Westella & Willerby U12 1 Driffield Pumas U12 3
A trial run for next month’s plate final as Pumas u12 travelled to play Westella on their final Sunday morning game this season.
Driffield started with the slope to their advantage as they hoped to continue on their long unbeaten run.
Despite this advantage Pumas early play was sloppy as they struggled to find any fluency. But they still managed to take an early lead when Taylor’s throw found Dixon whose cross found Warren Lambert at the far post, he finished with ease, 1-0
Still Pumas struggled to get a real hold on the game as Westella battled gamely on the narrow pitch.
A good move down the right saw Peart send the charging Sweeney clear and his shot/cross unfortunately cannoned of the crossbar and then clear.
Pumas did score their second with an excellent team passing move. Morley won the ball before finding Taylor, he played it to Dixon who released Smith at pace to break clear and finish into the corner, 2-0.
Smith was causing the Westella defence lots of problems cutting in from the right, and he made the score 3-0 to Driffield when he latched onto a Marson clearance to out muscle the last defender and finish well.
Straight away he nearly completed his hat -trick when he robbed a defender sprinted clear only for the Westella keeper to make a fine save, half time 3-0 to Pumas.
Into the second half and both coaches and spectators were hoping for an improved performance despite now playing up the tricky slope.
However it was Westella who started well with Pumas’ keeper Ashton making an excellent early save.
Tackles continued to be missed and passes went astray as Pumas struggled to fire.
Warren Lambert was now up front with Peart on the left and at last some decent Driffield attacking saw Westella somehow scramble the ball away.
Dixon saw his free kick hit the crossbar while both Marson and Smith were thwarted by the keeper.
On the break Westella did look dangerous and a good move down the right finished with their attacker firing in, 3-1.
Pumas now took on a more defensive attitude, however were soon again indebted to keeper Ashton who made another flying save to his right with time running out. Final score 3-1 to Driffield.
A difficult game for Pumas U12 who despite an off day were still able to grind out another positive result which bodes well for their plate final in May.
With just two matches left Pumas can still finish second in the Myton league which would be a great achievement by the boys.
Thanks to sponsors The Original Woodwork Co.
Man of the matches went to Ashton in goal and Smith in attack.
Driffield Warriors U8 4
East Riding Rangers U8 2
An overcast morning at the home of the Warriors saw the youngsters take on a physically imposing East Riding Rangers team.
This apparent advantage for the visitors became reality when the Warriors were hit with a quick goal as a result of a long defence splitting ball that landed directly at the feet of their attacker whose fierce shot left Brigham in the Warriors goal with little chance.
From the restart it could easily have been 0-2 as another looping ball was sent forward and with their midfielder clear on goal it was only the awareness of Bleasby who pinched the ball from his feet, rounded the oncoming attacker and cleared the ball up field.
After a neat combination of passing between, Greenlaw Hancock and Hakner the final ball was played through to the feet of Hodgson who dummied and turned two of the Rangers defence before unleashing a shot that marginally soared above the crossbar.
With confidence growing Oxtoby blocked a through ball and with great vision passed the ball swiftly to Hancock who ran forward with the ball before sending it firmly toward the opposition’s goal albeit marginally wide. From the resulting goal kick and as if to rub salt in the wounds, Rangers came back to score again with a move that virtually mirrored their first goal.
At two down the game looked all but over for the warriors but after an encouraging team talk at half time and a few substitutions they were quick to display their never give in attitude and prove that their skill and teamwork could match those of the opposition.
The first effective effort of the second half came as a result of Sowersby in defence skilfully intercepting and controlling a wild through ball then, offloading it to his defensive partner Hubbard who in turn, placed a lovely ball to the feet of Barker, but sadly his first effort of the game went straight at the keeper.
For the next few minutes the ball had little chance to settle for either team and the first goal of the second half nearly came from the resurgent Warriors attack after Sowersby had comfortably collected and then ran the ball forward before releasing it to a confident Barker whose shot beat the keeper but not the far post.
Back into a defensive mode the Warriors easily dealt with a Rangers snap attack with Brigham coming quickly off his line to launch the ball forward and immediately turned a defensive movement into an attacking one.
With Rangers caught by surprise Barker eased past the last defender and scored with a great strike that put the warriors firmly back in the game.
From then on continued pressure was applied to the Rangers defence and it would be fair to say that the warriors were now almost attacking as an entire team. The Warriors second goal came quickly as a result of Hancock holding the ball well in midfield before releasing it forward into the melee of both the warriors attack and Rangers defence with the ball eventually going out for a corner.
Hakner struck the ball well from the far corner and the fortunes were now in the Warriors favour as the ball was deflected into the Rangers net albeit for an own goal.
With confidence at a high from all areas Sowersby showed great close ball control and spun around leaving the attacker stranded and himself with clear open space in front to run forward.
It was the Warriors who had become the more dominant and the next to score as a result of a brilliant ball in from Hakner whose shot was again deflected for another own goal.
With the game now standing at 3-2 and the Warriors in control of the game it was only to be a short time, before Barker added his name to the score sheet for the second time. Hubbard was again the start of the move and sent a long ball forward to Barker who rounded the keeper and easily slotted the ball into the net.
Driffield Warriors U8 1
East Riding Rangers U8 2
As the second game got underway it would be fair to say that the Warriors were the slower of the two teams from the start and found it hard to control the ball in the increasing wind.
It therefore wasn’t long before Rangers with their trademark long ball mixed with some skilful passing were again doing damage to the Warriors defence and quickly scored passed Oxtoby.
The game had barely restarted from the first goal when Rangers scored again.
However, despite being two down Warriors battled and moments of great football were played. Greenlaw was instrumental in the first real effort for the Warriors when he kept the ball low to ensure that the wind didn’t stop the ball from going forward at pace to Barker. With space opening and the opportunity to race with the ball, he moved out wide to the right of goal before sending a low cross to Hodgson who from a tight angle unleashed a shot that rippled the net, but the side netting. Rangers should have scored from a looping effort but out of nowhere Oxtoby clawed the ball from mid-air and into the safety of his arms.
Hancock drove forward with the ball and again aware that the wind was against him passed the ball low in between, the two Rangers defenders. Ever alert and ready Hodgson ran onto the ball and calmly slotted it past the Rangers Keeper.
With the second half underway it was clear that the wind had subdued both teams with both attacking and defending being lacklustre. Brigham unusually quiet in the midfield still managed the occasional run forward allowing Barker and Hakner time to create and run into space.
This tactic resulted in the best effort of the second half when Brigham fed a lazy ball through that had Barker battling for control of the ball with the both of the Rangers defenders. The ball came loose leaving Hakner in space to control and unleash a shot that had the keeper’s fingers stinging. The ball however was quickly played out by their keeper and had Bleasby not thrown his body in front to block the Rangers speculative effort, the score could easily have been increased.
With a minute left on the clock Hubbard picked up the rebounding ball and launched it toward the warriors front line who were queuing up to take shots but the only winner of the second half proved to be the wind. This week’s man of the match was awarded to Jacob Sowesby for his outstanding performance in both games.
Thanks again goes to the Warriors sponsors Guy Brigham Builders and to the two ladies for supplying hot beverages and food on a damp chilly morning.