Seven up for North boys
SQUAD KICKS OFF NEW SEASON IN STYLE WITH AN IMPRESSIVE WIN OVER CUMBRIA
NORTHUMBERLAND Under-18s opened their 2018-19 season with an emphatic 7-0 victory against Cumbria at Newcastle University’s Longbenton Sports Ground.
North opened the game by dominating possession but in difficult conditions Cumbria still maintained a threat on the counter -attack.
Jamie Henderson (Monkseaton) and Paul Van-Zindvliet (TyneMet) combined well in central midfield, providing service for the front four who went close to scoring on numerous occasions in the first 20 minutes.
The deadlock was broken when Connor Walker (Monkseaton), after great build-up play, grabbed his first counter of the afternoon.
Walker then finished the half in style by scoring twice more.
The second period started as the first finished, North looking to set up camp in Cumbria’s half.
Robbie Christie (St Mary’s) linked up well with Ben Gaffney (TyneMet) down the left, providing service for striker Sam McLellan (TyneMet) who was looking to score after his return from injury.
After 10 minutes a clever corner played out to captain Jamie Henderson allowed him to send a shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner.
Shortly after this, another corner paid off when a Van-Zindvliet cross found George Lindo (Monkseaton) who headed home to make it 5-0.
The goal of the game came from Sam McLellan who hit a thunderous free-kick from 25 yards into the top corner, leaving the Cumbria goalkeeper with no chance.
The scoring was wrapped up when substitute Phil Riley (Monkseaton) came on to grab a late goal.
Under-18s’ manager Carl Chater said: “We were delighted with our performance.
“However, we know we will face much tougher tests and need to maintain this level and attitude.”
■ NORTHUMBERLAND Under-16s also got their season off to a winning start, beating a brave Cumbria 2-1.
North took control of the game early on with Morgan Patterson (Walker) and Geoff Hearn (John Spence) dictating the pace.
Keaton Senagogo (Kenton) was a threat with his pace and link-up play with Lennon Mills (Walker) - and it was Mills who opened the scoring after 15 minutes.
After being fouled 25 yards from goal, he picked himself up and brilliantly curled a free-kick into the bottom corner.
North continued to dominate the first half, creating chance after chance - but wasteful finishing meant it remained 1-0 until the 35th minute.
Hearn then linked up with Rob Ryland (Whitley Bay), received the ball outside the box and shimmied past two players before carefully side-footing the ball into the top-left corner of the goal.
The second half was a very different story as North failed to maintain their first-period form - and it was Cumbria’s turn to apply pressure.
They went close to scoring in the 55th minute but the excellent Josh Ward (Prudhoe) cleared a header off the line from a corner.
Cumbria continued to press in a scrappy half and duly gained their reward with a superb 30-yard strike with ten minutes remaining.
Only then did North regain their composure which allowed them to comfortably see out the game.