Big crowds watch Juniors final day at Goals Sheffield
Glory for Hornets in Under-16’s Premier Division
Titans lift the silverware in the Under-16’s Championship
Bradford City Amber take Under-12 Premier crown
Hornets buzzing in Under-12 Championship
Another outstanding www.southyorkshireabilitycountsleague.com Junior season drew to a close at Goals Football in Sheffield last Sunday. Watched by the now-familiar large crowds, the honours were settled after 24 thrilling matches across four pitches. As always, our fantastic group of match reporters and website editor Margaret Gregory made sense of a thrilling afternoon.
In the Premier Division, Barton Inclusive got the afternoon off to a rousing start with two hard-fought wins over the ever-improving Chesterfield.
BIFC Hull played Chesterfield FC Community Trust U16’s.
In game 1 we opened the scoring with a goal from Brandon after he beat 2 players before slotting home. We then traded goals with Chesterfield, Brandon getting another and Bailey with a fine one handed save by Harvey ensuring we switched ends leading 3-2. Straight from the kick off Chesterfield equalised before Brandon took centre stage scoring four more goals. Captain Kai and Kasper also netted to finish game one as 9 – 3 victors. Game 2 was a much tighter affair with defences (Mark, Kai and Harry for us) on top aided by both goalies playing exceptionally. We went into the turn losing 1 – 0. 2nd half we began much more on the front foot with Brandon’s twin brother Bailey being the thorn in Chesterfield’s side, bagging a quick double. Chesterfield’s nemesis from game 1, Brandon returned to bag another and finish the scoring.
Coaching team for the day was Chris, Jo (everyone loved her doing her first, and last warm up of the season) and lucky mascot Sophia.
Hillsborough Hornets took maximum points after two wins over Bradford City Amber. Both games were watched by Bradford’s Head Coach Paul Jubb.
“It was another hard day for our Ambers,” Paul told us. “We lost the first game 6 – 3 to Hillsborough Hornets, the League champions, in a closer game than the score suggests; Shane scored a couple and Marley got the other.”
“In the second game we again lost 3 – 0 to Hillsborough Hornets but the lack of substitutes and playing back-to-back games has, once again, cost us in the end. Skye was player of the day,” Paul reports. “We came runners up again with a young team. Hopefully, next season we will eventually win this league.”
“Well done to the Hornets – deservedly League champions!”
SYorks ACL Chair Mike Stylianou and Welfare Officer – and silverware addict -Andrew Robson presented medals to League runners up Bradford City Amber and the Trophy and medals to a delighted Hornets squad, who enjoyed every minute of their celebrations.
Congratulations to Hornets, Bradford City and to all our teams in this Division.
Final standings were:
In the Under-16’s Championship, there were six round-robin fixtures.
Bradford City Blues won their first game 2 – 1 against Hillsborough Hornets with Dylan and Sean scoring the goals,” Blue’s coach Vicky told us. “In the second game of the day the Blues again won 3 – 1 against Sheffield FC as Jonathan got 2 goals and his brother Dylan scoring again!”
“The last game was against League Champions Club Doncaster Titans, they lost again to them but this time only by 2 – 0 goals and their keeper was amazing on the day too. Well done Alex player of the day – we came runners up in the league.”
“Absolutely fantastic day, I am really proud of our Blue team. You got stuck in and gave it your all well done to each and every one of you. You are all winners to me,” said coach Vicky.
Club Doncaster Titans coach John Hibbert enjoyed a great day and gave his report.
“In our first game Titans v Hillsborough, both teams were strong – it was good football to watch, Devon got a rebound and scored our first goal. Both teams gave as good as one another, but then Ben assisted Devon and scored again so we won 2 – 0.”
“In our second game against Sheffield Black, the game was end-to-end stuff,” John explained. “Devon sored to make it 1 – 0; we played our way, passing the ball about until Ben won a challenge and scored. They pressed us, beat us on the ball again, then Harrison beat his marker and made an impossible shot from the side and scored from it. Charlotte was pressing well but they were marking her well until she got free and assisted Devon to score. The game ended up 6 – 0.”
“The third game was Bradford Vs Titans, and it was a really strong game,” John added. “They were well organised, but Devon scored again. It was still nice to watch the ball being passed about, then we scored again. It was end-to-end then to top it off Charlotte got our winning goal and her first goal for the Titans – with many more to come, I’m sure! The game ended up Titans 5 Bradford 0 and I would like to give a big mention to Danny and James; you played well, and Isaac I haven’t forgotten you! A big thank you to Ryan who was outstanding today but most of all I am very proud of all our players today.”
“The best part was the presentation watching Titans lift another cup for our club. I must admit I had a few tears and I’m welling up now writing this, so this was a brilliant day at the office.”
“Well done everyone who took part today – outstanding!”
After the dust settled and the medals were on their way home, the final table sees Titans as Champions by eleven points from Bradford City Blues, with Sheffield FC Black third and Hornets fourth.
League Secretary and Bradford City Head Coach, Paul Jubb presented the Trophies and Medals. Congratulations to Titans, Bradford and all the clubs in the Championship.
In the Under 12’s Premiership, and back-to-back clashes between Club Doncaster Titans and Chesterfield Community Trust FC, watched by Titans’ Kaz Roberts.
“A quick fire start by both teams set the tempo for the game,” Kaz reports. “Jacob scored the first goal immediately after a fantastic diving save by Joseph, then the game continued to be a brilliant game of football from both teams. Chesterfield scored to make it 1 – 1; James scored some cracking goals making Chesterfield work, then brilliant defending by Rowan who was composed throughout the match.”
“Chesterfield scored again to make it 2 – 1 but the Titans battled on and got six more quick goals,” Kaz went on, “Henry – what a player today fantastic throughout out the match. He never gave up which made the teamwork as a team. Final score 7 – 4. Well done lads”! “In the second match, Chesterfield scored first,” Kaz explained. “The Titans reacted quickly with James scoring a beautiful goal in the Chesterfield net. Both teams played some beautiful football, with both goalkeepers pulling off save after save. Jacob scored again then James again; Rowan was the fantastic defender; Henry was all over the pitch passing the ball. Chesterfield scored making it 3 – 3 but the Titans carried on battling to the end and got two beautiful goals. Chesterfield scored again but Titans lads played brilliantly – the Titans way – all the way though the match and ending with another Titans win.
Final Score 5 – 4 Titans. Well done lads!”
Title chasing Bradford City DFC Diamonds won both their games against fellow contenders Hillsborough Hornets.
“The Diamonds beat Hillsborough Hornets 11 – 2 in the first game and despite letting the opposition use all their players and taking players off, they won the game easily,” Bradford coach Sara admitted. “Goals came from everyone in the team.”
“The second game was a completely different story,” Sara admitted. “The Hornets defended amazingly, and we were starting to worry that we wouldn’t win the game. Eventually a couple of goals in the second half made sure we won the game and were crowned Champions of the under 12s Premier League!”
“Man of the Match goes to Thomas, who was fantastic today. “What a day!!! I am so very proud of all the Diamonds who have played amazingly this season. Well done to each one of you on winning the league,” said coach Sara.
Rotherham CST and Sheffield FC Black traded wins in the other matches in the group, leaving Bradford City Diamonds as Champions by just four points from Sheffield FC (Red) after 15 games. Hornets finished just six points further back while Titans, Rotherham and Chesterfield have had excellent seasons with plenty of good wins. SYorks ACL Chair Mike Stylianou and League Welfare Officer Andrew Robson presented runner-up medals to Sheffield FC and the winners’ medals and Trophy to deserving champions, Bradford City Diamonds. Congratulations to all the Championship clubs on a fantastic competition.
In the Under-12’s Championship another round-robin competition of six matches. Titan’s Steph Hall summed up the afternoon from a Titans’ perspective. “Our first game with Bradford City Greens was a very good game played by both teams,” Steph told us. “It was end-to-end with both teams creating chances and both goalkeepers producing brilliant saves to keep the score level. Bradford went 1 – 0 up but CDT soon got the equaliser. Kellie had won the ball back, passed it to Alex who then finished brilliantly from outside the box. Both teams continued to create chances, but the score stayed level. Both teams kept pressing for more and in the last two minutes of the game Bradford scored their second and third goals. This was a very good performance by CDT and development was visible from the last matches played.”
“Our second game with Sheffield White was another brilliant game by both teams,” Steph went on. “Sheffield settled quickly and had a number of early chances but CDT defended well and our goalkeeper did some brilliant saves. CDT scored first and went into the lead. This came from some brilliant pressing by Alex and Lauren. The ball then came to Lauren in the box who moved the ball quickly and scored from close range! Sheffield responded quickly and found the equaliser bringing the score level. Both teams continued creating chances but were denied by good defending and brilliant saves. In the end Sheffield scored the winning goal just before the end. CDT continued to create chances, but Sheffield held on for the win. This was another very good performance by CDT.”
“Our third match with Hillsborough Hornets was another match played in the right way by both teams. Both teams created chances and defended well with our goalkeeper pulling off some brilliant saves to keep us in the game. Ultimately Hillsborough were the stronger team and found themselves in front by a number of goals. CDT kept pressing and continued creating chances and came close to scoring on several occasions. In the end Hillsborough scored a couple more goals to confirm the win. This was still a good performance by CDT and the players should be proud of their development.”
Bradford City Greens coach Anna described her side’s afternoon.
“It finished Greens 3 Sheffield FC 2,” Anna told www.SYorksACL.com. “The game was end-to-end with both teams scoring in their own goals! Matthew scored his first ever league goal and Oscar got the other to win the game.”
“In the second game of the day we beat Club Doncaster Titans 3 -1, Matthew again scoring, and Damian scored the other 2 goals. Next up was the champions Hillsborough Hornets, we went into a 3 – 0 lead and thought we were going to win for the first time against them this season, but they battled back to draw the game 4 – 4 in an amazing game. Callum, after his meltdown, came on to score a hat trick and Damian scored again.”
“Player of the day goes to Myles, who played well and controlled his temper amazingly.”
“There were some amazing games today, I am so proud of all the players that have played, including those that couldn’t make today, for coming runners up in their first season in the league,” said coach Anna.
“Well done to Hillsborough Hornets who won the League!”
League Secretary Paul Jubb, Titans’ Coach Martin Taylor and League Welfare Officer Andrew Robson presented the runner -up medals to Bradford City Green, and the winners medal and Trophy to Hillsborough Hornets (White), champions by twelve points over Bradford, with Sheffield Fc (White) not too far behind. Titans improved all season and will be even stronger next season. Final table:
Thanks to all our reporters; Martin, Paul, Kaz, Sara, Anna, Vicky, John, Steph, and as always to Margaret for their match reports. Thanks also to our brilliant referees – Sean, Brian, Dennis, and Martin.
Bradford City’s Paul Jubb had a final word for his Bradford squad and the league in general. “An amazing day for our club winning the Under 12s Premier league and coming runners up in all the other 3 leagues, we have some young squads who have tried their best and that’s all we ask.”
“Thanks to everyone involved, all the other teams, all our volunteer coaches, parents, and obviously Mike & Colin who do a great job of running the league!”
Next Sunday sees the last matchday for our 7-a-side divisions. We’ll be live at Concord Sports Centre to bring you the latest action and pictures.
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