Season 2010 / 11

UNDER 9's season summary
Norton Lees U9s: Season 2010/11


The season started with drama before a ball had even been kicked. A week before the final registration deadline there were not enough players to form a team and some very disappointed boys. Glyn stepped in as manager and following some hard work, negotiation and publicity in the Star, additional players were recruited and the team lived to play another day.

The season proper started as it ended, on a high, with wins over Laughton. The other win, which was much celebrated, came in a closely contested game against Killamarsh. The team was beaten in other games, but improved consistently throughout the season and this was reflected in the results. Scores improved in almost every case when Norton Lees played teams later in the season, for the second time. For example, when they played Brampton Rovers in November the score was 21-0. Three months later, in the return match, the difference was only eight goals.

Archie claimed the title of top goal scorer, in dramatic fashion, in the last match of the season, with some fantastic corner taking. He scored nine and Harrison and Darnell established a great partnership and netted eight goals each. Seth scored four; Tom Murphy 3; Jacob and Lewis 2 each and Jake and Luke each scored one. Alex performed heroics in goal at every match, throwing himself at everything, as did Lewis early in the season. Danny, Joshua, Kamil, Sam Hobson, Samuel Worthy, Thomas Bennett, and Tom Tom provided solid and reliable support in midfield and defence which allowed players to go forward and score.

It was not the results that defined the season for the U9s but the journey. When they kicked off for the first time the team had never played all together before and for many of the boys it was the first time they had ever played for a team. They all chased every ball and marking, passing and positioning were virtually non-existent. Fast forward to the end of the season and players know their positions and what they need to do. The boys are passing, marking, shouting for the ball and going forward and getting back to defend as a team. Every player, without exception, has improved both through their own hard work and determination and the guidance and good humoured support of Glyn and Mark. Most important of all you have a group of friends who love their football, have a fantastic time and can’t wait for next season to start. Bring it on!

Laughton Boys v NORTON LEES JFC
Norton Lees U9s v Laughton

Date: 20 March 2011

Away match

Result: Norton Lees 6 Laughton Boys 2

Norton U9s finished the season as they started with a win over Laughton. Man of the match Archie played like a human dynamo and was everywhere on the pitch. Four out of the six goals came from inch perfect corners, taken by Archie, straight into the net. The other goal, scored by the first team, came when Seth tackled Laughton in their half, ran half the length of the pitch and passed to Archie, in the box, to blast home. Laughton scored two and it was 5-2 when the teams changed over.

The pace of the second game was fast and furious with the Laughton goalkeeper saving many shots on goal. The goal when it came was a fine example of how the boys have gelled and are playing as a team. A fine tackle and pass by Sam Hobson to Danny was then passed to Darnell who put Harrison through on goal to make the final score 6-2.

Luke, Lewis and Jake, deputising for Alex in goal, gave a great account of themselves, and all the team played with energy and confidence.

NORTON LEES v Bramley Sunnyside
Norton Lees U9s v Bramley Sunnyside

Date: 13 March 2011

Away match

Result: Norton Lees 2 Bramley Sunnyside 13

A replica of the score when Norton played Bramley at home, although Norton played much better than they did in the first game. Bramley scored 8 before Darnell directed a corner kick into the box for man of the match Harrison to fire home.

The teams changed over and Bramley scored another before 'bend it like Beckham' Archie blasted a free kick, which was a result of a Bramley hand ball, into the box for man of the match Luke to score his first goal for the club. The final score was 13-2.

Norton v Bramley 20th Feb 2011
Norton Lees U9s v Bramley Sunnyside

Date: 20 February 2011

Home match

Result: Norton Lees 2 Bramley Sunnyside 13

Bramley scored three before Norton Lees showed some impressive passing to make it 3-1. Thomas Murphy passed to Seth who put Jacob through to calmly slot the ball in the goal. Archie headed the ball off the line before Bramley scored six more times to make it 9-1 when the teams changed over.

Bramley scored three more before man of the match Darnell just missed with a well taken free kick and then scored to make it 12-2. Darnell went close again rattling one off the post before Bramley added another to make the final score 13-2.

NORTON LEES JFC v Woodhouse Juniors
Norton Lees U9s v Woodhouse Juniors

Date: 6 March 2011

Away match

Result: Norton Lees 0 Woodhouse Juniors 5

Norton played Woodhouse for the second consecutive game and once again it was close and exciting. The only difference between the two games was that Norton were thwarted again and again by the excellent Woodhouse goal keepers who managed to save many good shots on goal. Norton played an excellent team game showing how far they have all come in their passing, marking and tackling. Jacob and Sam Hobson were awarded man of the match.

NORTON LEES JUNIORS v Woodhouse Juniors
Norton Lees U9s v Woodhouse Juniors

Date: 27 February 2011

Home match

Result: Norton Lees 4 Woodhouse Juniors 5

An exciting end to end game. Woodhouse scored, against the run of play, on their first attack. A powerful shot from Darnell went just over the crossbar before Lewis equalised, in a goal mouth scramble, after a precision pass from Sam Hobson. Woodhouse made it 2-1 before Sam delivered another perfect pass and Darnell banged it in the goal to make it 2 all as the teams changed over. Sam Worthy was the man of the match and the whole team worked hard.

Woodhouse scored to make it 3-2 before the second team, playing without a substitute, got into a great rhythm and gave an excellent team performance. Tom Murphy side-stepped defenders and the goal keeper to score and then Woodhouse scored again. Man of the match Archie scored a goal, from a free-kick, that Beckham would have been proud of and it was 4-4. Two minutes before the end Woodhouse scrambled a goal into the net and the final score was 5-4. Alex gave his usual superb performance in goal.

NORTON LEES v Brampton Rovers
Norton Lees U9s v Brampton Rovers

Date: 13 February 2011

Home match

Result: Norton Lees 0 Brampton Rovers 8

The game was played in Graves Park because Brampton's pitch was waterlogged. Apart from a brief period in the second half of the first team's game the two teams were evenly matched and the football was end to end. Lots of good football was played in the first twenty minutes including a great header off the line by Archie to deny Brampton. Alex was a star in net as usual and Joshua was man of the match. Then for a time in the second half concentration levels dropped, heads went down and Brampton scored five in quick succession to make the score 7-0 as the teams changed over.

The second team played brilliantly and only a well taken Brampton free kick, resulting in a goal, separated the sides. Darnell and Harrison combined well together to pose a constant threat and were backed up by a solid midfield and defence, including man of the match Tom Tom, with a great header to deny Brampton.

The game was marred by injuries to Danny and Luke who are hopefully recovering well.