The winter weather finally relented and our boys managed to play their first NIdderdale League fixture for 10 weeks on Saturday at Beckwithshaw.
For our 11's, the last time to two teams met Scotton ran out 12 - 1 at Percy Fields, so the boys were confident. Their league match started at a quick pace with both teams passing the ball around will. On the 12 minute a Beckwithshaw defender brought down Luke Maccalman on the edge of the area. The free kick was clinically dispatched into the top of the net by Joe Eastwood. Soon after an inch perfect pass from George Dooley put through Charlie Phillips to side foot his first of the game.
Beckwithshaw responded strongly with a three onto one situating resulting in a Beckwithshaw goal. On half time there several changes made to both sides. Beckwithshaw again started with the same speed as they finished the first half and a sweet ball through gave a one on one with the Scotton keeper and finished well.
This seemed to open up the game and after several end to end runs saw a goal mouth scramble in the Beckwithshaw area and a cool head from Charlie Phillips slotted the ball home from close range to claim all the points.
The following friendly saw Scotton power on while the Saints heads went down a little, with Scotton running out easy winners in the second game.
Scotton's U9s went in at half time in their first match 1-0 down to well-taken goal. The second half saw some of the best football Scotton has produced this season. A series of excellent one-two touch football between man-of the-match Alex Shaw and Jamie Foster, ended with Jamie netting from close range. Disappointingly the boys concentration then dipped and Beckwithshaw struck back almost immediately to take the game 2-1.
Scotton U7's ran two teams again this weekend, the reds on the smaller pitch, and the blacks on a pitch that was big enough for the grown-ups to play on!!!
The Reds first game was played with a lot of spirit and enthusiasm from the boys, with excellent performances from everyone. Ethan Ive kept goal in the first half with Lewis Dobson and Dan Wetherall in defence, George Easton and Jonathan Haase in midfield with Jack Sherwin and James Haveron leading the front line.
It was a tight game with only one goal being conceded in the first half. To their credit the boys hung in there and had several chances which went just wide, George having the best of the chances from about 20 yards! The game came to a end at 1-0 with the boys holding their own but unable to convert their chances.
In the second game the boys began playing like Brazil. Some good passes were made, everyone was holding their positions, and most importantly the players were supporting each other in attack and defence. Ethan kept yet another clean sheet, Lewis aka Rio was a rock in defence, James and George covered every blade of grass on the pitch, with Jack, Jonathan and Dan battling for every loose ball.
The teams work paid off with George getting a well deserved goal which could not be matched. Overall a 0-1 victory was fair with both teams leaving the field satisfied with their efforts.
The Black squad were looking to try and play equally well and got off to a great start in their first game. Starting with Ben Haase in goal, Sam Arditto and Cameron Bedford at the back, Tom Johnson and Euan Cooke on the wings and Joseph Navier in the centre. Owen Hunter and Lewis Francis were waiting in the wings as rolling subs in what turned out to be tough fixtures. Constant pressure and endless goalmouth scrambles saw Scotton go in at half time 0-2 up - a deserved lead. However the Saints cut through Scottons defense right from the restart and the second half was a much closer content with both teams performing some last gasp defending. The final whistle eventually blew with Scotton just holding on for the win; 1-2
The second game saw Scotton turn the screw, and even with a few of our players in strange positions or picking up knocks, Owen and Lewis started this match and slotted straight in.The boys were always on top and eventually stretched away to take an impressive 0-3 lead. A few experiments with formation and some very tired legs (from both teams) saw the score remain the same and Scotton take the victory.
