Youth football in focus

CROMER YOUTH U9 travelled to Sprowston for a tough cup match. Sprowston had most of the pressure in the first half, but Cromer defended well with Noah, William and James strong in tackling and George making solid saves in goal. Just before

half-time Cromer conceded a goal, a header from a corner. Cromer came into the game more in the second half, but Sprowston scored an excellent goal on the break for 2-0. Euan was lively up front and scored a great long-range goal. But Sprowston quickly scored again and deservedly won the match 3-1. MoM: Euan.

EAST COAST WARRIORS U11 came under immediate fire in their home cup tie against Hindolveston, the visitors breaking through on three minutes and forcing a good save from Baker. The clearance was blown back by the wind, falling kindly for Hindolveston's Campbell, who slotted home from close range. The visitors kept Coast pinned back, but despite constant pressure ECW's defence held firm allowing some good breaks, rewarded when Lee rocketed home a long diagonal ball to even the score. Close to half-time the visitors went ahead when Doncaster evaded central defence and put an unreachable ball past Coast's stopper. Starting the second period Coast defence and midfield held the line under huge pressure, playing the ball deftly past the opposing defence, Jones' effort going off for a corner. Howell plucked the bobbling ball from the ensuing scramble and slammed home to equalise. Soon afterwards Hindolveston conceded a penalty for handling, but Brown's shot was well taken by Salter. He also stopped a fine series of shots that followed over a five-minute period with Brown and Lee battering the visitors' keeper and Reid taking an optimistic pop from 20 yards. Smith and Wilkinson distinguishing themselves in a stout team effort. At 2-2, in extra time. Hindolveston started brightly, Doncaster again beating the off-side trap, leaving Baker no chance. Roffey came close for Coast, but was ruled offside. In the second period Richardson moved like lightning to get his body between ball and net to save the day. Coast broke from the corner and Jones ran round several defenders to slam in yet another equaliser. At 3-3 aet penalties were needed. Captain Lubbock put the ball out of reach top corner; Baker saved; Brown and his opposite number scored, as did Lee and another visitor. Wilkinson, who had worked tirelessly in defence, screamed a scorcher past Salter for a fourth, and a visiting striker bowed to pressure and shot wide. East Coast win 4-2 on penalties.

STALHAM YOUTH A U12 met Sprowston U12 in the cup, coming away with a good 7-0 win. Stalham could have easily had lost more but the Sprowston keeper was on fine form. Stalham's display was top class and every player had an outstanding game. Stand-in keeper Rylan rarely had a lot to do but played well, with confidence when needed. Kieran, Dom P and Luke were faultless at the back and Tom in the holding role just in front was outstanding. The midfield of Jake and Dom M were immense with their clever one-twos and feeding the ball out wide to Matti and Adam on the wings whose endless crosses were a constant threat. The work rate of Ryan and Aiden up front was top notch with their passing and decision-making spot on. Substitute Andy had a good game at the back when he came on. Ryan set up the first goal with a great cross for Adam to finish at the back post. Adam put in a lovely long cross for Ryan to finish at the back post. Matti crossed for Aiden to bury it. Jake put in a superb corner that Adam headed in nicely. Ryan's shot led to Dom M placing the rebound in. Jake had another corner that Tom sneaked in at back post. Dom M fed Aiden a good ball, who hit a sweet strike from just outside the 18-yard box. Player-of-the-match: Whole team.

SHERINGHAM WARRIORS U15 travelled to second-placed Wendene, who were level on points with the Warriors at the start of the match, and won 7-1. Wendene started the better with Sheringham struggling to get going on a heavy pitch. Nathan Lomax pulled off some fine saves with the wind doing him no favours. Sheringham Warriors are always dangerous on the counter-attack and when Jacob Knowles received the ball on the left wing he left his full-back for dead and calmly fired past the keeper to make it 1-0. Within minutes Jacob again raced clear to make it 2-0 to the Warriors. A rain storm hit and with players struggling to see Wendene pulled a goal back. Wendene were awarded a free-kick. The keeper took it, only to hit one of his own players on the back, the ball landing nicely for the quick-thinking Jodi Norris to lift over the keeper to make it 3-1. Harry Carrington, Tommy Bywater, Tom Harrison and Ali Burghall were playing out of their skins at the back. Jacob Knowles got his hat-trick when Jodi Norris picked him out: 4-1. In the second half the Warriors kept improving, Will Parker made it 5-1 when he burst down the right wing and struck a shot. Josh Glister and Tom Todd came on with Tom firing just over and Josh shaving a post. Will again sprinted down the right and put in a good cross which Shane Cox acrobatically scissor-kicked into the roof of the net for 6-1. Cameron Humphrey along with Shane and Jodi had worked really hard in midfield and set up a lot of good moves. Harry Stamatov was another who put in an excellent display up front, and he was unlucky not to grab a goal after giving the Wendene centre-backs a torrid time. Jodi Norris scored the last with a lovely glancing header into the roof of the net.

MUNDESLEY YOUTH U16 had two successful trips to Norwich, beating Wendene Wanderers 4-1 in the league and Norman Wanderers 3-2 in a cup tie. Wendene took an early lead but Ben Smith set up Joe Culley for an equaliser before the break. A long-range left footer from George Crane put Mundesley ahead and two goals from Liam Amos secured the points. On a blustery afternoon at Slowbottom Park Norman Wanderers broke the deadlock but on the stroke of half-time Tommy Tatum met a Daryl Daglass corner with a powerful header to bring the scores level. In the second period another corner provided George Crane with an opening to put Mundesley ahead. Then Billy Furze caused havoc in the home defence with a long ball downfield, and Joe Culley nipped in to score. Norman pulled one back but the visitors held on for victory.

NORTH WALSHAM ANGELS U13 GIRLS progressed to the League Cup semi-finals at Millfield at the expense of Thorpe Rovers 3-0. Angels took the lead when Zoe received the ball from Charlotte's throw in and passed across goal for Lauren to prod in. Thorpe took control but a half-time team talk got Angels back on track. Keeper Emily P kept another clean sheet which included at least two terrific saves. Jess returned to the defence and gave a good display although she tired. Lucy made some timely interceptions and when she left the pitch with a foot injury Sophie came on to keep up her good work. With Zoe, Charlotte and Robyn linking well in midfield strikers Lauren and Kiera had plenty of support. New signing Olivia came on for her debut and showed plenty of commitment with some excellent runs. Robyn won possession following a Thorpe goal kick and laid the ball off to Charlotte who hit a low shot for goal No 2. The third goal followed a throw in by Zoe, Jess receiving the ball and floating a cross to the far post for Robyn to score.

CROMER YOUTH U11 faced a much improved North Walsham at home in the cup on Sunday. The Cromer boys took a while to get into their stride, but eventually a cleared corner fell to Jack Chapman who stroked the ball home. And it was Jack again, with an even better strike minutes later who gave Cromer a 2-0 advantage. Soon after Adam Spruce tucked in Cromer's third before North Walsham fought back. But the Cromer defence stood firm, notably Zeke Downes, who had a fine game at the back. On the stroke of half-time Ieuan Lightfoot rounded the Walsham keeper to slot home and give Cromer a comfortable 4-0 half-time lead. The second half saw a superb shot from Nathan Foulser quickly put them five ahead. Nathan's cross moments later led to the goal of the day, when Nyall Brown delighted the crowd with a superb diving header to make it 6-0. As torrential rain lashed the ground, Jack Tritton made it 7-0 and Harry Copeman rounded off a fine 8-0 victory for the Cromer boys. MoM: Nyall Brown.

EAST COAST WARRIORS U10 were at home to Holt United U10 in the League Cup and won 9-0. East Coast dominated the game from the start and were 6-0 up at half-time. C Craske and L Goodrum worked well in defence, allowing very few balls to get past them. S Howell in goal kept a clean sheet. J Boggis, A Little and J Stearman all had a good game in midfield supporting A Galley and B Candlish up front. The final score was 9-0 to East Coast Warriors. The goal scorers were A Galley, A Little, J Boggis (2) and J Stearman (5).

EAST COAST WARRIORS U14 beat Cromer U14 1-0 (aet). On the cliff tops at East Runton the Warriors faced old rivals Cromer in the first round of the League Cup. Warriors got off to a splendid start passing the ball around the field, keeping possession and limiting their adversaries' opportunities. Despite the possession the Warriors could not break the deadlock but came close on several occasions only to be denied by some superb goalkeeping. The back four of Perry, Little, Baker and Walton played brilliantly, leaving L Davies in goal with little to do and feeding the ball to Clark in midfield who made good use of his midfield colleagues Lubbock and Balding. With Swainson, George and McCarthey up front making some good runs the Warriors looked good for the victory. However the score remained tied at half-time. In the second half the Warriors rang the changes, bringing on Farquharson, Morgan and Swann and continued to enjoy the majority of the possession. The breakthrough finally came in the first half of extra time when Morgan was brought down in the area. Swanison stepped up and expertly converted the penalty. Warriors continued to press but failed to score. In the dying minutes Cromer went close but Davies made a great save.