Leicestershire Youth League

Weekly Reports

Match Reports 09/03/08

UNDER 18'S
PREMIER DIVISION
Westfield travelled to high flying Kingsway for the first time, to find a good pitch in pleasant surroundings, and for once some fine weather. A good competitive game was in prospect, and it soon became clear there was little between the two Teams, as both Teams attacked and created chances. The first real chance came to Kingsway as there attacker managed to win the ball near the goal line and cross to create a good chance for the opener. However Tom Preston made a good goal line clearance for Westfield. Kingsway took the lead on 20 minutes with a scruffy goal, after a deflection the ball broke to Kingsway, and a miss-hit shot just evaded the defender on the line to sneak in. Westfield continued to press and equalised after 35 minutes, a corner was floated in and Stuart Heathcote was on hand to head home at the far post, Kingsway were looking dangerous with some fast breakaways causing problems for the Westfield defence. Just before half time Tom Mansfield raced clear and seemed certain to score, Nicky Dean however had tracked back and made a great tackle in the penalty box. The ball broke clear and hit David Drewery who had raced back to help out, and bounced towards the goal, despite a brave effort he was unable to prevent it going over the line, for an unfortunate own goal. With the score 2-1 at half time Westfield were quick off the mark in the second half and equalised within a minute. Ryan Brightwell was too quick for Kingsway's defence when he broke clear on the right, and in a great position he unselfishly opted to pass to Tom Wallace who made no mistake in slotting the ball home. Kingsway were next to score when their top scorer Tom Mansfield raced clear down the left, and had time to pick his spot for a great individual goal. Heathcote had a great chance to equalise for Westfield when he beat the offside trap when sent clear by Alex Tustain, however at the vital moment he tripped as he was about to shoot and the chance was gone. Soon after Heathcote was sent through again and found himself one on one with the goalie. His shot was well saved by Kingsway keeper Ashley Metcalfe, who was keeping his team in the game with a series of good saves. This proved to be the turning point in the game. Heathcote had fallen awkwardly while shooting and was struggling to carry on. With both subs already used, he had little choice but to continue, although his mobility was severely restricted. Effectively down to only 10 fit players, Westfield were finding it difficult to find an outlet when they won possession, and Kingsway took advantage of their luck by adding 2 more goals to make the game safe. Although the game now seemed beyond them, Westfield never gave up, and their persistence paid off when Ryan Brightwell burst through again on the right to give Westfield hope by firing past the keeper.
New leaders are now Quorn who travelled to Queniborough, both teams took to their battle stations to fight out a much needed victory for both teams. With Gilmorton folding Queniborough go bottom again and needed the three points to jump Allexton. Ford Taylor went close within minutes for Queniborough but was dealt with well by Quorn's keeper. 2-0 at half time. Jack Shaw and Nathan Payne came close again after the break but couldn't turn it into Quorn's net, when Kyle Smith went down in the area it was on the cards for them to get one back. But when smith stepped up, he could only place it into the keeper's path. Kyle went close again within minutes but put a free header over the bar from within the 6 yard box. Quorn wrapped up the game with another and the game ended 3-0. Not a bad result for Queniborough but with the season's end drawing near, Queniborough are desperate of some well deserved points. Third placed A C Wigston had a bad day when Asfordby Amateurs managed to score six goals in the win that sees three teams sharing third place on 28 points, The scorers for Asfordby were Nathan Smith leading the way with a hat-trick, Tommy Cooper, Luke Padmore and Rory Bonshaw. Fourth placed Wigston United had a 5 - 2 win at lowly Mowbray Rangers, goals from Danny Marshall and Sam Major were not enough for Mowbray. Kegworth Imps just managed to squeeze past Allexton & Tennant 2 - 1. With only eight weeks left in the regular season any one of five teams, with a good run can win the title.

UNDER 17'S
PREMIER DIVISION
The battle for the title is between two teams Birstall United and Enderby 2000 Birstall are in the driving seat with a three point lead but Enderby have two games to play catch up and one of these games is this weekend when they take on Westfield, with only two games left it wide open. Beaumont Town beat rock bottom club Coalville Town Ravens 3 - 1 with goals from Daniel Hargraves, top scorer Luke Day and Lewis Gamble. Earl Shilton Town produced there second win on the spin with a 4 - 2 win at Westfield Wanderers goals from Matthew Shorrick and Issac Walsh for the home side with Warren York, Nico Ambrose and Leigh Syrett (2) for Earl Shilton.
DIVISION ONE
Champions Melton Foxes suffered their first league defeat of the season going down three-one to mid table Loughborough Youth. Loughborough took the lead after three minutes when Foxes failed to deal with a ball over the defence. Foxes never seemed to settle in the first half and Loughborough doubled their lead from a free kick. Foxes had plenty of shots but never really made the Loughborough keeper make a save .Loughborough made it three nil before half time. Foxes worked hard in the second half but looked like they could play untill midnight and still not score. In the last minute Will Keightley scored from the penalty spot after Aaron Shaw had been fouled in the area. It is amazing how many teams lose their next game when the pressure is off. The remaining battle is for runners up spot with Barwell and Quorn Juniors fighting it out for second place, the result of the weekend battle when both teams met at Barwell was a real hum-dinger with no less than 7 goals going in, with Barwell just sneaking it by 4 - 3 the Quorn scorers were Michael Walton and Adam Boulter (2). Oadby Owls beat Friar Lane Juniors 4 - 2 with goals from Danny King (2), Declan Towers and Nathan Jackson.
DIVISION TWO
Huncote Dynamos came close to causing a shock result at table topping Lutterworth. Two goals from Kieran Fowkes and Josh Saunders gave then an early lead. It wasn't until ten minutes from the break Lutterworth got back into the match when they were awarded two penalties in the space of five minutes which Jimmy Atkinson stepped up and calmly placed both into the net. Lutterworth came out with a little more conviction in the second half and soon took the lead with Toby Maloy lifting the ball over Huncote keeper Danny Shaw. This was closely followed by a Bradley Hughes strike making it 4 for Lutterworth. Huncote didn't give up the fight and got themselves back into the game from the Penalty spot with skipper Tom Merry converting the kick. Lutterworth soon regained their two goal lead when Maloy raced onto a loose ball to score. With one more throw of the dice Huncote took advantage of poor Lutterworth defending to score their fourth with Fowkes claiming his second goal. Lutterworth held out to the final whistle to protect their place at the top of the league. Second placed Barrow Town kept up their impressive record with a 9th consecutive win, maintaining an unbeaten home record, as they saw off Kirby Muxloe 4 - 0. They had to wait until the 22nd minute, when, from a corner, Matt Lanes towered above the Kirby defence to score with a powerful header. The second did not arrive until the hour mark when T.J. McRoberts scored with a 25 yard screamer into the top of the net. Tom Rye netted the 3rd after 78 minutes when he scored direct from a corner and in the final minute Joe Moxom scored the 4th with a bullet of a shot from the edge of the penalty area. The score was kept down by an impressive display by Perry Read in the Kirby goal. Fourth placed Kingsway took on third placed Syston Town and after a 3 - 1 win now swap positions in the table, the Kingsway scorers were Kieron Fogerty and Luke Canavan (2). Barlestone and Gilmorton could only manage a drab 1 - 1 draw with Will Keightley getting the home team's goal.

UNDER 16'S
PREMIER DIVISION
Loughborough Dynamo ended a five game losing streak taking a point against St Andrew's with two goals in the first half from Reece Morris and Tom Duggan and was unlucky not to win when Abdul Munain headed wide in the last minute of the game. Injuries had forced some remodeling of the Loughborough side but they played with a purpose and a cutting edge that has not been on display for some time. Loughborough's first goal came on twenty minutes when Ollie English crossed from the left and Reece Morris took the ball on his chest and shot fiercely with his left foot into the top right corner. St Andrews replied within a minute when Loughborough conceded a foul on the left and the resulting free kick was met by some statuesque defending from Loughborough leaving St Andrews with a simple tap in. Loughborough took the lead again on twenty-nine minutes when Alex Brandford crossed from the right flank and Tom Duggan leapt like a young salmon at the back post to head over the keeper and into the net via the cross bar and post. In the second half St Andrew's were starting to cause problems down Loughborough's left flank and drew level on forty-eight minutes when they surged down the left and the pull back was met by Mickey Harris who side-footed a strong shot into the net from the edge of the area. Reece Morris continued to caused problems down the left for Loughborough and made a series of excellent crosses and had a goal denied for offside after weaving his way into the area from the left. As the game went on Loughborough began to tire and found themselves increasingly penned into their own half and could have found themselves behind were it not for a series of fine saves from Chay Carter in the Loughborough net. They did continue to threaten on the break and in the dieing seconds of the game Tom Duggan drove a fierce cross from the left where Abdul Munaim put his strong header just wide of the open goal by a whisker.
Countesthorpe Athletic continued their fine recent form with a convincing four - nil victory over a spirited Blaby side. The home side took the lead when Charles Butler notched for the 7th consecutive game after some fine wing play by Matt Bizley, and only some superb goalkeeping from Blaby's Ricky Johnson kept the visitors in the game. The second half continued as the first with Athletic failing to finish the game off, the visitors were then awarded a penalty with 20 minutes to go, but Matt Farthing produced a fine save which seemed to settle the game, as soon afterwards Danny Jenno rifled in an unstoppable volley off the underside of the bar, then Tom Weaver wriggled through in the box to make it 3. But there was still time for a strike of the season contender when Bizley let loose from 30 yards on the angle, which arrowed into the top corner.
DIVISION ONE
Champions Leicester Nirvana secured the league last week but still put on a good show by beating Lutterworth Juniors 4 - 0 with goals from William Gonga (2), leading league scorer Thomas Astles and Mahmoud Juma. Mid-tabled Westfield Wanderers had a fine 3 - 0 win over Sileby Juniors with Issac Walsh, Jamie Hughes and Tom Watson finding the net
DIVISION TWO
Leaders Oadby Owls require just one more win to be champions of division two after having a weekend off they return to action this weekend with a stern test taking on Gilmorton Juniors who lost to Shelthorpe Lions 5 - 1 goals from Edward Suffolk, Ben Toolet, Abi Sharma, and Roshun Lakha with Daniel Nwaozuzu getting the consolation or Gilmanton . Quorn Juniors are in the driving seat for second place they also took a well earned break but Shelthorpe are the next opponents, Friar Lane & Epworth beat Netherhall Diamonds 5 - 0 with goals from Sam Harper, Mason Bradshaw, Danny Snow, Oliver Coleman and a own goal. Mid table Rothley Imps had a 5 - 0 win away at Wigston Rangers with goals from Grant Copson, Joe Moscaetano (2), Conner Shields and a own goal.
DIVISION THREE
Champions Highfield Rangers could not celebrate in style as they were held by Friar Lane Juniors to a 0 - 0 draw. The second place spot is between Countesthorpe Athletic 03 and Kingsway Rangers, Kingsway recent form Has been not good and the bad run continued with a 4 - 2 loss at Asfordby Amateurs goals from Spencer Jones(2), Cameron Smith and Jordan Banfield did the damage for Asfordby. Countesthorpe Athletic 2003 won on the road at rivals Fleckney Athletic with a 2 - 0 result. Harborough Town and Raynsway could not be separated in the 0 - 0 draw the last meeting saw Harborough Town beat Raynsway 3-1. The Raynsway team was on away soil this time. The ground was brilliant and both teams were `gagging' to make good starts to the match. Raynsway Rangers kicked off the match with their committed players in their usual positions. Both teams kept quiet for 5 minutes until the Harborough striker was put through near the box, but Arwinder Singh Sodhi was there to clear the ball for a corner. Raynsway had some good chances but failed to put the ball into the net. Harborough Town had some good chances at the other end, but the Raynsway Rangers defence was there to clear the ball from their area. At half time the score was 0 - 0, with both sides playing good football and having good chances. When the second half began, it started haling but stopped after a few minutes. Raynsway pushed for a goal but were restricted by the Harborough defence. On the other side, Harborough made the Raynsway Rangers defence work. This match saw lots of bookings; four yellow cards were given to Raynsway players. The shock of the game came when a Harborough Town player was given a red card for verbal abuse. Both sides held on for a point each but it could have been anybody's game. The Raynsway defence had a brilliant game, along with the Harborough defence who did not let Raynsway score. This was Raynsway's third clean sheet of the season. But this was their first game of the season when they were restricted to not scoring a goal within 80 minutes.
DIVISION FOUR
Champions Queniborough finished off their season with victory number 17 in the one sided game at Wigston when they took on Bushloe Sunday, with a 117 goals scored in the league this term and only 27 conceded it is clear why they won the league, Oliver Jallands got the consolation for Bushloe . There is a three way battle to finish runners up with Birstall United, Whetstone Juniors and Kegworth Imps all up for the challenge .Both Birstall and Whestone Juniors drew 2 - 2 against Anstey swifts and Gaunt Youth respectively. Birstall scorers were Dan Marlow with both and for Anstey Tom Ward and Adam Delgiazio. Gaunt's scorers were Tim Mistry and Jason Davis; Mountsorrel Juniors drew with Enderby 2000 1 - 1 with Robert Simmons finding the net for Mountsorrel.

COUNTY CUP SEMI-FINAL
Leaders Syston Town and Mowbray Rangers had to play the county cup semi final replacing the league fixture, with Syston securing a place in the league cup final a few weeks ago they are still on course for the treble after a narrow 1 - 0 win with Daniel Hepworth getting the important goal.