After last weeks semi final win for the under 16’s, it was over to the under 12’s to try and join them at the Cup Final day in May, with a trip to Norton & Stockton for their semi final where the playing conditions and surface were perfect.
Straight from the off you could see Aycliffe wanted it which was a great advert for grassroots football as no quarter was given. Long kicks from their keeper may have troubled us on another day, but Centre Half Brandon Addy dealt with every ball.
Aycliffe were showing a little bit more quality and it was up to Callum to score a great goal to settle things down. Aycliffe were now playing good football and this was rewarded with Brennan Fitzpatrick finishing coolly with a nice pass from Calum. HT 0-2.
The second half started the same way they finished the first half with Jack Clarkson getting a well rewarded goal for all his hard work throughout the game. This was soon made 0-4 with Leon Patel scoring.
Credit to the opposition their heads never dropped and they put Aycliffe under pressure and were eventually rewarded with a goal from a quality free kick. This was closely followed when a corner was whipped in and was met by our defender George Clark but unfortunately ended in our own goal.
A little panic set in until the lads were reminded to keep their shape and they saw out the game 2-4. The whole squad made the club proud. Charlie, Thomas, Alfie, Kieran, Kian, James & Louis. Despite their obvious disappointment, the opposition manager came over and said some lovely words to our team and wished us luck for the final.
U15 Girls v Lumley. Home game for the girls and a different team talk as they were asked to just pass the ball around Lumley, and not to try any long distance shots and it worked. We had chance after chance to score but luck was not with the girls and somehow found ourselves 0-2 down at half time.
Second half the girls determination was apparent as we took the game to Lumley and having most of the play. Then a goal from Katie B was quickly followed by an Aycliffe second from team captain, Martha. Despite our best efforts to find the winner Lumley held out to draw 2-2.
