Eight hit net in a big win for North’s girls
SCHOOLS FOOTBALL
DESPITE heavy rain on previous days, pitches at Carlisle’s Sheepmount Sports Centre were in good condition to stage the final Northern Counties League matches for Northumberland’s three schools sides against Cumbria.
Victories for all three saw the under-16 girls finish at the top of the Northern Counties East League.
The under-18 boys are also guaranteed a top-two place going into the Northern Counties’ semi-finals.
The under-16 boys also finished the season in fine style to make up for earlier disappointments.
The girls completely dominated their Cumbrian opponents and the score reached double figures without reply.
Eight players were on the scoresheet - Alisia Mutrie (Seaton Burn), Bex Henderson (QEHS Hexham), Jayden Maxwell (Benfield), Anna Soulsby (Gosforth), Chloe Davies (Cramlington), Erin Nelson (Whitley Bay), Grace Ayre (Sacred Heart) and Georgia Richardson (Whitley Bay) helping to ensure North a home semi-final tie.
The girls are also almost certain to represent the north in the national ESFA Inter-County Trophy Competition
North’s under-18 boys squad controlled most of the first half but numerous half-chances came and went.
With Cumbria dangerous on the break and from set-pieces, it took a brilliant flying one-handed save from Will Hogarth (Ponteland HS) to maintain parity.
A long-range effort from Jake Jensen (Monkseaton) then opened the scoring, followed by a Will Roberts (Gosforth) strike to put North into 2-0 lead by half-time. North were again comfortably in command after the break but were unable to add to the tally - and a Cumbria strike with 10 minutes remaining caused a few nerves.
Cumbrian confidence was boosted and they created several good chances - so it came as a great relief when the final whistle blew with North hanging at 2-1.
North’s under-16 boys saved their most convincing performance of the season until last.
They were 2-0 ahead by half-time, thanks to goals from Louis Calvert (Excelsior) and Will Jenkins (Ponteland).
Early in the second period, a superb seven-man move ended with a fine cross to the far post andWill Scott (Ponteland) netted with a controlled volley.
Ryan Wombwell (Walbottle) struck to complete a 4-0 victory but it was too little too late for the lads to make progress in the Northern Counties’ Trophy.