Under 13's Sunday

Ilkeston Town 13's 5 v 3 Belper Town Juniors U13's (Sunday) 2nd Round Cup AET - 19/10/08

The scoreline would suggest that this was an 8 goal thriller, unfortunately though this game was dominated by the home referee whom at best could be described as having an erratic game! He seemed more intent on arguing with as many spectators as possible than controlling the game in an impartial manner and ultimately was the biggest influence on the result!

Both teams failed to find any early rhythm but Belper took the lead after 15 minutes when Alex Goacher put a free kick into the box and Charlie McCormack arrived at the far post to open the scoring. Ilkeston then had their first period of pressure and from a corner Rob Thompson saved well but the rebound was converted.

The second half started with Ilkeston slicing an effort wide but Belper then dominated for long periods. McCormack had a shot fumbled by the keeper and Bradley Coope then saw an effort go narrowly wide. Sam Pearson then saw a goal ruled out after being caught narrowly offside. Ilkeston then ran up the field and scored and despite the linesman's flag being raised for offside, the referee decided to ignore it. Belper then increased the pressure and Ross Holland fired over, Pearson saw a shot saved and Holland then hit the bar with a cross. Connor Mason saw an effort go narrowly wide and then shot tamely at the keeper. Ilkeston had a chance to close the game out but missed an open goal having already rounded the keeper. Belper then equalised when Coope ran on to a through ball and despite the linesman again raising his flag, this time incorrectly, the goal was awarded. In the final minutes Pearson had another goal ruled out for offside but was in an offside position when the ball was delivered to him.

Extra time got off to a bad start as Thompson kicked the ball against a forward and the ball rebounded into the net. The referee then struck again as Ilkeston made it 4 with the linesman's flag again conveniently being ignored. A 5th followed when a free kick was given against Alex Goacher on the edge of the box for the most innocuous challenge of the day. A good delivery was converted at the far post. Belper were awarded a penalty in the last minute which was converted by Ryan Morton.

It is disappointing that a Sunday morning game of football can be so spoilt by an official but credit goes to both sets of players who kept their heads when the referee was losing his.

Man of the match was awarded to Ross Holland

Belper Town Juniors U13's (Sunday) 0 v 4 Mickleover 95 U13's - 12/10/08

Belper got a rude awakening from an excellent and disciplined Mickleover team who in the end ran away very worthy winners of this contest. The first 25 minutes of this match were a stalemate with neither team creating any clear chances and both fighting to dominate the game. Mickleover then broke down the left, pulled a good ball back to the edge of the box which was fired home with a powerful shot. Almost immediately from the restart the visitors were awarded a free kick from the edge of the Belper box and a firm header found the net, only to be ruled out for offside.

The second half was not so competitive, Mickleover dominated the middle of the pitch winning almost every ball as they out numbered Belper in this area. Mickleover should have quickly increased their lead but from a cross from the left the visitors missed a chance which looked easier to score. The Belper bar was then rattled by a thunderous shot and the second goal soon followed when a free kick was headed in at the far post with half of Belper's defence trying to play an offside trap, unfortunately the other were not! Bradley Coope saw Belper's only worthwhile effort at goal go narrowly wide and Mickleover then made it 3-0 with the best goal of the game, the ball was switched from right to left and under pressure from George Bradley and from the corner of the box a fine strike found the corner of the net. Sam Allsop fashioned a good chance for Belper, but the Mickleover defence were too sharp for the Belper strikers and nothing came of it. From a corner Rob Thompson produced a good save but the ball broke loose and was converted from close range.

Belper seemed to be intimidated by a physically stronger team in this fixture but were in truth beaten by a more committed and determined team on the day. after such a disappointing performance no man of the match was awarded.

West Hallam U13's 0 v 3 Belper Town Juniors U13's (Sunday) 1St Round Cup 28/09/08

This was an excellent game of football played out by two committed teams in an excellent spirit. Belper were made to work hard from start to finish in this game but were good enough to beat an excellent West Hallam team in a game that 6 months ago Belper would have lost. However, an injection of new players has brought added resilience to this team, extra competition for places and a better team spirit. The first 15 minutes of this game were pretty much a stalemate with each team striving to exert their dominance on the match. The first real chance fell to Ryan Pace, who shot wide after good work from Connor Mason. West Hallam then played a ball over the Belper defence and a first time shot produced an excellent save from Rob Thompson who pushed the ball round the post for a corner. Thompson then saved well again from the corner when the ball broke free in the area. From a Belper corner taken by Charlie McCormack, who seemed to be instrumental in all Belper's moves, the keeper almost punched the ball into his own net. Connor Mason then forced another good save from the excellent keeper. Belper were now getting on top and Alex Goacher intercepted the ball in his own half, passed to Ryan Pace who laid the ball off to McCormack who fired into the top of the net from 30 yards. The second quickly followed when right on the stroke of half time McCormack lifted the ball over the defence and Bradley Coope finished with a first time shot which gave the keeper no chance.

Early in the 2nd half McCormack played an exquiste pass in behind the defence but Coope could only shoot at the keeper. West Hallam then had a rare break away through the Belper defence but Thompson again produced another fine save. Belper continued to create chances with excellent play from Rhys Stokes down the right and Luke Fenton had an immense game at the heart of the defence, winning every ball that came near him. McCormack then ran through the home defence, the keeper parried his shot which fell at the feet of Coope who secured the match with a simple tap in. Ross Holland almost made it 4 when he turned and shot on a ball from Sam Pearson, but his shot went narrowly over the bar.

This was an excellent game of football and Luke Fenton was named Man of the Match but in truth there were many contenders for the award!

Belper Town Juniors U13's (Sunday) 4 v 2 Riverside U13's - 14/09/08

Belper got their season off to a winning start with a very encouraging performance against Riverside. Rob Thompson made a vital save in the first minute of the match when one of the visitors strikers went through on goal only to be thwarted by the home keeper. Belper then scored 2 quick goals, Connor Mason making his long awaited Belper Town debut fed the ball to another debutant Ross Holland, who finished coolly by lifting the ball over the keeper into the net. Mason then provided an excellent cross from the left for Bradley Coope to head home. Belper continued to attack the visitors goal but their third goal came when a free kick taken by Alex Goacher from the halfway line was sliced into the top corner of the net by a defender. Riverside pulled a goal back before halftime, the ball was delivered into the box from a corner and broke out to a Riverside player who had been unmarked on the edge of the box to score. Belper still had chances to extend their lead and saw a Goacher header flash over the bar.

Belper made three substitutions at half time and these seemed to disrupt the momentum and balance of the team. Consequently the first 15 minutes seemed to be played entirely in Belper's half. It was almost inevitable that Riverside would score and they pulled a further goal back when Rhys Stokes put the ball into his own net from a well delivered corner. This did seem to galvanise Belper and 5 minutes later the excellent Ross Holland collected a stray ball and crossed from the left for Sam Pearson to score with a tap in. Thompson produced another fine save from a cross but Belper should really have won the game more easily as Ryan Pacey saw 2 efforts cleared off the line when he had rounded the keeper.

A very good victory for Belper with some excellent performances. Man of the match was named as George Bradley who played his first competitive game of football and had an excellent game.