Six-hitters East are step nearer to glory
SCHOOLS FOOTBALL
EAST Northumberland defeated Tameside 6-0 in the quarter-finals of the English Schools’ National Trophy at Newcastle United Academy.
The game started off evenly with both teams respecting one another.
Tameside began forcing the play with long, direct balls over the top to utilise the pace of their forwards, which opened the game up and allowed more space.
Midway through the first half East North started to exploit those spaces and found themselves going in front.
Following a strong run through the Tameside defence, Harrison Borley (JCSC Amble) managed to bundle the ball to Michael Johnstone (Blyth) and the forward was not going to miss from six yards out.
Then, following a good passage of play from Will Dowling (Chantry) and James McConnell (Newminster), Borley forced a good save from the Tameside goalkeeper, who managed to tip the ball around the post.
Just before half-time East North doubled their lead.
A throw-in down the line saw Borley flick the ball over the top and Johnstone gambled on the second ball.
The striker went running through and smashed the ball into the bottom corner.
After half-time Tameside started to apply pressure and a slip from an East North defender allowed Tameside’s winger to drive into the box.
He tried to find the bottom corner from 10 yards out, which produced a fine save from Jamie Cotterill (St Benet Biscop).
A few minutes later the same Tameside player – with a carboncopy run – found himself in the box again.
This time he opted for the top corner and Cotterill was on hand again to tip the ball over the crossbar. East North then made a tactical switch to stem the flow from the right side.
This prompted the home side to step up a gear and again it was Borley charging through the middle of the pitch and slotting the ball home into the bottom corner.
Soon it was 4-0 as a sweeping ball out to the right from Dan Dixon (St Benet Biscop) enabled Callum Lee (Meadowdale) to cut back on to his right foot with his cross, finding Borley in the box who coolly slotted home. The game was then put out of reach with McConnell going on a mazy run, beating the Tameside defence and sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 5-0.
The goalscoring was then rounded off by Ben Williams (Meadowdale), who bundled the ball home from a corner following Euan McClaren (Meadowdale) heading the ball on to the far past.
East North will next host Liverpool SFA for a place in the prestigious compeition’s final.