Last updated at 15:22, Friday, 29 May 2009

GOALS by Thomas Humphreys and Luke Banks gave Prudhoe YC Blues U9s a 2-0 victory over Corbridge United Lions in a keenly fought Tyne Valley Insurance Tynedale U10s Mini-soccer League Division Two President’s Trophy final at Stocksfield in midweek.

Prudhoe were the first to settle with Corbridge keeper Jamie Lawson saving well from Luke Banks after a good move involving William Quinn, Thomas Humphreys and Dalton Newton.

Corbridge hit back with a Matty Pugh free-kick into the danger area being headed away by Harry Grant.

A link-up between Banks and Humphreys led to a scramble in front of goal, but Corbridge countered at pace through Tommy Quinn and Matthew Percival, with Prudhoe surviving at the expense of a corner.

Louis Youngman was prominent for the Lions with a promising run and, as play switched to the opposite end, Callum Dronfield had to look lively to cut out a move involving Banks and Newton.

Dronfield set up a chance for Youngman, but Prudhoe keeper Dean Brooks saved comfortably and a great move between Banks and Daniel Thompson looked dangerous until Wilson Barlow made a tremendous last ditch tackle to save the day for Corbridge.

The deadlock was broken after 22 minutes when Humphreys stretched out a foot to turn the ball into the far corner of the net from a narrow angle to give Prudhoe a half-time lead.

The second half began with a Pugh free-kick being deflected into the hands of Brooks and twice in quick succession the Prudhoe keeper had to improvise in saving efforts by Percival and Pugh.

The Lions came again, with a shot-cum-centre by Pugh being blocked and turned behind for a corner by Thompson.

Prudhoe doubled their advantage when Corbridge failed to clear a loose ball in the box and, despite being surrounded by defenders, Luke Banks somehow managed to find the net.

Stung into action, Corbridge enjoyed a good spell of pressure with a Pugh free-kick being turned behind by Brooks while a corner by the same player caused problems for the Prudhoe defence.

Brooks got down well to save at the near post from Youngman while the Youth Club side hot back from a good left wing move involving Aaron Ridley, Banks and Humphreys was denied by a great challenge from Dronfield.

Percival just failed to get his head to a deep cross from the left as Corbridge strove hard to pull one back with a long ball from Pugh piercing through the middle to be deflected for a corner.

Prudhoe were close to adding a third with Dalton Newton firing just wide under the challenge of the advancing Corbridge keeper Jamie Lawson but the final whistle sounded with Prudhoe the two goal winners.

League president Dave Tiffin, of the NFA, was once again in attendance along with Alex Waters, of sponsors Tyne Valley Insurance, and together they presented winners and runner-up trophies as well as to much appreciated young referee Chris Bell from Walbottle.

Division Two champions Haydon Bridge U9s have long since been crowned but the destination of the First Division title went right to the wire with Hexham Greens being congratulated for clinching the championship in the final game of the season.

Cameron Whitely starred on the right for Hexham in their 7-1 defeat of Prudhoe YC Blues whose consolation goal came from their man of the match Daniel Wright who found the net with a cracking strike from long range.

Division One top scorer Ryan Gardner hit his 39th league goal of the season in notching a hat-trick with Jake Dunlop, Hamish Forsyth, Thomas Jepson and Calum Thomson also netting.

Wylam Rockets Whites and Corbridge United Lions played out the last Second Division fixture of the campaign with Corbridge winning 8-2.

They began the game with six players and after a closely fought first half it was 2-2 at the break.

At full strength on the re-start the visitors made it pay despite the efforts of second period Rockets’ keeper Jack Main who had earlier scored Matthew Percival hit a treble for Corbridge with Matty Pugh and Louis Youngman both scoring twice and Matthew O'Neill once.

With the season coming to an end this weekend teams are desperately trying to arrange the Division One President’s Trophy ties with the final hopefully being played tomorrow morning at Haydon Bridge.

Prudhoe YC Reds won their way into the quarter final with the 3-1 defeat of Haltwhistle United.

The far West Division side have improved tons since the start of the season but never got to grips with the outstanding Hamin Ally who scored all three for the home side.

Billy Rogan replied for Halty whose man of the match was midfielder Ciaran Fleming.

Stocksfield Rangers went into their quarter final game with Sporting Stocksfield as strong favourites but it was the underdogs who won their way into the last four of the competition on penalties.

James Doneathy (2) and Charlie Allan were the scorers for Sporting in normal time while Bradley Maughan, Jai Walker and Josh Watts were the Rangers marksmen.

Doneathy burst through the middle unchallenged but was denied the scoring of a golden goal in extra-time and his hat-trick by the upright while Allan followed up to fire just off target at the opposite post from the rebound.

Keepers Charlie Weatherhead and Callum Bruce made some brilliant saves in the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

But when it came to a ‘sudden death’ situation from the spot it was Oliver Wilson who fired Sporting into the semi-final before Callum Bruce made the all important save.

It was a nail biting end to an enthralling tie with everything that is best in mini-soccer on display in being played out in a tremendous atmosphere and a great attitude from all concerned with vociferous encouragement from both sides of supporters.

Sporting Stocksfield now meet Wylam Rockets Blues for a place in the final after Wylam overwhelmed neighbours Prudhoe YC Blues in their semi-final.

It is an either-or situation, with the other half of the draw involving Haydon Bridge, Prudhoe YC Reds and Throckley Magpies Inter yet to be resolved.

First published at 09:45, Friday, 29 May 2009
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk