Season 2007 / 08 Reports

Monday, 17 March 2008
Abbey Lane Vs Norton Lees (Friendly)

Sunday 16th March

Abbey Lane U9's 2 - 6 Norton Lees U9's

Man of the Match: Jack Levick and Anthony Everest

Scorers: Will Pattison, Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas, Harry Groombridge, Anthony Everest, Joel Hodgkiss, Mitchell French

MATCH REPORT:
Although Abbey Lane were 2 divisions below we knew that this meant little as they had already beaten Throstles this year and were promotion contenders in their division. This was going to be a tough game, particularly so as the pitch was an absolute quagmire. I have rarely seen a muddier bunch of players after a game as I did today! This friendly was also an opportunity to give debuts to 2 new players who are dropping down from the current under 10's to us for next season. So welcome to Liam Tarantini and Kieran Hunt. Both had excellent games today and will be big assets for us next year.

The first half of game 1 was a tight affair with no goals. Norton Lees had the majority of possession and the better chances but Abbey Lane were battling hard and it was difficult to play any sort of passing football on the mudbath. Team 1 started to take control of the game during their 2nd half. A free kick near the corner of the area was put across by Liam and Will jumped superbly to head it in. The pressure on the Abbey Lane team continued with Liam and Kieran tackling like tigers in midfield. James 'Maldini' Edwards and Jack Levick were solid in defence and clearing the ball upfield to our own players giving us yet more chances. Cyrdn came on in midfield and played a stormer, being very unlucky not to score at least once. Abbey Lane's keeper was having a very good game but could do little to stop 2 more goals taking the score at the dn of game 1 to 0-3.

Game 2 was also closely fought but Norton Lees were playing the better football. Anthony scored a lovely goal (tricking the keeper and going round him) after a great through ball from Joel. He was unlucky not to score more today. Abbey Lane grabbed one back after the Norton Lees defence stood off the attacking players, giving them too much room. A goal mouth scramble (one of a few) gave Norton Lees the lead and a good run and finish from Mitch put the game safe. Abbey Lane continued to look to get forward and were rewarded with another goal later in the game.

An enjoyable game for spectators and players alike. Well played boys.



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Hillsborough Pumas Vs Norton Lees

Sunday 9th March 2008

Hillsborough Pumas U9's 7 - 3 Norton Lees U9's

Man of the Match: Raph Plummer-Idundun and Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas

Scorers: Raph Plummer-Idundun, Harry Groombridge and Will Pattison

MATCH REPORT:
This match determined which team would finish in the bottom 3 and so both teams were obviously keen to avoid the chance of relegation.

Norton Lees took the early initiative and pressurised Pumas very well. This quickly paid off with Raph Plummer-Idundun opening the scoring with a cracking shot from the edge of the box. This gave the boys some confidence but Pumas responded positively and they enjoyed more of the play during game 1. Unfortunately, Alex Clayton fell awkwardly whilst challenging for the ball and had to come off injured. We later learnt that he had actually broken his wrist. Bad luck Alex. Everyone wishes you a speedy recovery. The rest of the lads battled hard and gave it their all but 3 goals from Pumas gave them a strong lead going into game 2.

Team 2 knew what they had to do and as with team 1 they started much the brighter. A great goal from Harry Groombridge gave us all hope and for the first few minutes Norton Lees were enjoying the lions share of the position. However, as in game 1, Pumas came back stronger and stronger and thanks to a dazzling performance from their number 9 began to dominate. Norton Lees pulled one back thank to Will Pattison's corner deflecting in off one of their players and the lads gave their all but found it difficult to cope against one or two skilful and strong players. Pumas eventually won game 2 by 4 goals to 2.

Many of the lads were clearly upset at the end but they deserve enormous credit for the way in which they have improved over the latter half of the season. Well done boys.



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Monday, 4 February 2008
Norton Lees Vs Worksop Town

Sunday 3rd February 2008

Norton Lees U9's 6 - 1 Worksop Town U9's

Man of the Match: Jack Pearson and James Stevens

Scorers: James Stevens (3), Harry Groombridge (2), Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas

MATCH REPORT:
Another 'have to win' relegation decider on a perishing day in Graves Park and another much needed win for the under 9's.

Worksop Town scored early on in game 1 and managed to hold on against the run of play. Mitchell French hit the bar from a free kick and we went close a number of times but despite constant Norton Lees pressure the Worksop lads battled tremendously hard, throwing themselves into every tackle to maintain their advantage. Joe Dineen made a good save to keep the score to 1 but other than that he had very little to do. This was largely thanks to 'big' Jack Pearson who dominated the defence and deserved his man of the match award. 1-0 to Worksop at the end of game 1 might have been a poor reflection of the balance of play but they deserve plenty of credit for their battling performance.

Worksop started game 2 with only 6 players and soon had to rely on just 4 outfield players after one of their boys couldn't continue. As a result they had to cope with constant attacks but deserve enormous praise for their tigerish tackling and 'never-say-die' attitude. James Stevens played out of position as a striker but revelled in this, scoring a hat-trick and winning a penalty that Will Pattison unfortunately missed. Despite missing an open goal, Harry Groombridge grabbed a couple of goals and Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas also kept up his recent impressive scoring streak. With a little more composure in front of goal it really could have been 12 but this was another very good win and the boys are giving it everything in their battle to avoid relegation.



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Sunday, 27 January 2008
Wasps Vs Norton Lees

Sunday 27th January 2008

Wasps under 9's 0 - 4 Norton Lees U9's

Man of the Match: Alex Clayton and Will Pattison

Scorers: Joel Hodgkiss, Raph Plummer-Idundun, Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas (2)

MATCH REPORT:
A fantastic battling performance by the under 9's in a 'must win' relegation battle.

Team 1 dominated their game and fully deserved the 2-0 scoreline. The midfield were tenacious throughout and not only looked like they were desperate to win every tackle but also put together some slick passing moves. A great move within 5 minutes saw the lads take the lead with Joel Hodgkiss finding the corner of the net after a wonderful flowing build up. Wasps pressured for an equaliser but Alex Clayton was playing the game of his life in defence and coped with everything that came his way. He thoroughly deserved his man of the match. Mitchell French made some great runs into space and was unlucky with a couple of efforts. The 2nd goal came from almost nothing and was just reward for the battling way in which Anthony Everest gave nothing up. Winning the ball on the edge of the area he passed across to Raph Plummer-Idundun who smashed it into the net.

Wasps started game 2 brightly playing some good football but although they very much the best of the first half they never really troubled Isaac Appleyard in goal. 0-0 at half time and the team were reminded that they needed to battle harder and try and put some early pressure on Wasps in the 2nd half. They certainly heeded the advice. The defence made no mistakes and Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas and, especially, Will Pattison worked hard up front. A surging run and powerful cross from Will gave the keeper no chance and Kieran was able to tap it in to an empty net. A great save from Wasps' keeper from Will's header denied him a deserved goal and with 5 minutes to go Kieran made the game safe with his 2nd of the match.

Really well played lads. Thats the 3rd excellent performance on the trot. Lets keep it up until the end of the season.

Rob



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Thursday, 17 January 2008
Rawmarsh St. Josephs Vs Norton Lees

Sunday 13th January 2008

Norton Lees Under 9s 5 - 6 Rawmarsh St. Josephs Under 9s

Man of the Match: Joel Hodgkiss and Cyrdn Read

Scorers: Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas, Raph Plummer-Idundun, Harry Groombridge, Anthony Everest, Will Pattison

MATCH REPORT: A very close game that swung this way and that. Rawmarsh won game 1 by 4 goals to 2 but we came back strongly in game 2 and scored 3 great goals without reply in the first half. Rawmarsh levelled the aggregate score with a good goal from a corner and we then spurned 2 or 3 good chances to make the game safe. Rawmarsh snatched the points in the last few minutes with a looping effort that just crept under the bar. A draw would have been a fair result but all credit to both teams for what was a great game.