Under 10s Lions

	Back to Fixtures						League Tables
Game	Date	K/O	Venue	Opposition	F	A	Scorers
-	-	-	-
LA LIGA - WINTER LEAGUE 2009/2010
LGE	23/01/10	-	AWAY	WHITLEY BAY BARCA	2	6	DORR & CARSON
"	06/02/10	-	HOME	BEDLINGTON	2	1	CARR(2)
"	07/02/10	-	AWAY	CRAMLINGTON JUN YELLOWS	2	1	DORR(2)

Match Reports

Cramlington Juniors 1 – 2 Lions  - 7 February 2010

Lions roar to a famous victory

Two games in two days was a daunting task, but to take on the might of Cramlington Juniors, in their back yard, was almost an impossible task.

However, Tony Gribbin, was able to welcome back Jamie Hogg and Harry Lord to the squad, and on the back of that magnificent win against Beddlington Blades, the Lions were buoyant.

The manager named an unchanged starting 7, that defeated Beddlington, and named Michael Weepers captain, after his fantastic display. Phil Dorr, having hung up his ref’s whistle for the day, whipped the boys up into a near frenzy.

The game kicked off with the Lion’s kicking from left to right (unless you were on the other side of course, or behind one of the goals!). Cramlington quickly began passing and moving the ball around very neatly. However undaunted by this, the Lions stuck at their tasks, and continually harried, and hustled the Cramlington players. Andrew Mitcheson and Jake Errington, forming a formidable partnership in defence, were again stalwarts, with Ryan Telford marshalling them in front of his goal.

Cramligton came closest to breaking the deadlock, with a neat passing move, ending with their number 3 unleashing a shot towards goal. The Lion’s supporters hearts, were in their mouths, however the agility of Ryan Telford in goal, saw him turn the ball around the post for a corner. The quarter finished goalless.

A couple of personnel changes for the second quarter, saw Jamie Hogg and Harry Lord enter the arena. The introduction of these fresh legs, saw the Lions get back into the game. With some neat passing moves of their own. Brandon Carr, playing in centre midfield, was superb in supporting the strikers, and then helping out in defence.  Well worked one two passes were unlocking the home side’s defence. A devastating passing move saw Joe Door, get behind the defence, with only the goalie to beat. Cool as a cucumber, (that’s been in the fridge for quite a long time), the diminutive striker, slotted the ball into the corner of the net, to make it 1 – 0 to the Lions.

The third quarter began with more shuffling to the pack. Andrew Mitcheson was called into action to calmly intercept, what would have been defence splitting pass (except it wasn’t because of Andrew!)

Cramlington were pressing more and more for the equaliser. One move saw their little striker, in on goal, with only Ryan to beat. However the keeper chose to stay on his line, and prepare for the shot, and what an inspired decision this was. The striker fired in a low powerful shot, that Ryan skilfully turned away for a corner.  Connor Carson and Michael Weepers each had another influential game. Michael, covering every blade of mud on the pitch, and Connor winning and picking up loose balls in the middle of the pitch, and spraying delightful, accurate passes to team mates.

The game was ebbing and flowing, with end to end entertainment. On another Lion’s attack, Joe Dorr, found himself behind Cramlington’s defence. He again showed the composure of a striker at least 11 years old, not just 10 years old, as he is, and placed this effort, to the keepers right, and it too, nestled into the corner of the net.  

Two nil, was this a dream. Tony asked Phil to pinch him, Phil refused, and stepped a couple of paces away.

The fourth quarter, saw Cramlington throw everything (but the kitchen sink) at the Lions. However, to a man, the boys were magnificent.  Ryan Telford, continued to make unbelievable saves. Andrew Mitchson and Jake Errington were again superb and held out resolutely. The Lions, not wishing to rest upon their Laurels (as they’re a bit spiky, and hurt) continued to press for a third. The pitch was now becoming heavier and heavier, and the efforts of today and yesterday's game were beginning to tell.

With only a minute remaining on the watch, Cramlington made one last effort on goal. This effort saw the ball find it way into the Lions net.

However this only proved to be a consolation goal, and the Lions weren’t to be denied a fabulous victory.

In a post match huddle, Tony and Phil told the boys how proud they were, and how these two victories were thoroughly deserved because of their hard work and team work. Whilst still in their huddle, the boys gave one of the loudest Lion’s roar ever heard.

The man of the match was awarded to Brandon Carr.

In a rare interview, Phil Dorr said there was only one word to describe how he felt “over the moon”.

This result, proved to be the first in a clean sweep of victories for the u10 squads. Super Sunday, as it’s become known, saw all the other North Shields under 10’s win their games too.

 

North Shields Lions 2 – 1 Bedlington  - 6 February 2010

This re arranged fixture saw the Lion’s with a depleted squad.  Manager, Tony Gribbin was only able to field 7 players, and how the boys to a man responded.

Bedlington were able to field what appeared to be a full strength team. The game was played in near perfect condition, except for the biting cold, the thick rolling fog and the threat of rain.

Brandon Carr captained the team, and won the toss. The Lion’s kicked from right to left (or left to right, depending which side of the pitch you were standing!) and were quickly on the attack.

Both teams began the game, playing some great football, and the near capacity ground (well nearly 18 people anyway) enjoyed the end to end football. The first quarter ended scoreless.

Bedlington started much the brighter side in the second quarter, of the first half, of the whole match, and were soon involved in some intrickt, intract, neat passing moves. A result of one of these well created moves, saw their big number 3, strike a rapier like shot, that Ryan Telford, got a hand to, but was unable to deflect it round the post. This stung the Lions into life, and they responded magnificently . Connor Carson, in centre midfield was playing some wonderful passes, and making some vital tackles. However the Lions were unable to ‘claw’ their way back onto level terms.

The Lions continued their good work into the third quarter, a fantastic one two between Joe Dorr and Barndon Carr, saw the little striker in on goal. Carr didn’t need a written invitation to shoot, in fact he didn’t even need a text (which as we know is much faster than the post). In on goal with the keeper to beat, ha calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the net, to level the scores.

The fourth quarter, saw the Lion’s get real believe that an upset was possible, and they pushed for a killer second. Michael Weepers, playing down the left, was making some powerful runs and showing great touches of skill. It was a result of one of these runs, that resulted in Brandon Carr finding the net for a second time. Most of the near capacity crowd, well all 18 of them, erupted at the second goal.

The Lions, were pressed very hard by Bedlington, for the remainder of the fourth quarter, however Ryan Telford,   Jake Errington, and Andrew Mitcheson, were stalwarts in defence, and were able to hold out, and secure a well deserved, victory.

The man of the match was awarded to Michael Weepers for his superb display. However the superb display was matched by every player, who stuck at their role superbly.

Whitley Bay Barca 6 – 2  North Shields Lions  - 23 January 2010

In an eagerly awaited first game of the second half of the season, saw North Shields Lions travel the relatively short distance to Southlands to play Whitley Bay Barca, and take part in a thoroughly entertaining encounter.

The Lion’s players and parents were excited at the prospect of playing a match for the first time this year

The Lions squad, somewhat depleted, due an injury to Luke Gribbin. Luke sustained a broken leg,, training with the GB (2018)Olympic Bob Sleigh team, on Whitley Bay’s cricket pitch.

The game was played in near perfect conditions, despite the recent rain, and anxiety that yet another game maybe called off due to the recent poor weather.

Whitley Bay were fastest out of the blocks, and had a number of early opportunities. Only the superb handling of the Lion’s keeper, Telford, prevented Whitley taking an early lead. Mid way through the first quarter, Whitley bay struck. A series of unfortunate deflections saw the ball nestle in the Lions net. Whitley Bay quickly capitalised on this, and scored a second before the end of the quarter.

The Lions also had several chances too. However the Bay keeper pulled of two particularly fine saves to prevent the Lions reducing the deficit.

However the Lions were trying, as their name suggests, like Lions, and were fighting for every loose ball, and harrying when not on possession. When they were in possession, they played some excellent, intricate one touch passing that they have worked on In training.

The Lions rallied in the second quarter, and showed the fight and spirit, of the first half of the season. The lions were playing some fantastic passing football. This paid off with Dorr, netting an superb goal with some good approach work from Carr and Carson. Telford, Errington and Mitcheson were performing magnificently, in defence, with some superb saves and tackles. This stung Whitley Bay into an almost immediate response with a further 2 quick goals.

The lack of match practice seemed to tell on the Lions players in the third quarter and saw the Lions tire a little, and Whitley Bay extended their lead.

The fourth quarter saw the Lions rally, for a concerted effort on the Whitley goal. This persistence and effort paid off, with Weepers and Dorr constructing a very well worked move down the right wing, that resulted in Carson powering a low shot between the keepers legs.

The Lions continued to throw everything at the Whitley bay defence, and some superb tackling, and save from the Whitley keeper, prevented the Lions adding to their tally.

This keenly fought game ended 6 -2 to Whitley Bay.

But every Lions player can be very proud of their efforts, against a very well organised Whitley Bay team, and especially, as it’s the first game back after the Christmas break. They all performed very well, every one to a man (boy) contributed to a very exciting game of football

Lions man of the match was Telford, for his outstanding performance in goal, and especially for using his new found voice, and commanding his defence