Last updated 15:22, Tuesday, 21 October 2008

HAT-TRICKS by Dale Graham and Cedwyn Scott enabled Haydon Bridge to overpower a spirited Sporting Stocksfield on Saturday in the Tyne Valley Insurance Tynedale U10s Mini-soccer League Division One.

Feeling blue: Prudhoe YC Blues U9s emerged the victors in a division 2 clash with Wylam Rockets Whites, scoring six without reply.

The visitors made it very difficult for the championship hopefuls in battling for every ball, with resolute defending and the safe hands of Stocksfield keeper Sam Lambert.

Solid work at the back by Charlie Rutherford led to Scott latching on to a Jacob Brown pass midway into the Stocksfield half and beat the advancing Lambert for the opening goal.

Moments later the Stocksfield keeper pulled off a superb save from a powerful left-sided free-kick by Scott.

A piece of individual brilliance led to Scott striking again after collecting a throw-in near the corner flag to find the net with a blistering shot from almost an impossible angle to make it 2-0 at half-time.

Stocksfield continued to put up spirited resistance after the break with James Doneathy outstanding.

However, good link-up play in midfield by Matthew Hutton and Nathan Barwick resulted in Scott completing his hat-trick.

The issue was finally put beyond all doubt by the impatient Dale Graham who, having played most of the game in midfield, was switched to the completely new role of defender.

He then proceeded to upstage his more prolific twin brother, Owen, by notching a hat-trick in as many minutes.

His first goal came virtue of a powerful shot from inside the box as others around him dallied.

Strikes two and three were delivered in similar style with superbly hit drives into the roof of the net almost tearing it from its moorings.

To their credit Sporting Stocksfield continued to battle hard all the way with their fighting qualities typified by the spirit of the excellent Emily Ward.

Prudhoe YC Reds and Wark will be amongst the front runners for the first division title and they fought out a real cracker of a game, in the end settling for a point a piece following a 1-1 draw.

Brett Corbett netted for Prudhoe with Jordan Thompson on target for the North Tyne outfit.

There was nothing to separate Corbett and the versatile Lewis Gate for the home side’s man of the match award, with the latter excelling between the posts in the first half and as a defender after the break.

Ewan Morrell was also prominent for Prudhoe, while Dominic Rapier and keeper Callum Jewitt starred for Wark.

Haltwhistle United put up a good fight at home to fancied Corbridge United, but the visitors finished worthy 3-0 winners after dominating the early stages of the second half.

Ben Perry, Nika Sharifi and the impressive Lee Purvis were the marksmen, with Jake Findlay best for Haltwhistle.

Hexham Greens returned to winning ways with Hamish Forsyth, Daniel Dunkley and Oliver Miller scoring as they twice came from behind to defeat Wylam Rockets Blues by the odd goal in five.

Lewis Carey was on the mark twice for the Rockets, who gave their visitors some anxious moments after being trounced in the divisional cup at the start of the season.

Defender Robbie Pattison starred for Hexham, who finally shaded the game and were denied further strikes by the frame of the goal, and an outstanding display of goal keeping by Lewis Winship.

Stocksfield Rangers could also challenge for league honours and strikes from Tom Storey (2) and Bradley Maughan gained them an early season double over Throckley Magpies Inter winning 3-0.

Visitors’ keeper Callum Thompson did well to save bravely at the feet of Maughan from an early Jack Colmer corner, with play switching up-field where a long surge by Throckley defender Ben Boyd was only halted by the intervention of Daniel Del Prete.

Stocksfield’s Charlie Weatherhead drove narrowly wide on the turn and then played Colmer through to flash a hard driven shot-cum-centre across the face of the goal.

The free-scoring Jack Croucher made a good run down the left for the Magpies to test Oliver Haniffa, with the home keeper then blocking a shot from Dean Boulton, following further fine play by Croucher.

Stocksfield hit back to take a 15th minute lead with Tom Storey accepting a brilliant pass from Maughan to slot the ball home.

The visitors fell further behind when they failed to clear a Colmer and Josh Watts counter-attack, and from a frenetic goalmouth scramble Storey was on hand to net his second.

Watts then hit the post but Stocksfield also had a lucky escape when a lapse of concentration in defence led to the ever-dangerous Croucher firing inches wide.

Croucher then beat his marker neatly, before going close again, but the interval arrived with the Rangers holding on to their two goal lead.

Throckley began the second half in determined mood with Jack Hawkins prominent with a strong run out of defence, while a good move involving Boyd and Alex Brown broke down at the vital moment.

Stocksfield countered well through Watts and Jai Walker, but Brandon Armstrong saved the situation for the Magpies.

A well-struck cross shot by Croucher was confidently held by the diving second period home keeper Charlie Weatherhead, whose opposite number Callum Thompson saved bravely at the feet to Maughan and Walker in a melee underneath the posts.

Stocksfield extended their lead when a great cross by Oliver Haniffa was bundled home by Maughan.

Croucher had a great effort well held by Weatherhead and at the opposite end a good knock-on by Colmer set up a chance for Watts, but Armstrong nipped in to clear.

Watts was denied by Thompson saving at full stretch at the near post, and as Throckley hit back, a typical long burst out of defence by Boyd was only checked by the alertness of Del Prete.

A jinking run inside by Storey led to Walker and Colmer having efforts scrambled away.

Throckley were not giving up without a fight and a well-hit shot from Alex Johnson was held at the second attempt by Weatherhead, but Stocksfield Rangers had clinched vital points.

The fleet-footed Jack Colmer took the man of the match award for the winners with Jack Croucher taking the honour for the Magpies.

While the first division promises to be hotly contested the second division could be dominated by a talented Haydon Bridge U9s team.

Striking duo Owen Murtough and Joel Pearson are proving irresistible and, together with Liam Lambert and Dale Leadbitter, they carried too much fire power for Stocksfield U9s, whose top performer was scorer James McGee.

Allendale continued to occupy previously unknown territory as joint leaders and maintained their excellent start to the campaign with the 4-0 defeat of Hexham U9s.

With keeper Richard Brooks in top form, the visitors were unlucky to trail by a lone goal at the break.

However, the Dale grew stronger in the second half and finally ran out good winners with strikes by Owen Baxter, Jamie Brown, Callum Snowdon and man of the match Oliver Handcock.

Corbridge United Hoops inflicted a heavy defeat on the inexperienced Prudhoe YC Reds U9s who were best served by Lewis Hind.

Sam Austin, Lewis Twizell, Aaron Smith and the impressive Finn McKendrick scored the goals at regular intervals.

Corbridge United Lions got the better of Wylam Rockets Yellows 8-4, with Matty Pugh netting four.

Matthew Percival hit a brace, with Tommy Quinn also scoring, while Louis Youngman weighed in with a lovely chipped effort.

Callum Dronfield excelled for the Lions, while star performer Callum Piggott hit a double for the Wylam side, who also scored through Matthew Bunney and Samuel Collins.

Prudhoe YC Blues U9s impressed by hitting six without reply at home to Wylam Rockets Whites.

They dominated the opening half although their visitors kept going and gave a much improved display after the interval.

Dalton Newton (2), Luke Banks, Thomas Humphreys, James Potts and William Quinn were the marksmen, with Dan Thompson their man of the match and Jacob Hatch starring for Wylam.

Haltwhistle United Blues crashed to a 9-0 defeat by Throckley Magpies U9s with goals from Jack Yates (3), Mackenzie Hadfield (2), Reece Whitfield (2), Oliver Carver and Luke Powers.