U11s
LEAGUE GAME
On a bright but chilly morning both teams took the field for a 9 o'clock kick-off. After early pressure from Tockwith, Scotton got their first chance with Seb's shot going into the side netting. Tockwith were the next with a chance, but their shot from distance went wide, Scotton replied with a good effort from Alex. The game was proving to be quiet entertaining and evenly matched after 10 mins. Scottons next attack involved a good exchange of play between Seb and Alfie before the shot going into the side netting. GOAL!! Scotton win a corner and in the ensuing melly the ball ended up in the net with Alex getting the praise. Lorcan had a good run crossing to Alex who shot just wide.
HALF TIME 1-0 SCOTTON.
Tockwith restart the brighter with 2 attemps but no goal, Lorcan then narrowly misses from a corner, followed by a cross from Alfie to Alex who just misses. GOAL!! Tockwith equalize 1-1. Following the restart James went on one of his mazy runs but the goalie was equal to James's shot. Two more efforts from Alex but narrowly misses, a long range effort from Lorcan which went just over the bar. Scotton were still pressing to find the winner right until the final whistle and the boys did everything but get the goal their play deserved.. FINAL SCORE 1-1. (Well done to all who contributed to a entertaining game of football).
FRIENDLY MATCH
After a brisk start Scotton had the ball bouncing around the the Tockwith goal-line but just couldn't get it over, when it finally broke free a quick break saw Tockwith score. After the restart a break from Scotton gave Callum a chance only to have the goalie save. Scotton continued to try hard, again having the ball cleared off the Tockwith line only for them to break down the pitch and score another. Luck was against the boys with every break from Tockwith seemed to result in another goal, with the final result been 7-0. Chins up boys and lets train hard for the next game to reverse the score.
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U9s BLACK SQUAD
GAME 1
The Year 4 boy’s first game of the season saw the Black squad welcome Tockwith to the Scotton Cricket pitch on what was a cold start to the season. With the visitors short on numbers one or two familiar faces wore the colours of Tockwith so that everyone got a good competitive game of football.
With a wealth of talent at his disposal Craig started with Luke in goal along with Oscar, Elliott, Sam A, Vinny, Cameron L, Ewan and Cameron B. Scotton started with some early pressure, Cameron B attacked the left wing well and won a couple of early corners. Tockwith slowly got into their stride with both sides cancelling each other out, Tockwith looked to create a chance of their own which was snuffed out by some good defending from Sam and Elliott allowing Cameron B to break from midfield, finding Vinny with an excellent pass, good work from Vinny just outside the box found Cameron B in space and he made no mistake, 1-0 to Scotton.
Tockwith were not knocked out of their stride however and tried to get straight back in the game, but Luke saved well from the resulting cross. Scotton were now seeing more of the ball in the visitors half, winning a succession of corners, which resulted in a shot from Cameron B to make the score a deserved 2-0.
In quick succession some more good work from Cameron L and Oscar presented Ewan with an opportunity to shoot which he did to extend Scotton’s lead to 3-0 just before the break, as the half time whistle approached Scotton underlined their dominance with three corners in a row, although Tockwith held firm and managed to break forward and get a excellent shot in which was well saved again by Luke. Half time 3-0 to Scotton.
The second half started with Ewan replacing Luke in goal, and they applying good pressure to the Tockwith defence. To the visitors credit it was not all one way traffic and Ewan showed he can be a cat between the sticks with a fine save following Luke’s excellent display in goal in the first half.
Scotton then turned the screw, winning a couple of corners in succession which put Tockwith on the back foot, Cameron B got in an excellent cross which found Vinny in enough space for him to make it 4-0 with a well taken goal.
Ewan then turned creator, firing a massive goal kick into the path of Cameron L who coolly turned the ball into the net, 5-0 to the home side. Tockwith never let their heads drop however and as the game moved towards full time Ewan was called on to make a series of excellent saves in order to keep a clean sheet for Scotton. Full time 5-0.
GAME 2
Craig rang the changes in game 2, Dan taking his place in goal with an outfield made up of George, Tom, Owen, Liam, Jack, Daniel and Chris. Tockwith started with a couple of Scotton’s star performers from game 1.
The early exchanges in this game were played out in the middle of the park as both teams cancelled each other out, however it wasn’t long before the home side created the first real chance, George breaking forward well and shooting just wide. Tockwith then launched their first attack of the game; however excellent defending from Owen and Tom cleared the danger, with the visitors winning the first corner of the game. Tom cleared the subsequent cross with a fine header, which was cleared out further by Jack to George who launched another strong run into the Tockwith half, after some good passing play with Liam, the ball found it way to Tom whose shot struck the post and went wide.
Dan was then called into action for the first time making a good save from a well worked Tockwith attack. Craig then brought on Max and James in place of Tom and Daniel. Dan was called on again to make a great save after some excellent Tockwith pressure. Tom and Daniel then rejoined the game in place of Liam and Chris as the game was pressed in midfield with Max and James working well for the home side. and as the game moved towards half time Scotton thought they had got the lead when a fierce shot from Tom was well saved but rebounded to George who found the net only for the ref to bring the game back for handball. Halt time score 0-0
The second half started with Chris going in goal and straightaway Tom got in a good cross which George fired towards goal, the shot being well saved by the visiting keeper. The subsequent corner found its way to Tom whose shot was again well saved as Scotton ramped up the pressure. A rare Tockwith attack led to a corner for the visitors, again good defending this time by Max and James cleared the danger. Jack showed us some good touches in midfield as Scotton continued to dominate the game however Chris was called upon to make a great save from a Tockwith shot. The subsequent corner was again headed away by Tom and cleared by Owen and Max.
Scotton then started peppering the visitor’s goal with a succession of shots, first from Tom, then Sam and another effort from Tom. The resulting corner was then cleared by Tockwith. Craig then swapped Jack with Dan as the home side went looking for victory.
Max and James combined well in midfield moving the ball forward into the Tockwith half, the attack was cleared by the visiting defence for a corner, which found Liam whose shot went just wide. The visitors however still tried to get the ball forward and only some smart defending from Max kept the scores level, the ball went for a corner and Tockwith got in a good cross which saw an excellent shot cannon off the post.
Scotton having rode their luck somewhat then went on the attack; George firing in a shot which was well saved and the follow up went just over the bar from Tom. Daniel then tried his luck with an excellent shot which again was saved.
As the clock ticked down George then won a free kick which he fired in just wide, but Tockwith could not clear the ball and Scotton won another free kick when Tom was tripped close to the right hand corner flag. With very little time left, Tom whipped in a shot from the narrowest of angles and the ball went in off the post, 1-0 to Scotton and an excellent goal to break the deadlock and not long after the referee blew for full time to round off an excellent couple of games of football by both sides.
U9 RED SQUAD
GAME 1
The year three boys were playing at Percy fields. Tockwith opened the scoring early in the game but this did not deter the Scotton boys. Jack Sherwin came close after a good run up the wing just before James Callis managed to equalise for Scotton. This was extra special for James as it was his debut for Scotton. Scotton continued to press during the first half but could not make the pressure tell and the teams went in at half time level.
The second half continued in the same vain with Scotton pressing most of the time. On the odd occasion when Tockwith did threaten they were met by the Scotton defence particularly Joseph, who not only defended well but then showed good distribution of the ball. Scotton continued to pressurise the Tockwith defence and had they had their shooting boots on the match would have been won more comfortably. There were a few nearer misses with Jack just kicking over the Tockwith goal. With time running out and the draw looking inevitable Jack and Joseph exchanged passes through the centre for Jack to score the winning goal. There was barely time for the kick off and Scotton had emerged victorious in this first tricky encounter against a defiant Tockwith side.
GAME 2
Scotton started very brightly with Charlie weaving through the Tockwith defence only to be thwarted at the end by a good save from Tockwith keeper. This was not the pattern for the whole game as both teams were evenly matched. Joseph yet again was defending and distributing the ball very well and on the odd occasion when Tockwith did get past him, Benjamin was equal to any shots fired in. The game ebbed and flowed in both directions with James and Charlie both coming close to opening the scoring.
The second half continued the same as the first. Joseph made several good runs, but the Tockwith defence always managed to prevent the Scotton boys from scoring. Both sides pressed for a late winner but neither could break down the well-disciplined defences. This match was an evenly fought game where both teams cancelled each other out with good defending. And the nil -nil score line was just about right. Players of the matches were Joseph Navier and James Callis.
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SCORCHERS 7s FRY TIGERS FOR BREAKFAST
by Guido Scoop
Under a blue sky straight from the Mediterranean and with the soft, golden leaves of Autumn's first fall settling on a perfectly prepared pitch, Scotton U7s strode out to start their season against Tockwith Tigers this Saturday. Although all strapping Yr 2 boys, the Tockwith team amounted to only 6, so Scotton started with Jacob Kavanagh in goal, Ben Tweed and Harry as the defensive line and Johnny, James and Harrison as a free-attacking midfield.
Scotton kicked off towards the village and immediately applied heavy pressure to the Tockwith defenders. A sustained opening barrage of attacking football from a hungry Scorchers team saw Scotton push towards the Tockwith goal again and again. When Tockwith attempted to staunch the flow of Scotton attacks with a break up the left flank a perfectly-timed crunching tackle from Harrison saw them quickly repelled. The first half of the first half was all Scotton, with the highlight a quality shot from Johnny. Just wide.
Tockwith played through the middle whenever they tried to push forward into attack and looked threatening. Although their attackers are big boys, every attack was repulsed by Ben Tweed. Ben, like a young Franz Beckenbauer, had taken the coach's advice to stick in position and did a sterling job as sweeper. All that possession and a flowing move that saw Johnny hit a post with a double strike - first with boot then off the head as the ball rebounded off the keeper and the excitement of the moment saw Scotton lose their shape and push forward with abandon.
Tockwith pounced. A long ball from defence played through the inside right channel to their lone striker exposed Jacob Kavanagh in goal. A cool finish across the keeper and 0 -1, Tockwith were up. Lesser U7 teams could have folded, but this Scorchers side is made of sterner stuff. From the restart Scotton poured forward forcing a corner and the game was back in the Tockwith half. This time though, Scotton kept a better shape and when a long back pass sold the last Tockwith defender short, Ben Tweed raced upfield and scored low into the bottom corner of the net after disposessing the hapless last man skillfully.
At 1-1, Scotton were looking strong. A long-range free kick from Johnny whistled past the right post through a crowd of defenders with the keeper, unsighted, nowhere. The half ended with another solid and well-timed tackle from Harrison preventing any more than a single attack by Tockwith all half.
At half-time Coach Hampson shook things up. Jacob Cardani came off the bench into goal and Jacob Kavanagh moved up to centre forward. The midfield were rested and Callum, Freddie and Elliot came on to give the Scorchers fresh legs.
The opening of the second half was scrappy as Scotton sought to re-establish their dominance, but a Peter Crouch-style stretched interception from Jacob K left Scotton in a good position after just a few minutes. Jacob saw his chance and dribbled into the box. Jacob's shot squeezed under the despairing keepers' body and just trickled over the line. Against the defenders' protests the ref blew up. Goal. 2-1 Scorchers. If only England could have had such decisive refereeing at the World Cup.
Realising the game was nearly beyond them, Tockwith pressed forward harder than before and only a fine save from a courageous Jacob Cardani in the Scotton goal stopped Tockwith levelling the match. At this point, coach Hampson started to sub some of his tired players to keep the team fresh and snuff out Tockwith's dwindling spirit.
Callum, defending well, played the ball to Ben Tweed whose mazy run through the middle was only ended by a Tockwith foul. From just inside the opposing half, Ben launched the free kick high into the Tockwith box, where Jacob K stole in front of the keeper to cheekily touch the ball in for his second of the match and the Scorchers' third. With the win in the bag, Scotton were rampant. With minutes to go another dazzling run from Ben Tweed left the Tockwith defence is such disarray that
one defender dropped to the floor and picked the ball up to prevent a certain goal after the ball bounced back off a post. Harrison stepped up to take the penalty and struck it beautifully. The rising ball just missed the outside right of the post. Shame.
As the full-time whistle blew and the players celebrated, Tockwith were lucky to escape only 3-1 down. A delighted management team awarded Ben Tweed man of the match and Coach Hampson decribed the result as "deeply satisfying" and the team's play, "lots of effort, lots of smiles" as "very good".
A great start. In the other matches Scotton scored 7-1 and 5-1 victories with Callum and Johnathan Haase and young Milo Smith singled out for praise by the coaching staff.
