Ponteland do double to progress in national cup
PONTELAND will represent Northumberland in the North Regional competition for the second year in a row after winning the Northumberland Schools Danone Nations ESFA Girls Seven-a-Side Tournament.
The team beat Ovingham 2-0 in the final to retain their title and will play for a spot in the national finals.
Ponteland overcame five other sides from around the region, topping their group before continuing their success in the knock-out stages.
Both Ponteland and Ovington qualified out of group one, with St Columba’s of Wallsend missing out on a semi-final spot.
In group two, Valley Gardens and St Teresa’s, from Newcastle, took the top two spots, eliminating Morpeth school Newminster.
A heroic rearguard action from St Teresa’s took Ponteland to penalties but the latter eventually prevailed 2-1 from the spot.
In the other semi, Ovingham put on a tremendous display to defeat Valley Gardens 5-0.
But two goals from Jemima Aspinall ensured that Ponteland took home the trophy and progressed to the next stage of the competition.
The tournament came after the Under-11 mixed Northumberland competition.
And speaking after the two nights of football, organiser John Farnie said: “Despite the conditions both nights were a great success. A lot of good football was played by all the teams and we wish the two winners all the best in the next round.”
Northumberland Schools Under18s play West Yorkshire in the ESFA Inter-Counties Trophy at Newcastle University’s Cochrane Park in a 1pm kick-off next Saturday.
Manager Steve Swinyard will select from Marc Jacques, Robbie Christie, Jamie Henderson, Jake Cairns, Jack Ramsey, Jonny Fox, Sol Bell, Jake Jensen and Kieran Brannan (all Monkseaton), Steven Carey (St Cuthbert’s), Will Hogarth (Ponteland), Will Roberts (Gosforth), Cam Cunningham (Tyne Met) and Vinnie Proudlock (QE Hexham).
But the coach will be without his three top players, Jack Butler, Callum Hartley and Jake Cunningham, who are playing for the North as part of the England trials.
Swinyard said: “It is a great honour for these lads to be picked for the North team and we wish them all the best.
“I believe we have the strength in depth to deal with their absence and we fully expect a top class performance from the team on the day.”
The Leadgate Eden Colliery Cup, which is for small schools in the county, was won for the third time by All Saints RC Primary School.
The Lanchester school won all three matches to claim the trophy.
All Saints will represent Durham County Schools FA (DCSFA) in the North Region round of the ESFA Danone Nations Small Schools’ Soccer Sevens.
Northumberland have their competition on December 6 at Gosforth Academy, starting at 4pm.
St Margaret’s CE, Durham, who won the Daniel O’Hare Memorial Trophy for the second time.
They were the only team to win a game at the four-team tournament, claiming two victories while all four remaining matches neded in draws.
St Margaret’s CE will represent DCSFA in the North Region round of the ESFA Danone Nations Schools’ Cup.
The North East ESFA Premier League competition for Under-11 Associations takes place next Saturday at Middlesbrough FC’s Herlingshaw Centre.
The boys’ competition starts at 10am and the girls’ event starts at 2pm. Ten associations are taking part in the boys’ competition, with six in the girls’ competition.
Middlesbrough and Sunderland will start off favourites in both competitions but Newcastle could push them close in the girls competition.