CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON YOUTH LEAGUE U/16 - Sunday 30 Sept 2007

Performance of the week in the Challenge Cup came from Titchfield United, the Division 2 side thundered the goals in to derail Cherbourg ‘B’, from Division 4, 17-0. No better luck, either, for Cherbourg’s A’ team as VT Youth put an uncertain Division 1 start behind them to record a morale-boosting 15-0 win. Close-behind them came Calmore Youth, who disposed of fellow-Division 3 strugglers Chamberlayne 15-1. Broadway thumped twelve without reply past Hythe and Dibden, Winchester City beat Stoneham ‘B’ 4-0 and Eastleigh Rangers also enjoyed a break from league form, putting out Warsash Wasps 4-1. In the all-Division 4 tie at Hamble Club, the home side just shaded it to beat Hythe Strikers 5-4 and two other teams from that division met at Bitterne, where visiting East Cowes recorded an impressive 6-1 victory. Portswood United, going well in Division 3, put up a brave fight at AFC Totton ‘A’ but went down 2-0. Salisbury City entertained Littleton and progressed with a comfortable 4-1 margin.

In League action, the game of the day was the table-topping local Division 1 local derby between Eastleigh Youth and Eastleigh Spitfires. The Spitfires took top-spot, just shading it 2-1, but Eastleigh Youth were perhaps feeling the effects of a midweek game, overcoming Winchester City 3-1. Whitecroft and Barton’s Manager, Danny Stimson, was disappointed to see his side’s two-goal, second-half, lead slip away against Stoneham ‘A’, before losing 3-2. W&B keeper Sam Hatcher kept them in the game during the first half, but then Gary Richardson played in Callum Taylor to open the scoring and Mark Goodwin’s fierce shot doubled the lead. Seemingly well in control, W&B were caught out by a long ball which encouraged Stoneham to push forward and be rewarded with two late goals to give them the points.

In an exciting Division 2 match, AFC Totton Youth B gained a hard fought 5-3 away win at Alresford Town. After an uneventful first half-hour, Alresford’s Jack Mills hit a superb free kick from over 30 yards out that shaved the cross bar, but with half-time approaching; Totton took the lead when a dangerous cross was hit in on the turn by Luke Bennett. Alresford were soon back on level terms, a long ball from Jack Otway put Kyle Bradford clear on goal to finish with a well placed shot to make it even at the break. Totton started the second-half the better and forced Alresford back with some good attacking football, punishing some sloppy defending as heavy rain made conditions difficult, A quick-fire brace of goals from the excellent Jake Purdon saw Totton take a 3-1 lead. Alresford tried to get back into the match and Liam Jones was denied by the Totton goalkeeper before they were caught on the break with quick counter attacks and Jake Purdon added two more goals to take his personal tally to four and put Totton 5-1 up. To their credit Alresford did not give up and dominated the last 15 minutes. Matt Jones made an excellent run down the right, beat a defender and smashed a shot in off the post, then followed this up moments later with another tremendous goal as he hit a first time shot from the edge of the penalty area that flew into the top corner. Alresford's Nick Pratt made a strong run forward from right back and hit a 30 yard shot that thumped the Totton cross bar. Shortly after this the final whistle went to call an end to an exciting and competitive game of football. Hedge End Rangers ‘A’ maintained their place among the early pace-setters with an excellent 10-0 over Hamble ASSC. Division 3 has new leaders, following Hiltingbury’s 5-0 away win at Hamble United.