County teams seek to make big Impact
FIVE-A-SIDE football takes centre stage in both Northumberland and Durham next week.
On Wednesday, Northumberland ESFA stages its Under-12 ESFA Impact Trophies Finals at Benton’s Blue Flames Sports Ground (noon3.00).
All the schools participating have qualified through their association competitions.
Both the boys and girls are in action.
Heaton Manor’s girls had a great tussle with the Royal Grammar in the Newcastle competition and will be among the favourites to become county champions.
In the boys’ tournament, St Mary’s will be looking to go one better than last season, when they were runners-up.
In Durham, the boys’ and girls’ competitions have been split into two sections.
The boys will be playing on Wednesday at the Louisa Centre in Stanley (1.00-4.00).
Teams participating are Durham Johnston, Chester-le-Street’s Park View, Longfield Academy of Sport, Academy at Shotton Hall and Hetton.
The girls’ competition is scheduled for the following Wednesday, January 24 - also at the Louisa Centre in Stanley (1.00-4.00).
Teams participating are Parkside, Oxclose, Carmel College, Academy at Shotton Hall and Kepier.
The winning teams will represent Northumberland and Durham in the ESFA Region A round of the competition, which will be held in Soccarena, Durham, on Wednesday February 7.
THE Newcastle Primary Schools’ Bob Maddison Knockout Cup has reached the quarter-final stage.
The draw has thrown up some intriguing clashes.
Gosforth Junior Academy, this year’s county seven-a-side champions, are at home against Hilton, who are top of their Duffy League.
Gosforth secured a handsome win over last season’s Champions Cragside in the previous round and Hilton overcame St Mark’s.
The other big tie is between Newcastle School for Boys, the current county small schools champions, and Gosforth Central.
Gosforth Central secured a comfortable victory over Hotspur in their last match.
St Oswald’s, 5-0 victors over St Catherine’s in the last round, take on English Martyr’s, who are currently leading the Westgate League.
The last quarter-final tie sees Royal Grammar taking on St Cuthbert’s of Kenton.
St Cuthbert’s were involved in an end-to-end game against St Vincent’s in the last round but were still able to run out 6-3 winners.