form in scoring four with Ben Scott notching a treble and Dale Leadbitter and Joel Pearson also on the mark.
Matthew Percival hit a hat-trick for Corbridge United Lions in their 4-2 defeat of neighbours Hexham U9s while Louis Youngman weighed in with a tremendous strike from just outside the box.
Matty Pugh was prominent in midfield for the winners while Jake Duffy and Elliott Jeffries were the scorers for the Lions who pressed hard to get a result in the second half.
Man of the match Nathan Crozier notched a hat-trick and Jonathon Tobin a brace in Stocksfield U9s’ 5-2 win over Wylam Rockets Yellows.
The home side got away to a flying start with three early goals meaning their guests were fighting an uphill task right from the kick-off.
Crozier set up Tobin for the opening goal and then picked up a long clearance by Daniel Bennett to double his side’s advantage.
Wylam tried to counter with Tom Cairns making a good run to send over a cross which was put out by Thomas Millman but the Rockets fell further behind as Tobin latched on to a Crozier cross to score from close range.
Bennett fired against the bar and as Wylam countered through Ben and Tom Cairns it took a good interception by Matthew Bradley to cut out the danger.
However the visitors were not to be denied with Calum Piggott and Tom Cairns combining to create the opening for Samuel Collins to pull one back.
Both sides had chances in the latter part of the first half but as the interval Stocksfield were still in the driving seat at 3-1.
Rockets’ keeper Billy Wild twice denied Crozier in quick succession early in the second period, while at the opposite end, Jack Trewitt nipped in to check a promising attack involving Matthew Bunney and Collins.
Stocksfield added a fourth with the impressive Crozier finding the net following persistent play by of Henry Wood.
James McGee drove a well struck drive just off target and a great run by Crozier led to Bennett firing over.
Wylam were still a force to be reckoned with and a cross shot by Drew Hall flashed narrowly wide of the far post but shortly after Matthew Bunney reduced the arrears with a well taken goal.
Crozier made a mazy run in the box but his shot failed to trouble keeper Billy Wild.
Stocksfield defender Oliver Bullen was in quickly to cut out a dangerous run by Bunney but the scoring was completed with Crozier striking once again for his hat-trick.
