CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON YOUTH LEAGUE U/16 - Sunday 21 Oct 2007

Division 1 side Winchester City kept their winning run going with a good away win against a well organized and physical Eastleigh Rangers side. Whilst the slope on the pitch didn't help the game, a really strong 1st half performance from City laid the foundation for another win. City went ahead after 2 minutes through a Steve Plowman shot just inside the box, and was followed 15 minutes later by another superb corner from Danny King, going straight in. City continued to pile pressure on the Eastleigh defence. They should have got another couple of goals before half time, to really finish the game off, but Eastleigh fought hard to stay in the game. The 2nd half was full of incidents with plenty to talk about, but none of which affected the overall result. Another excellent defensive performance from City helped seal a deserved sixth clean sheet of the season.

Another major talking point in Division 1 was the clash at the top between Eastleigh Spitfires and AFC Totton A. Totton overcame Eastleigh to win 2-0 in a gruelling match which saw Totton’s unbeaten run continue to 4 games and going top of the division in the process. Other results saw Broadway win convincingly 3-1 away from home against Whitecroft & Barton and a hard fought match between AFC Stoneham A and VT Youth which finished 2-2.

In Division 2 AFC Stoneham B took on S&D with both sides looking to get out of mid table and propel themselves into a title chance. AFC Stoneham took the lead in the first 5 minutes when a speculative shot from Aaron Blandford sneaked past the unfortunate S&D keeper. After 10 minutes Stoneham doubled their lead when Callum Sargent outpaced the S&D defence down the left wing and coolly beat the keeper whilst the defenders tried to catch him. S&D started the second half brightly and pulled a goal back after about 10 minutes. This led to some S&D pressure from which Stoneham managed to hold out. Stoneham then regained their two goal advantage when second half sub Danny Morgan charged down a defender’s clearance and carried the ball into the penalty area before rifling a shot passed the S&D keeper. This sparked S&D into life again and they got a deserved second goal about ten minutes from time. Stoneham rapped up the game just before full time when a corner was headed back across goal by Morgan for Blandford to force the ball over the goal line for his second goal of the game and sealing the 3 points. The only other fixture to be played allowed Warsash Wasps to get there first win of the season with a 4-1 away win against Hamble.

Winchester continued their good start with an emphatic 7-1 away win at Calmore Rangers, reinforcing them as top-scorers in Division 3. Calmore never got to grips with the movement of the speedy Winchester forwards and were five goals down by half-time, although they improved after the break and earned a consolation goal from the penalty spot. Despite holding their own in midfield for long periods, Calmore’s defensive frailty and lack of firepower in attack proved to be the key to their defeat. Harry Hunt, with a hat-trick, and Daryl Brimfield, who added two, both caught the eye for Winchester. Stuart Tognarelli and Frazer Goater weighed in with a goal apiece. The Divisions two unbeaten sides, AFC Hiltingbury and Portswood United met this week and couldn’t be separated. A hard fought match eventually ended 2-2 with both teams taking a point and remaining unbeaten. Combined, Hythe & Dibden and Hamble have seen 68 goals go in this season, so no surprise that when they met this week it saw 12 goals as Hythe & Dibden won 8-4. Another high scoring affair saw Mich & Tims beat Chamberlaybe Ath 6-2.

In Division 4 Hamble started the brighter of the two sides and had an early chance to take the lead but failed to convert. Both teams were creating opportunities but it wasn't until midway through the 1st half that the deadlock was broken by a crisp close range strike from Tom Slocombe to put Bitterne ahead. The 2nd half started much as the first but then Bitterne took a firm hold of the game with a couple of goals from Sonny Smith, the first took a deflection but the 2nd was a sweetly struck effort on the turn from outside the box which nestled firmly in the bottom corner of the net. Although Hamble were still threatening, Bitterne were in control and after a quality dummy from Smith, which left the defence flat-footed, Greg Bannister coolly slotted home the fourth. Hamble almost got a goal back from a well taken free-kick from Demetrius Sillitoe but it was turned away by a great save from Luke Corsham, the Bitterne keeper. The score line was completed when Dan Price controlled the ball inside the box and drilled home his first of the season. The Referee, Colin Ogden, had a superb game, he didn’t put a foot wrong and both managers awarded him maximum marks. Second played third as East Cowes met Wyvern. The result saw no winner as the final score ended 2-2. This allowed 1st place Burridge to gain a bigger lead at the top with an emphatic 11-0 win over Cherbourg B. Cherbourg A were not as disappointing, as they ended up 5-2 winner away against Hythe Strikers.