Junior football: Bombers closing in on Bentilee
UNDER-NINES RED
SECOND-PLACED Bradwell Bombers closed the gap on leaders Bentilee to six points after drawing 1-1 and winning 2-1 against branch rivals Westport Juniors.
In the only other fixture to survive the weather, Ashcombe Park Lions leapfrogged Westport to move up to third after 7-0 and 3-0 successes against strugglers Sandford Hill Allstars.
UNDER-10s RED
BRADWELL Bombers gained revenge for their recent cup defeat at the hands of Waterhouses Juniors.
And the highlight of their 8-1 and 5-1 victories over their opponents was Ollie Connor's first-ever goal for the club.
Waterhouses opened the scoring in the first match when a swift counter-attack resulted in Ashley Brass converting with a first-time shot.
But hosts Bradwell hit back immediately when Kaash Buttery delivered an excellent cross for Ethan Munden, who applied the finishing touch.
The home side moved in front when Liam Curley's speculative shot crept past the keeper and a fine save by Bradwell keeper Charlie Brownsword moments later ensured they remained in front.
Bradwell deservedly extended their lead when Richie Parkes's lofted ball was flicked on to Buttery, who provided the cross from which Munden fired home.
The Bombers continued to press forward and, following a series of corners, they added to their tally when the unmarked Curley swept home just before half-time.
Harry Bradbury saw his cross-cum-shot saved immediately after the break following some trickery on the left wing, but Bombers enjoyed better success moments later when Brownsword charged through Waterhouses' defence to slot home.
The home side were rampant and added their sixth goal of the game when Curley crossed for Ashley Summerfield to smash home a first-time effort.
Curley, Bradbury and Summerfield were in fine form going forward, although Kieron Simms showed good anticipation at the back to prevent a counter attack.
Waterhouses battled hard and a long-range shot sailed just over. But it was soon 7-1 when Curley completed his hat-trick with an instinctive finish.
Bradwell completed the scoring when Brownsword's long-range effort was cleverly dummied by Munden to leave the visitors' keeper helpless.
Waterhouses started the second game brightly and only some great defending by Alex Kessel, Simms and Parkes prevented a certain goal.
Bombers, however, provided the perfect riposte by taking the lead in their next attack.
Brownsword powered forward in trademark fashion and slid the ball to Buttery, who showed good composure to net his first goal for the club.
It was soon 2-0 when Summerfield's cross caused confusion and Connor ghosted in to fire home with his left peg for his first-ever goal.
Bradbury struck after the break following a neat exchange with Curley, but Waterhouses could count themselves unfortunate as the woodwork twice thwarted their efforts to reduce the arrears.
Curley's left-footed drive made it 4-0 to Bradwell and although Reece Johnson managed to hit the target for Waterhouses, Bradbury ensured it was Bradwell's day when he made it 5-1.
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JUST one game played saw leaders Ashcombe Park Polecats extend their lead with 1-0 and 5-1 away victories over Red Street Condors.
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RED Street Ravens took advantage of postponements to go clear at the top after defeating Leek Lions 9-2.
UNDER-11s YELLOW
SANDYFORD Spitfires netted five times without reply against Sandford Hill Allstars to go three points clear at the top of the table in the only fixture to escape the weather.
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AUDLEY Aces took pole position after recording a 5-2 win against Red Street Kestrels in the only surviving fixture.
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Penkhull Cubs moved up to joint third after beating Goldenhill Allstars 3-2 in the only fixture of the weekend.
UNDER-13s
A JOE Hewitt hat-trick helped Westport Warriors defeat Leek CSOB 5-2 and leapfrog them to take top spot.
Westport took the lead on 20 minutes when a shot from Jacob Campbell was guided into the net by James Hanks.
But Leek drew level within a minute when Peter Bassett hit a long-range shot into the bottom corner to make it all square at the break.
Westport played the better football after the break and had the pace to regularly beat Leek's offside trap.
Westport took the lead again through a quick break when Danny Vickers's shot was parried and Joe Hewitt made no mistake with the rebound from close range.
The same pair combined again to make it 3-1, with Vickers running through and squaring the ball to Hewitt for a tap-in.
Leek reduced the arrears with a neat finish from Sam Buxton, but Westport kept the pressure on and went 4-2 up when Kyle Stubbs finished of a good move with a left-foot shot.
Hewitt completed the scoring when he beat his marker to run through and place a fine shot past Leek's keeper to complete his hat-trick.
Newcastle Rangers and Kidsgrove United Juniors went joint second with CSOB.
Rangers beat Kidsgrove Warriors 6-1, while Juniors enjoyed a 7-0 success against Blurton Bombers.
Bucknall Panthers climbed one place after striking nine times without reply against Anfield Allstars.
UNDER-14s RED
LEADERS Kidsgrove Albion took advantage of postponements to go well clear at the top of the table after a 3-2 win against Biddulph Strikers, for whom Ryan Heath and Marlon Dickens were on target with Guy Maxwell their man of the match.
UNDER-14s YELLOW
TOM Lunt bagged a hat-trick as joint leaders Spitfires beat Bucknall Spitfires 5-3 in a keenly contested game at Trubshaw Cross.
Exchanges were even before Johnny Joyce put Bucknall in front.
Spitfires then started to press and keeper Taz Ball twice saved well from Bradeley Maughan.
However, Spitfires eventually equalised when Jack Beech fed Maughan, went on a tremendous solo run from inside his own half to slot past Ball.
Bucknall hit back and keeper Kieran Podmore did well to thwart efforts from Joyce, Kieran Evans and Ryan Locke before the break.
Spitfires pressured from the off in the second half and Ball had to save well from Tom Lench, while Tom Lunt hit the side netting and Aiden Williams shot narrowly wide.
However, they did manage to hit the target and go in front when Williams burst through the defence and gave Ball no chance with a fine shot.
Spitfires increased their lead when Dean Sutton's header from a Terry Doherty cross stuck in the mud and Lunt reacted quickest to prod home.
Bucknall clawed a goal back when a Locke raced on to a long ball down the middle and struck his shot past Podmore.
But Spitfires restored their two-goal advantage minutes later when Sutton cleverly flicked on for Lunt to grab his second goal of the game.
Bucknall immediately hit back again with a fine goal from Locke, but Spitfires sealed victory when Sutton's shot was deflected to Lunt, who completed his treble.
Westport Juniors remained joint top after a 8-1 success against Biddulph Sharks, for whom man-of-the-match Jordon Merry was on target.
Bradwell Bombers stayed joint third with Kidsgrove Town after netting five times without reply against Allstars. Kidsgrove Town also struck five times without reply against Sandford Hill Allstars.
UNDER-15s RED
THE only fixture to survive the conditions saw Longton Lions go joint top after a 6-1 win against Kidsgrove Strikers.
Lions made a perfect start, finding themselves 2-0 up in the first 10 minutes.
Lewis Martin rounded the keeper for the opening goal, before Dale Tabbinor nipped in to double their lead.
With the momentum on Lions side they kept the pressure on and after 17 minutes Josh Mallin broke from the right to make it 3-0
Longton keeper Tom Hughes made some fine saves, while Jack Tipper ran the entire length of the field to execute a great saving tackle in the Lions' area before the break.
Strikers went close on several occasions at the start of the second half before Longton's Tabbinor made it 4-0.
A set-piece for Kidsgrove resulted in a well-taken goal by Jake Allon to reduce the deficit.
But Lions struck back with 11 minutes remaining when Mallin finished off with a flowing move.
Kristian Kelly rounded off the scoring when he skipped past two players before slotting home to make it 6-1.
GANGING UP: A Leek Vipers player finds himself outnumbered by Kidsgrove Gunners opponents during the North Staffs Junior Youth League under-eights friendly clash. Below: Kidsgrove's keeper keeps his concentration as a Vipers striker receives the ball with his back to goal.
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