Churchill Evolve into five-a-side winners

NORTH Tyneside Schools’ Football Association held their annual five-aside competition for under-12 boys’ teams at the Evolution Football Centre, Royal Quays.

Seventeen teams took part in three groups and there was a high standard of play in the 40 matches

Group One was dominated by the winners Churchill A and runners-up Valley Gardens A while in Group Two Marden Bridge A took first place by two points against Valley Gardens B.

The third group was won on goal difference by George Stephenson, with Burnside in second place.

In the semi-finals Churchill were too strong for George Stephenson and triumphed 4-0.

Valley Gardens, who qualified as the best of the runners-up, beat Marden Bridge 3-0 in the other semifinal.

A pulsating decider produced excellent football with neither side able to break the deadlock until two minutes from time, when Churchill nabbed the only goal of the match.

In seven matches, Churchill only conceded one goal and scored 25.

They will now represent North Tyneside in the Northumberland County Finals later this month.

Churchill were represented by Thomas Heron, Mason Cotcher, Jay Wade, Alfie Lisle, Paul Williamson, Jake Skinner and Callum Roberts.

■■NEWCASTLE Under-15 Girls hold their final trials for this season on Thursday at Kenton School (4.15).

■■NORTHUMBERLAND Under-16 Boys play Durham in the Northern Counties League at Maiden Castle (6.50).

North’s Under-18s were also supposed to be playing Durham that night but that game has now been postponed because Durham will be involved in their ESFA second-round game against Merseyside on Saturday (1.15) at the Jeffrey Humble Playing Fields in Liverpool.

Durham Under-14 Girls face Cleveland in the Northern Counties League at The Graham Sports Centre, Maiden Castle, Durham, on Friday (6.40).

■■DURHAM have split their ESFA Under-12 Five-a-Side County Finals into two days.

The boys’ tournament is on Wednesday at the Louisa Centre, Stanley (1.00-3.00), the girls in action at the same venue on Wednesday, January 16 (also 1.00-3.00).