YOUTH FOOTBALL ROUND-UP: Witchford finish first four-most

Under-Eight Division E

Witchford 12 Chatteris Town 8

FOUR goals each from Daniel Chapman and Matthew Loades put Witchford on the road to victory in this match.

Sam Gulliver got a hat-trick and Reece Lee notched his first goal for the club.

Chatteris started of the better but as the game went on Witchford got better and better.

Witchford's man of the match was Sam Gulliver.

Witchford: Matthew Loades, Harry Braybrooke, Daniel Chapman, Sam Gulliver, Oliver Richards, Sam Brewer, Reece Lee, Nathan Francis, Nathan Parker.

Under-15 Division D

Ely City C 3 Waterbeach 1

CAPTAIN Adam Richards got the home side off to a terrific start for the New Year scoring after only a minute and then adding a further goal on 12 minutes.

The match was very scrappy and although Ely created further chances in the first half they were not able to convert them and several efforts went just wide of the goal posts.

On a rare break through the Ely defence Waterbeach scored on 29 minutes with a goal from long range to take the score going into half time at 2-1 to the home side.

The visiting team came out in the second half buoyed up by their goal and they battled very hard to grab an equaliser, but Ely's midfield and defence were able to restrict Waterbeach's efforts on goal.

Alex Phillips scored with 10 minutes remaining to take the game beyond the visitors reach.

Ely: Tom McInally, Daniel Butcher, Shaun Eldridge, David Balcombe, Guy Payne, Oliver Young, Alex Philips, Tom Porter, Chris Fleming, Edmund Dickinson, Adam Richards (Captain), Oliver Jackson, Adam Keeble, Kyle Anderson, Kiefer Taylor, Nick Gough.

Under-13 Knockout Cup

Soham Town Colts 5 Spartak 78 0

IT took the first 10 minutes for Soham to blow away those Christmas cobwebs and settle into playing some good football.

They then took control with Elliot Drewery and Leevan Marshall combining well together up front for Town. Two of several chances were taken before the break with Drewery slotting home the first after the Spartak keeper parried a stinging shot from Dan Brook.

Then Marshall was played through by Drewery to shoot past the keeper to make it 2-0 at half-time.

Soham continued to dominate in the second half and wrap up a fine team performance with three more goals from Elliot Drewery, Dan Whitwell and Ryan Brook adding the fifth after a determined run through the Spartak defence.

Josh Heaps put in another impressive performance at the back for Soham and was rewarded with the man of the match.

Soham: Charlie Wills, Owen Grainger, Dan Sadler, Simon Murfitt, Josh Heaps, Brian Tatay, Dan Brook, Ryan Saban, Dan Whitwell, Leevan Marshall, Elliot Drewery, Craig Allen, Joel Frey, Ryan Brook, Josh Hughes.

Under-12 Knockout Cup

Bottisham 0 Ely Crusaders 6

ELY started the second half of the season with a convincing display in the first round of the cup.

The first half of the match Ely had most of the play and it looked like it was going to be another day of missed chances but that all changed in the second half.

Ely totally dominated play. The scoring was opened by Alfa Balde and soon a goal followed for Cameron Robb. Balde added to the tally from a corner, while Ashley Hammersley scored the first of his two.

Ely keeper, George Bannister, produced an excellent save from a free kick to keep a clean sheet and Bottisham hit the cross bar but it was not meant to be.

Alex Oxborough completed the list of scorers for Ely.

Man of the match for Ely was Balde, who not only scored twice but helped make some of the other goals too.

Under-11 Division A

Witchford Colts 3 Burwell Tigers 1

THE first half was totally dominated by Witchford, but a combination of superb goalkeeping, the woodwork and near misses kept the score at 0-0 at half time.

Burwell Tigers started the second half strongly then slowly but surely Witchford began to dominate again. Five minutes into the half, Witchford gained a penalty which was put away confidently by Sam Rasdall. Shortly thereafter, Billy Carter added a second. With five minutes remaining Tigers scored a well-executed goal.

Harry Spencer scored Witchford's third just before the whistle. Sam Rasdall was Witchford's man of the match.

Red Lodge 0 Little Downham Eagles 4

THIS was a confident performance from Little Downham Eagles in their first competitive game for three weeks. Courtney Pettifor shot just over the bar with a good shot after 10 minutes and Eagles took the lead after 18 minutes when Rachel Spurr scored with her first goal for the club from close range.

In the second half Eagles moved up a gear and the constant pressure on Red Lodge told. Five minutes into the half Dan Burdin beat his man down the wing and squared the ball for Aaron Canham to sidefoot home. Ten minutes from the end Dan Burdin hit a shot from just inside the box that was heading for goal but Spurr made sure and poked the ball over the line for her second of the match. Canham completed his brace just before the end with a good shot from just inside the box.

Player of the match was Rachel Spurr.

Eagles: Ezra Collins, Jack Ure, Dan Burdin, Courtney Pettifor, Mackenzie Chastang, Nathan Grainger, Aaron Canham, Rachel Spurr, William Fuller, Nathan Meek, Daniel Mould.

Soham Town Colts 4 Lakenheath 3

THIS was an eagerly anticipated match between two of the stronger who had never before played each other.

Soham twice hit the bar and Lakenheath, not to be outdone, hit the post.

A pass from Jez Marshall allowed Robson Barker to fire home the opening goal, but Soham then let Lakenheath in for an equaliser. The visitors took the lead just before half-time.

Soham scored two goals in quick succession just after the break, Alex Kathro finding the net both times. Lakenheath came back to equalise before Mark Masterton grabbed the winner for Soham.

Under-10 Division F

Burwell Tigers 2 Soham United 6

FROM the kick off Soham showed great determination and were soon rewarded with three early goals from Paul Wallis, Callum Bush and Nathan Brooks.

Soham continued to make most of the attacking football with Burwell testing Soham's keeper, Sam Minns only on rare occasions. Before the interval Soham increased their tally to five with Brooks and Bush adding to their totals.

The second half saw good sportmanship from Burwell who went on to put Sohams defence under more pressure, managing to net the ball twice. In the last five minutes Bradley Wall turned in a rebound from Wallis.

Soham's man of the match was Alex King.

Lakenheath 3 Littleport Town 2

A FINE solo goal from Ethan Povey got 'Port off to a flying start in this match.

Colt Harvey added a second with a crisp shot, but Lakenheath fought back after half-time to claim the win.

Gareth Ball played particularly well for 'Port.

Under-Eight Division D

Stretham 4 Ely Crusaders 10

ELY played well in wintry conditions and on a heavy pitch. Despite a hat-trick from Samuel Lowe and Max Wright, Stretham battled back. Further goals from Kyle Thurston, Edward Kratz, Christopher Lewis and Samuel Quarrier secured a good start for 2006.

Crusaders : Alexander Ellwood, Alfie Green, Mark Hady, Edward Kratz, Christopher Lewis, Finley Logan, Samuel Lowe, Rhys Peckham, Samuel Quarrier, Harry Selby, Kyle Thurston, Max Wright.

Mepal Sports 2 Littleport Town 1

MEPAL Sports and Littleport produced an entertaining, hard-fought game in difficult winter conditions. The early stages of the game were evenly matched as both teams fought a tough midfield battle. The industrious Sam Evans won the home side a corner, Jordan Jones fired home from the edge of the area as Littleport tried to arrange themselves defensively. Littleport fought back bravely and Jonathan Threadgold had to be at his athletic best to deny the away side.

Mepal dominated the remainder of the first period with Aaron Lord going close and Richard Threadgold dominating proceedings.

The fighting spirit of Littleport finally told when a well crafted move resulted in the equaliser. A superb through ball from Sam Evans found Callum Angood. Littleport continued to push forward in search of an equaliser but they continuously came up against Jack Bevis who broke up Littleport's attacks in the latter stages. The final whistle went to end an exhilarating game in which both teams had given their all in wet and wintry conditions.

Mepal: Callum Angood, Jack Bevis, Sam Evans, Jordan Jones, Aaron Lord, Jonathan Threadgold, Richard Threadgold.