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Eight-goal spree wins league title

22/ 5/2008

MIDDLETON Boys under 11s B are champions in the North Bury Junior League following two vital games.

The leaders first met second-placed Chadderton Grasshoppers in what was a very entertaining match despite a lack of goals.

Chances were scarce in the first half. Middleton went closest when Luke Barry met a cross from Oliver Cleworth but headed just wide.

Chadderton applied some pressure after the break and almost scored with a header that came back off the bar.

Two brilliant chances were created by Middleton. Josh Gorton fired across the face of goal, and Simon Riley turned a shot over the bar.

Probably the best chance came when a defence-splitting pass from Luke Barry found player of the match Corey Goodey. He beat his marker and fired for goal only to see the Chadderton keeper make a finger-tip save.

The 0-0 result left Middleton knowing they needed a victory in their last game of the season to seal the title.

That win came when they met Seedfield B and stormed to an 8-3 win.

Bradley Ashton smashed in the first goal, and a second came when John Ezard’s ball into the box fell for Oliver Cleworth to hit into the roof of the net.

Just before half time good passing between Josh Gorton and Tunmise Ojo put in Simon Riley who fired low past the keeper.

Minutes into the second half a loose ball was pounced on by Oliver Cleworth for the fourth. The fifth followed a good move which was rounded off by Luke Barry.

Oliver Cleworth completed his hat-trick with a freekick from the edge of the area, then Goodey beat the keeper to the ball and pulled it back for Simon Riley to score.

Seedfield claimed a well-worked goal before Goodey beat their offside trap and squared the ball for Bradley Ashton to tap in.

Two late goals were no more than consolations for Seedfield.

The referee chose John Ezard as Middleton’s player of the match.