Under 13 Porto

Sunday 27th February 2010
Under 13’s League Five
North Shields Juniors Porto 5 Whitley Bay FC Mustangs 1

The day dawned brightly as the rising sun slowly melted the glazed frost across the lush green pitch. The gentlest of breezes drafted the sweet smell of the Tynemouth coast up Beach Road to the romantic Preston Playing Fields. The freshly marked white lines clearly marking out a pitch that could have been laid at St James Park. The birds were singing in the beautiful green trees and I’m sure the sounds of “Oh what a perfect day”could be heard on the wind. And what a perfect day it was – both teams turned up with 11 players, everyone had their strips and club jackets, parents had smiles on their faces as they drank Helen’s North Shields filtered coffee eagerly anticipating a Sunday morning football spectacular and to cap it all we turned around to see the silhouetted figure of the referee gracefully walking through the long grass and daisies towards the pitch, the first butterflies of spring fluttering around his head (or was it the moths – I couldn’t tell from a distance) – welcome Eddie Whitfield – the King of of Referees – surely the day couldn’t get any more perfect. But it did.

Against the only other team with a 100% record in the league something was sure to give. We won a throw in, we won a tackle or two and we won a corner – things were looking good. And then it happened - top scorer Josh Barras continued his goal scoring feats by lashing home for 1-0. And then it happened again and again and again and again. I was so drunk with emotion and giddy with happiness I couldn’t keep up with the goalscoring opportunities that Porto were creating. Goals came from Jacob Sloan, Lewis McGoldrick, Connor Strachan and a belter from Nathan Robinson down the wing. Eden Kidd almost scored for the second week in a row. Dean “Messi” Stephenson was spraying the ball around like there was no tomorrow. Kyle Nicholson played in in fourteen different positions – and did well in all of them. Jake Adamson in goal with a bad back was a hero – coming out and diving at the feet of the Whitley Bay forward and injuring himself again in the process. Ivan Glen was immense at the back and when he took over from the injured Jake for the second half. Josh had more chances to score than Wayne Rooney but his shots just kept whizzing past the post. Callum Brown’s improving fitness clearly showed as he commanded his defence. Anthony Chisholm demonstrated some superb skills – his trickery leaving the visiting dfence for dead as he set up chance after chance for his team mates. Connor Strachan was superb – involved in almost everything and getting the goal he deserved. This was a great team performance – we even deliberately missed a penalty and allowed Whitley Bay to score a goal. Man of the match was a closely fought contest with Connor Strachan deservedley picking up the award just ahead of Callum Brown.

The final score 5-1 – a perfect day in everyway. Five different scorers. A real team performance. Parents with smiles on their faces beaming with pride at their heroic sons. A manager happily confused trying to fill in a winning team sheet. A game on the pitch after us so we didn’t have to take the goals down. We made enough money on the touchline to pay the referee. The referee got paid (see Eddie – I told you). The winner of the raffle giving back the prize for the next game (saving £2.49). Our 100% record broken. The dawn of a new era. The start of an unbeaten run. The list is endlesss.

And yes ….. oh yes ….. “OH WHAT A PERFECT DAY – I’M GLAD I SPENT IT WITH YOU……”

Sunday 20th February 2010
Under 13’s League Five
Newbiggin 12 North Shields Juniors Porto 3

What a cracker of a game which only ran away from Porto in the last twenty minutes. A real shortage of players left the Porto team in disarray and the management team panicking, but some lateral thinking saw a team of 11 pulled together at the last minute. Eden Kidd slotted into left midfield, A shrunken Adam Hill took his place in centre midfield while Louis Grant made the transformation into sweeper as Porto took to the field against unknown opposition. Two minutes it was 1-0; five minutes it was 2-0 and within twenty minutes Porto found themselves 4-0 down and looking to be on the end of a real hiding. However, the guys showed some pride and began to turn things around. First Eden Kidd scored direct from a corner, then Lewis Yeomans sent a great pass through and Eden grabbed his second of the game. Josh Barrass has a shot well saved and Lewis McGoldrick also saw the keeper make a fine stop as Porto began to put the home team under considerable pressure. At half time keeper Jake Adamson succumbed to injury and a bad back forced him from the field of play. Callum took his place between the sticks and with a reshuffle Porto began the second half with 10 men and …….. continued to dominate the game. Lewis Yeomans and Nathan Robinson both looked in good form, while Adam Hill was playing his heart out in the middle. Louis Grant was having a fine game and looked to push forward as much as possible. And then it happened – another good move down the left saw the ball break to Dean Stephenson and a clinical right foot shot flew into the corner and it was 4-3 with Newbiggin panicking. Somehow Newbiggin dragged themselves back in the game and in the last twenty minutes as their centre forward showed some real class and banged in 8 lucky goals as the Porto ten men began to tire. In the circumstances an satisfactory display and well done to the lads that battled their hearts out – we’ll only count the first 50 minutes of the game.

Sunday 23rd January 2011
Pin Point Recruitment League Division 5
North Shields Juniors Porto 1 (Brown) Ryton FC 8

The league leaders came to town today and with last weeks result on our minds it looked a daunting task. And so it started – within ten minutes we were three nil down and didn’t look as if we could win a tackle as Ryton attacked at will. But some great saves by keeper Jake Adamson started to instil some confidence in the team and we pushed forward well down the right with Nathan Robinson and Louis Grant causing problems for the visitors. There was also some neat passing with Connor Strachan probing in midfield supported ably by Jacob Sloan (some unbelievable challenges) and Anthony Chisolm (some sublime skills and strength). Callum Brown had two chances to score – once hitting over the bar and then a free kick that the keeper saved. Ryton though showed why they were top of the league and played some good football – scoring another two goals as the score reached 5-0 by half time. It could have signalled an avalanche in the second half, however the lads regained their pride with some great defending, some stout challenges and some neat attacking play. Lewis McGoldrick linked up well with Josh Barrass and Josh could only watch as his clever shot was hacked off the line. Once or twice Porto’s attacks were broken down by some good Ryton defending, although Ryton stepped up a gear every now and then. Porto were punished for some lapses at the back, although Ivan Glen taking his turn in goal the second half made some excellent saves. At 8-0 down nobody would have blamed the lads for giving up, but they forced their way forward and gained a left wing corner. Louis swung it over and Callum connected first to hit home for a goal that brought rapturous applause from the home supporters. A much better second half should give some confidence to the lads as they get ready for next weekend.

Man of the Match. Contenders this week included Nathan Robinson, Connor Strachan and Callum Brown, but Ivan Glen took the award for an all round positive performance.

Football is a cruel game at times and never more than today. Without a game since 7th November both teams were up for the game on a reasonable Marden High School pitch given the weather. Porto were feeling good with new signings Louis Grant and Kyle Nicholson in their starting line up as the squad had been bolstered over the winter lay off. Lewis Yeomans was injured and missed out today, but initially it looked good as Porto went on the attack from the start – luck deserted them and a great effort from Jacob Sloan almost put the Shields boys ahead but his first minute effort struck the post and bounced away.

Cullercoats took the lead when a long ball over the top caught Porto out and then a screaming shot made it two nil. For the rest of the half it was relatively evenly matched. Porto having the fair possession of play, but failing to take their chances – hanging on to the ball for too long. Defensively things improved and when breached keeper Jake Adamson came to the rescue looking comfortable in goal and making three fines saves. At times there was some great passing play but always it fell away at the last minute.

Anthony Chisolm was outstanding in the game – some great skills setting up his team mates and some solid tackling kept him in the running for man of the match. On the left win Jacob Sloan was also in great form – non stop effort, a huge heart and some silky skills put the Cullercoats right back under pressure giving him a torrid time. Connor Strachan bossed the midfield and showed some superb creativity alongside Lewis McGoldrick in the centre of midfield. There were some positives to take from this game and some lessons to be learned for both players and coaches which we’ll start on in training on Thursday. Oh and by the way Cullercoats knocked in 7 lucky breakaway goals in the second half!

Man of the match – contenders included Jacob Sloan and Anthony Chisolm, but debut boy Louis Grant took the honours today.

This weeks diary
Thursday 6.30 – training at John Spence
Saturday – 10am bag pack at Morrisons
Sunday – game to be confirmed

Sunday 17th October 2010
Divisional Cup
Tynemouth United 7 North Shields Porto 0

In a game against a team two divisions higher Porto weren’t expecting to win the game by a large margin, but neither did they expect a series of events to cast a shadow over their day. Lewis McGoldrick and Andrew Thompson were both unavailable through injury and illness while Josh Barrass was supporting his namesake McLean in a Cumbrian town (it will become clearer one day – honest!). Eden Kidd had travel difficulties and the Porto lads lined up with only 11 fit players as new signing Lewis Yeomans made an impressive debut in difficult circumstances. Did I say 11 fit players – two minutes into the game and it was evident that Connor Strachan was struggling and he bravely tried to battle on, but was forced to retire from the game with a bad Achilles problem. Eden was now here so on he went, but only lasted 20 minutes as a bad back forced him off the pitch – although again to his credit he wanted to play on for the team. Down to 10 players and with all the disruption Porto found the going tough and saw themselves with a five goal deficit. Louis Burnett also had to leave the pitch shortly before half time leaving Porto with 9 players. A shuffle around and a renewed determination in adversity Porto took to the pitch for the second half and did themselves proud with an inspired performance. They conceded two goals, both against the run pf play while they created three or four good chances themselves and were unfortunate not to score. The entire 9 had an superb second half, but particular mention must go to Jake Adamson who was outstanding in goal and at centre half and to Man of the Match Adam Hill for an inspiring centre forward performance in the second period. Special thanks for great sportsmanship from Tynemouth United who took a player off and played with ten men for the second half as well – Thanks Joe!!.

Pin Point Recruitment League
Under 13 Division 5
Kingston Park Bulls 10 North Shields Porto 0

First Half
For the first 35 minutes Porto played some excellent football. Josh Barrass and Adam Hill in particular were outstanding, with Barrass dragging the home defence all over the place and Hill chasing every ball. How the two didn’t score is a mystery that only the home goal keeper can answer – he made at least four fantastic saves to deny the Porto strikers. Callum Brown and Connor Strachan in midfield dictated the game while the two wingers Jacob Sloan and Eden Kidd created plenty of chances. Nathan Robinson once again had a fine game at right back and Dean Stephenson at left back played a cultured game – that’s two and a half in a row now Dean!! Ivan Glenn settled down and read the game well, while Lewis McGoldrick – taking his turn at centre half - looked accomplished and created chances for his team mates as he pushed into midfield. Jake Adamson had little to do in goal, but looked confident and with Andy Thompson making his long awaited return to bolster things alongside Anthony Chisholm and Louis Burnett – things looked good for Porto. However, we all must learn that defending is a team affair and to see most of the lads stand and watch as Ivan Glen had to try and chase two Kingston Park attackers was to hopefully see a lesson being learned. Another one followed as a KP player dribbled past five Porto players without a tackle being made to slot home.

Despite this at half time things looked good and like we could get something out of the game. So good was the goalkeepers display, the home team manager was busily nominating him for player of the year for his first half performance and was heard to say that he had “kept his team in the game”.

Man of the Match – Adam Hill almost got it, but it must go to Josh Barrass who backed up his undoubted skill with a huge work rate and he never stopped running in that superb first half.

Sunday 26th September 2010
Pin Point Recruitment Junior Football League
Under 13 Division 5
North Shields Juniors Porto 2 Cramlington Town Blues 4

With Lewis McGoldrick and Andy Thompson missing through illness and Karl Watson a long term absence, the Porto lads were down to 12 fit players as they prepared for the second league game of the campaign. Having to change the team again caused some problems for Porto and within 10 minutes found themselves 2-0 down and looking to be on the end of a bad defeat. But the introduction of Anthony Chisolm changed things and Porto dragged themselves back into the game. Jacob Sloan was outstanding down the right wing and he linked well with Adam Hill and Anthony to set up Josh Barrass, who calmly beat two players and smashed the ball home. Further chances fell to Barrass, Hill and Sloan as Porto laid siege to the visitors goal. It was Barrass again who netted the equaliser again with good pressure – this time through Dean Stephenson and Eden Kidd down the left. Callum Brown and Ivan Glenn held things together at the back with Nathan Robinson again outstanding at right back. Towards the end of the half Porto rode their (deserved for once) luck when a Cramlington forward hammered his shit against the bar and the Porto defence reacted well to hit the ball clear.

Unbelievably, the second half was like the first – two early goals conceded that shouldn’t have been and Porto had another mountain to climb, but again they battled superbly well and showed great spirit as the game turned into an end to end encounter with both teams creating numerous chances. If it wasn’t for Jake Adamson in the Porto goal and the visiting goalkeeper this could have been one of the highest scoring goals of all time. Adam Hill had a shot just wide, Josh brought a good save from the keeper and Callum Brown must have been sick of swinging in corner after corner as Porto searched for another goal. But it wasn’t to be today and the game finished with Porto on the attack and two goals behind their visitors.

Overall – some great performances across the team – too many to mention them all individually – actually no its not. Jake Adamson – super goalkeeping performance; Nathan Robinson – an assured full back performance; Dean Stephenson – where did this cultured left back come from; Ivan Glen – dependable and solid at the back; Callum Brown - won everything in defence and midfield then spread the ball around well; Jacob Sloan – a huge heart and some great skills – and taking out their six foot winger was superb!; Josh Barrass – anther two goals, ran his heart out and a captains performance; Connor Strachan – once his boots fitted he was majestic – Paul Scholes of Division 5; Eden Kidd – great down the wing and tracked back superbly well despite being unwell; Adam Hill – a battling centre forward who caused all sorts of problems and showed some great skills; Anthony Chisolm – two weeks in a row he has put in great performances – using his skill and speed and adding a bit of strength to his game. Phew – well done lads – that win will come soon.

Opponents Man of the Match – Eden Kidd
Managers Man of the Match – (Contenders - Jake, Josh, Callum, Dean, Connor – but goes to Jacob Sloan for a spirited performance)

What a superb game of football this was. One that the Porto lads can be proud of – and on refection it shows how far they have come when we were all disappointed that there was nothing to show for the performance. The game started (after much travelllng around the back of beyond to find the farmers field of a pitch) with the usual early goal for the Porto opposition as the lads failed to pick up their markers. However, they were soon back in it – Josh Barrass hitting a screamer after a ball through from Nathan Robinson and then putting Porto 2-1 ahead after Connor Strachan sent him clear. The lads had the better of the game – another goal was disallowed and with Callum Brown and Lewis McGoldrick running things in midfield the Porto boys grew in confidence, Adam Hill was causing havoc for the Bedlington defence, Eden Kidd was a menace down the left wing and Dean Stephenson had his best ever performance in a Porto shirt – winning very tackle and playing with a swagger knocking passes left , right and centre. Centre half for the day was Louis Burnett and what a first half he had – winning every challenge, breaking down the Bedlington attack and setting up his midfielders to launch another offensive on the Bedlington goal. And then it happened – a breakaway from Bedlington and an equaliser – Jake Adamson making a great save from the first effort, but was unable to do anything about the rebound as the Porto players stopped. Into the second half and Josh Barrass dropping back into centre midfield to keep things tight and Jacob Sloan and Anthony Chisolm turning on the style pushing forward. Anthony also had his best game for Porto with some great runs, some crunching tackles (see Anthony – you can do it) and some telling passes, while Jacob Sloan must be the find of the season with his non stop running and fantastic attitude. Porto re-took the lead when Barrass completed his hat trick with another well worked goal and it looked good fro the Shields boys. It wasn’t all Shields as Bedlington made a real game of it – when they did beat the defence they found Jake Adamson in outstanding form making save after save. The equaliser did come though for Bedlington and again it was a breakaway, with one or two Porto players thinking their jobs were done and not tracking back, and a five on three attack was just too much. The home team then went 4-3 ahead, this time with a well taken goal – then Connor Strachan clearing superbly off the line. Next – he was up front to hit home another goal for Porto for 4-4 (try saying that quickly!) – well done Mr Strachan. It wasn’t to be Porto’s day though and another goal saw them edge ahead 5-4. Porto responded well again and put their hosts under pressure but couldn’t find that fifth goal.

To summarise – a good performance from Porto overall and some great individual performances which shows that this team are not just a set of lads who turn up for a drubbing every Sunday. It is within her grasp to improve greatly on last season – they need to realise that and be ready to work til the final whistle and they will get their rewards.

Man of the Match. There were many contenders – Josh Barrass for his hat-trick, Louis Burnett for his first half centre half performance, Nathan Robinson for doing everything right and Dean Stephenson for a faultless performance. Jake Adamson though picked up the managers award and Connor Strachan from the opposition. Well done lads – next time ….. just that little bit more – C’mon we can do it.

Not a good day at the office. Players turning up late and at the wrong venues (three different ones!) didn’t help preparations for the game (players please listen and parents please read your texts!!). Onto the game – and then very quickly off it again as this was a drab, disappointing performance from Porto with only one or two bright spots. Final score 6-0 – could have been 10 if it wasn’t for Jake. Nuff said – let’s put it behind us and concentrate on the next game.

An early exit from the national Tesco Cup for Porto against second division opposition. Hindered by Andrew Thompson being unwell the Shields boys had to re-organise and faced their black and white opponents ready for battle. And what a battle it was - within five minutes it was 1-0 and by half time Ashington had hit 6 with no reply as the Porto lads were caught out. At times there was some good play with Josh Barrass, Nathan Robinson and Connor Strachan involved in some good play down the right. Adam Hill and Louis Burnett battled away up front, but an injury to Connor Strachan caused another reshuffle and more changes of position. Keeper Jake Adamson having to come out and cover at centre half. The second half didnt really improve although there was less cloud watching and a bit more more concentration - Ashington had the game completely wrapped up. Porto did score though - and they were two excellent goals. First Louis Burnett picked the ball upon the edge of the box and curled the ball into the far corner with the outside of his right foot - a great goal. And towards the end - a great tactical move from coach Brown ("everyone get in the box") - saw Callum Browns great free kick knocked though and Josh Barrass reacted first to hit a sweet shot across the goal and complete the scoring. To be fair to the Porto lads they tried to play football at times and against opposition from their own league will fare a lot better.