Scarborough Athletic Under-10s impress under lights against Edgehill
Scarborough Athletic's Under-10s showed real character on a wet and drizzly Sunday morning, responding to an early setback to put in a strong team performance against Edgehill in the York and District Youth Football League.
Conditions were gloomy enough for the floodlights to be switched on, but after conceding first the young side grew into the game, producing spells of high pressing, sharp passing and good movement.
Head coach Chris Marson said: "It was disappointing to concede first, especially after all the defensive and shape work we've been doing in training, but the boys showed great character. Every single player put a shift in today and every one of them was in the hat for player of the match, which is always pleasing to see as coaches.
"The communication is improving, and goals and assists have come from lots of different players this season."
A spirited second-half fightback was not quite enough for Scarborough Athletic U12s as they fell to a 5-3 home defeat against East Riding Rangers in an entertaining encounter.
Boro were slow to get going in the opening exchanges and had to rely on good defending and some top keeping from player of the match Zachary Crossland to keep the away team from taking an early lead.
The second quarter saw Boro concede two goals as the away team started to play some good football.
Scarborough changed formation to try and attack more. The gamble got off to the worst possible start as East Riding added two quickfire goals.
The tactical change did start to bear fruit as Boro began playing some good attacking football. They pulled a goal back when Theo Blower brilliantly turned a defender before being taken down on the edge of the area and James Robinson fired a superb free-kick past the visiting keeper. A couple of minutes later, a quick throw on the right saw Rhys Trulio burst past a defender before finding Blower in the box with a lovely pass, who fired it past the keeper.
In the final quarter, Scarborough worked tirelessly as they tried to find a way back into the game. They were rewarded with around 10 minutes left when Max Robinson was dragged down in the box at a Scarborough corner. Robinson stepped up himself and made no mistake, firing past the goalkeeper to bring Boro within one.
In the final moments, as Boro pressed hard for an equaliser, East Riding won the ball in midfield and a quick counter led to them sealing a 5-3 win.
Boro U12s were pegged back to a late 4-4 draw at Joga FC in Easingwold the previous weekend.
The visitors took the lead, counter-attacking quickly down the right through Rhys Trulio and he crossed for Theo Blower to head past the home keeper.
Joga grabbed an equaliser in the second quarter but the scores weren't level for long. A lovely passing move in midfield led to a chance for Preston Vickers, who saw his effort saved. The resulting corner from George Hargreaves was fired home by player of the match Vickers to restore Boro’s lead.
Jacob Gray’s thunderous header from a Blower corner made it 3-1 and minutes later Blower was taken down in the box. Trulio stepped up and rifled his penalty into the top right corner.
Scarborough had a few more chances to finish the game but then an injury to a Boro defender changed the course of the game as the hosts hit back to make it 4-4.