Warley see off rivals to claim first trophy
Warley Rangers under 11s won their first ever silverware with a 5-0 win over local rivals King Cross Juniors, in The Europa Cup final held on the first team pitch at Silsden AFC. The competition was the first in a link between teams from Bradford and Calderdale, and saw some excellent group games.
It was a credit to the Calderdale League that two Calderdale teams made it through to the final.
Warley started the stronger and put King Cross under pressure straight from the off with some strong runs on both wings by Joe Greenwood and Alfie Smith.
Billy Waugh and Josh Perrett were pulling the strings in midfield and it wasn’t long before Alfie Smith scored the first goal of the game with a strong shot.
A second soon followed when Josh Perrett struck from 25 yards with a screamer that went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Myles Leadbeater was causing all sorts of trouble in the King Cross defence and it wasn’t long before Warley added a third when Waugh slid a pass through to Smith who coolly slotted his second.
King Cross grew in confidence towards the end of the half but Noah Hesselden, Jack Marshall and Josh Brown worked well, and when they did trouble Gabriel ReidJones in the Warley goal his handling was first class.
The second half started saw Warley score twice through Myles Leadbeater and Alfie Smith with his hattrick.
Warley then made changes with both Sam Paynter and Zach Heaton making some surging runs down both wings.
King Cross fought to the end, and showed some real battle, with their keeper making some top class saves.
Myles Leadbeater was awarded the Man of the Match trophy. Brighouse Sports U12 6 Gomersal and Cleckheaton 2 Lewis Todd gave Sports a flying start with an early goal in this comfortable win.
Ben Gledhill and Robbie Thompson then combined for the latter to add the second.
Number three came from a fine shot outside the box by Todd after which a quick pass into the box by Ben Orley, enabled Sam Nixon to net for a 4-0 half-time lead.
Gomersal and Cleckheaton got a couple of goals back and this his seemed to fire Sports up and soon Harry Streeting found himself on the score sheet.
The final goal came from a mix up in the visitor’s boxwith Thompson pouncing for his second of the day. Warley Rangers under 11s are, from the left, back row: Ian Hesselden (coach), Gabriel Reid-Jones, Myles Leadbeater, Billy Waugh, Jack Marshall, Josh Brown, Noah Hesselden, Joe Greenwood and Aidy Waugh (manager). Front: Zach Heaton, Josh Perrett, Alfie Smith and Sam Paynter