Orton cap fantastic year with Posh win

Orton Rangers completed a terrific transformation by winning the Junior Alliance League’s Under 13 ‘Respect Cup’ at the Weston Homes Stadium.

The city side kept plugging away through some tough times and managed to follow some heavy defeats last season with a brilliant runners-up finish in Under 13 Division Five in the 2021-22 campaign. That was enough to win promotion.

It was the same set of players, albeit under new management in Daniel Sawyer who proudly led his team out at the Posh ground to face Sporting in a match between two teams with excellent sportsmanship records this season.

And Orton capped their excellent campaign by winning a cracking match 2-1 in front of over 100 spectators with goals from Sonny Barker and Kevin Florea.

Dusan Edwards replied for Sporting who had finished 10th in Division four. Barker was named man-ofthe-match.

Mr Sawyer said: “Wow what a game! It was a very, very very tight game and both teams had chances to win it.

"It was an amazing experience for both sets of players and supporters with both teams playing some very

good football in a great game.

“I am so pleased and happy for my lads as they have had an amazing season and I was glad they were able to finish it on such a big high.

"It’s a great pleasure for me to be part of this amazing

group of players and in my first season with them it’s been fantastic that we managed to get promoted and also enjoyed a great cup run.

"And now we have won the ‘Respect’ cup at the Posh ground! What a great little team they are and I’m so, so proud of them.”

Orton Rangers won 11 and lost just two of their 14 league matches and finished just three points behind champions Park Farm.

Sporting won just two of their 18 league games, but won praise for their neversay-die attitude and sportsmanship.

An Orton Rangers spokesperson added: “We are trying to promote that no matter how you are involved in grassroots whether as a player, coach, manager manager, parent, supporter or referee everyone needs to respect each other.

"This match was a great finish to a great season.”

More sport online.

Orton Rangers Under 13s celebrate their win at Posh.