Squads are facing Final reckoning
NORTHUMBERLAND Schools have two of their squads in Northern Counties Championship action next Saturday.
They take on neighbours Durham at both under-16 boys and under-16 girls level.
Under-16 girls’ manager Michael Third will select from the following squad: Ella Morton, Amber Witt (Cramlington), Deryn Hutchinson Melody Brooks (Ponteland), Kodie Wren, Samara Paxton, Anya Cowen (Bedlington), Olivia Burnip, Amber Lawless, Jessica Salkeld, Kenzie Collingbourne (Gosforth Academy), Devyn Wilson (Bede Academy), Holly Olsen (Kenton), Neave Ross (Whitley Bay), Orla NEWCASTLE Schools’ ESFA Danone Nations Mixed Seven-A-Side Finals Night is held on Monday at Walker Riverside Academy (4.00).
Five schools had already qualified and the last three places were decided this week.
St Alban’s sealed their spot, winning all of their group games ahead of Dame Allan’s in second place.
Group Two proved to be a very tight affair.
Walkergate and Ravenswood ended up on the same points, the same goal difference and the same number of goals scored.
Walkergate went through because they had defeated Ravenswood in their group game.
The final spot went to West Walker, finishing above both Royal Grammar and Byker.
The Finals Night promises to be a very open occasion with a lot of new teams in with a chance of winning and going on to the Northumberland round of the competition on Thursday, November 14.
■ THE Newcastle Schools’ ESFA Callaghan, Lucy McConnell (King Edward VI), Rebecca Ferguson (St Mary’s), Megan Sprott (Duchess), Georgina Spraggon (John Spence) and Lois Greenslade (St Thomas More).
Under-16 boys’ management duo Kevin Hodgson and Craig Brown will select from: Mauro Asikaogu, Callum Elliott, Jack Watson, Matthew Dobson, Josh Williams, Evan Foggarty, Jack O’Brien, Josh Morton, Ben Fell, Josh Stewart, Thomas McIntyre, Alfie Weallens, Ahmed Habib, Ben Franklin, Robbie Danone Nations girls’ seven-a-side competition also stages its Finals Night on Friday at Benfield School (3.30).
St Michael’s and Farne have already qualified.
St Michael’s won all of their group games to finish ahead of Stocksfield and go through.
In the other group, Farne and Hilton finished just one point ahead of St Mark’s.
However, they could not be separated as they had the same points tally, the same goal difference, the same number of goals scored and they had drawn in their group game.
This meant the pair had to contest a play-off.
This finished 0-0, so it went to penalties and Farne were victorious 2-0. The other groups still have to play.
The winners of Finals Night will represent Newcastle in the Northumberland round of the tournament on Tuesday, November 12. Hodgson, Charlie Walker, Matty Penhall, Sam Fishburn and Kieran Hall.
Durham’s under-14 girls are also in action next Saturday when they take on Greater Manchester in the ESFA Cup at Longgfield School (1.15).
■■NEWCASTLE Under-11 Boys won their first game of the season 2-1 against Washington with goals from Joseph Ralph and Sam Errington.
■■NEWCASTLE Under-13 Girls’ trials fell victim to the wet weather last week and will now be held on Tuesday at Benfield School (3.45-5.00).
Newcastle Under-15 Girls are starting their trials at Gosforth Academy, also on Tuesday (4.30-6.00).
■■THE Newcastle Under-11 League’s Westgate League kicks off on Tuesday at English Martyr’s (3.40).
There are further games on Thursday at Stocksfield (3.40) and English Martyr’s will probably start as the title favourites again.
The Duffy League begins on Thursday at Walbottle Campus (3.50 start).