Focus on youth football

AYLSHAM U15 GIRLS claimed victory over Old Catton with two goals in each half. Old Catton battled hard, but Lisa's goal direct from a corner after half an hour knocked the stuffing out of them. Jaimie swiftly added a second by flicking Naomi's awesome drop-kick over the centre-back before slotting it past the keeper. Aylsham continued to have the better of the second half, but it took another half hour until Vicky made it 3-0 with a headed goal from Lisa's corner. Sarah shot home at the back post after yet another excellent Lisa corner. Aylsham go into the final five games in good heart. Thanks to Darren for running the line, and new sponsors Goff Petroleum.

SHERINGHAM WARRIORS U15 entertained Sheringham Youth in terrible conditions at the high school. The Warriors dominated throughout with Nathan Lomax in goal a virtual spectator throughout. Sheringham Youth lined up with a back eight and Warriors had to be cagey to get the opening breakthrough. Jacob Knowles fired them in front with a stunning strike. Will Parker made it 2-0 when he received the ball on the right wing and delightfully chipped the keeper. Tommy Bywater, Josh Dyde, Ali Burghall and Tom Harrison had a really quiet day and all of them were able to get forward in support. Cameron Humphrey and Harry Carrington in midfield set up a lot of openings for the forward line. The Warriors domination continued in the second half. Shane Cox, who had had a good game in midfield, picked the ball up outside the penalty box and drove it past the keeper for 3-0. Tom Todd and Josh Glister came on and both worked hard, but with so many defenders they saw many of their shots blocked. The Warriors made it 4-0 when a ball whipped in from the right eluded the defenders but found Shane Cox. Harry Stamatov was playing just behind the forward line and he put in a good display, hitting the woodwork twice and having some shots well saved. Jodi Norris got the goal he deserved after working so hard against a host of defenders. A cross from the right was parried by the keeper which left the goal gaping for Jodi to nod into the back of the net. Ed Mayell reffed this derby with common sense. Sheringham Warriors ran out comfortable 5-0 winners.

NORTH WALSHAM PANTHERS U14 played Stalham, and because the pitch was slippery, neither team played to their full potential. Elliot created a chance for himself, and scored the Panthers' first goal. Stalham played very competitive football and scored a scrappy goal. Stalham went 2-1 up with a much better goal. Panthers seemed unable to play their normal flowing game, but after a fracas in the Stalham goalmouth Max put the Panthers level. Elliot put the Panthers ahead at the end of the half. A minute into the second half the Panthers were awarded a free-kick from which Lewis scored a super goal. Elliot put a ball across the Stalham goalmouth, and Stalham scored an own goal, then pulled a goal back. Elliot's' experience gave him his hat-trick, but was denied from the penalty spot by a fine save from the Stalham keeper. Panthers 6, Stalham 3.

NORTH WALSHAM ANGELS U13 GIRLS visited undefeated table toppers Dereham Wanderers. One player failed to turn up leaving the visitors with only one substitute. The home team took an early 3-0 lead. Angels were awarded a free-kick a few yards into the Dereham half near the left touch line, from which Charlotte superbly curled the ball round the keeper into the top right corner. But Dereham scored again following a goalmouth mel�e. Keeper Emily P was injured as the ball went in and although she bravely carried on until half-time she could not prevent a fifth goal. She was unable to continue after the break and skipper Charlotte took over the keeper's jersey. With no more substitutes Sophie S and Lucy were in defence, Sophie H came into midfield alongside Robyn and Hannah W (making her Angels debut) with Olivia as striker. Angels had a couple of chances that went begging and Robyn was unlucky with one long-range piledriver but Dereham scored four more times for a 9-1 victory. This was by no means Angels' worst performance of this, or any season, but it was their biggest- ever defeat.

EAST COAST WARRIORS U11 welcomed Worstead Wolves to Bodham, and met tough and determined opponents. Coast's midfield and backs had to work as a single fluid defensive unit for much of the first 20 minutes, with captain Lubbock marshalling a sound effort against the waves of Wolves attacks, and keeper Baker mopping up the few shots that got through. Coast gradually turned the tide, and a series of excellent individual runs from Lozeau paid off when he crossed to Lee, who laid it off neatly for Glasgow to hammer home, followed by Roffey denied by the goalpost. Despite playing into a biting headwind, Coast opened the second period strongly and five minutes in Lozeau ran the pitch length again, skipped past the Wolves' backs and lobbed high over the keeper for a second. Good work from Brown, Lee and Lubbock saw an on-form Howell slam the ball goalwards, to be headed in by a Wolves back (own goal). From the kick-off good link-play led to Lubbock driving home a fourth. Another long run saw Lozeau put another excellent long cross into the box and into the far corner of the net over the heads of the opposing backs. Five minutes from time good moves from Lee and Brown put Glasgow on the ball, twisting and turning his way through the Wolves defences, and a cracking volley brought a splendid save from the Worstead stopper, only to be beaten by Howell's neat tap-in on the rebound. There were strong performances from all 13 Coast players, and Worstead Wolves played hard the full 60 minutes to produce an exiting match. Final score: East Coast Warriors 6, Worstead Wolves 0.

CROMER YOUTH U11 faced Old Catton A away for the second time in three weeks and repeated a memorable 3-1 victory. In atrocious conditions it was end-to-end stuff. Cromer played some attractive, attacking football. But at half-time the game was balanced at 0-0. Early in the second half a momentary lapse in concentration saw the superb Cromer defence split in two and Old Catton took the lead. Within five minutes a Harry Copeman free-kick was deflected home for an own goal to put Cromer level at 1-1. Both teams desperately sought the winner and there were good chances at either end. Jack Chapman was unlucky to have a shot cleared off the line and it was his corner that was drilled home by Nyall Brown to give Cromer a 2-1 lead. Five minutes later the game was put beyond doubt when the lively Adam Spruce followed up superbly on a spill from the Catton keeper to stroke home Cromer's third and complete an excellent 3-1 victory against a tough side on a tough pitch in tough conditions. Man of the match: Nyall Brown.

CROMER U9 made hard work of a home match against bottom team Holt. The visitors played well throughout and scored an early goal after a defensive mistake. Tobi and Euan were lively, while James and Jack tried hard in defence, but Holt took advantage of acres of space to score a fine second goal. With Cromer's title challenge looking under threat, Euan got them back into the game with a fine shot after a mazy run. After some half-time changes, Cromer were much stronger. Ronnie was in fine form and caused lots of problems for Holt's defence, before scoring an excellent goal after a great run. It was one-way traffic then as Cromer looked for the winner. Megan was strong in midfield and Ronnie and Noah threatening up front. A good run and cross from Noah was tapped in at the far post

by man-of-the match Ronnie, as Cromer snatched a crucial 3-2 win near the end.

EAST COAST WARRIORS U10 were away to North Walsham U10. The whole team of S Howell, C Craske, L Goodrum, J Boggis, A Little, A Galley, J Stearman, B Candlish and T Oxley showed commitment and team spirit in very wet muddy conditions to win 3-2. The goal scorers were L Goodrum, J Stearman and A Galley.

STALHAM U10 lost 4-3 to Aylsham on Sunday. They did themselves proud and really deserved a draw. They went 1-0 up at the start with a cracking strike from Daniel when he cut past the defender after a long ball from Harry, who had a great game at the back. Aylsham equalised but soon Daniel scored again with a header from Troy's corner. It was end to end and Aylsham soon scored as Stalham couldn't contain their striker. Stalham hit the keeper several times from follow-ups. Jake (Player of the Match) was fantastic in midfield and had a hand in many of Stalham's good moves. Sean, Ryan and Troy all also had good games in midfield. Aylsham scored just before half-time to make it 3-2. The second half saw more great team play from Stalham, their passing and attacking play a pleasure to watch. Troy made it 3-3 from a Ryan long throw. Then Josh made a great pass through to Sean who went on a super run but Stalham didn't find the back of the net. Aylsham's lightning-quick striker, the difference between the two teams, scored at the end for a win for Aylsham, 4-3. However, Joseph - who had made some awesome saves - nearly saved it as he came out well to close down. Chris and Matthew both made good tackles throughout.

NORTH WALSHAM ANGELS U13 GIRLS' topsy-turvey season continued with a 5-0 home win over bottom side Docking Devils. The visitors kicked off two players short and Angels took advantage when Robyn won possession, following an opponent's goal-kick, and ran through to shoot into the net. Other chances went begging before Docking were able to field a full side but then Robyn scored an almost carbon copy of her first goal. A hatful of chances were spurned as the ball flashed across the visitors' goalmouth from corner kicks and crosses. After the break Izzy took over in goal whilst Emily P had a spell in defence. Sophie S, Lucy and Jess F were also used in defence with Hannah W, Charlotte and Robyn filling the midfield roles and Olivia and Lauren alternating as striker. A good move down the left led to the third goal, Robyn laying the ball off for Charlotte to convert. Charlotte rocked the bar then a long ball up field by Emily set up Lauren for goal No 4. Charlotte won possession in the penalty area with a crunching tackle and the ball ran to Hannah, who poked it over the line for her first goal for the Angels to complete a 5-0 victory.

NORTH WALSHAM U13 lost 2-1 to Hethersett U13 in terrible weather. End-to-end stuff marked the early part of the game and Walsham were eventually caught napping in defence and beaten by a well-placed shot. Walsham enjoyed a spell of attacking play, but Hethersett came back and threatened to increase the lead. Hethersett came close early in the second half then found the net but were ruled offside. Walsham shot narrowly wide as the even game continued. Walsham scored from a well-worked corner, and came close to scoring again almost straight from the kick-off, but Hethersett restored the goal advantage late in the game. The goal proved to be decisive, despite best North Walsham efforts for an equaliser. Good play from several players, Hinton in particular playing strongly in defence.

NORTH WALSHAM YOUTH U9 kept in touch with the teams at the top of the league with a fine 5-2 over Wendene Wanderers on Saturday. Both teams started brightly with chances at both ends. Walsham began to get a foothold as Sam and Connor began pulling the strings in midfield. Sam was the architect of the first goal when he played the ball to Tom W, who finished well from close-in. With Ethan also having a great game in midfield the home side extended their lead. Great vision by Taylor saw Ethan tuck the ball sweetly past the keeper. But Wendene scored within six seconds of the restart and they started to play some good football and deservedly equalised just before the break. The second half was end to end. A Wendene shot from just outside the area was superbly turned over the bar by Jordan. Minutes later Walsham scored. Connor played the ball to Max who ran and slotted the ball under the advancing keeper. With Ethan and George at the back looking solid, Walsham searched for more goals. The fourth came as Connor fired into the bottom corner, and only seconds from the end Connor again finished well after a surging run.