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Goals galore for hot shots

6/12/2002

JUNIOR FOOTBALL: LEAGUE leaders Middleton Boys under 9s scored an amazing 19 goals in two games last weekend.

Middleton's opposition, Moorside B under 9s, were demolished in Saturday's two-match contest, as Boys romped home with 9-0 and 10-0 victories in the Salford and Swinton League. Mason Andrews hit five, while Jason Slowe, Thomas Douglas, and man-of-the-match Thomas McCarthy netted hat-tricks. A brace for Jake Parker, and goals from Ryan Murphy, Dominic Murphy, and Joe Broadbent gave Middleton the emphatic scorelines.

Manager Dave Nuttal said: "I am chuffed and want to congratulate the boys on their performances this season. We are only halfway through, top of the league, have scored 81 goals, and let in only three, and it's worth every minute."

Middleton Boys U13s 2 Barrhill Lads Club 1: POOR conditions hampered this game which got off to a slow start. Barrhill eventually broke the deadlock, after 20 minutes, but Boys' captain Neil Healy led by example 10 minutes later when he headed home the equaliser from Anthony Rowe's corner. Boys fired in the winning goal on 70 minutes when Nick Alexander hit a perfectly placed diagonal shot which left the keeper helpless. Healy was named player of the match for his relentless hard work.

Middleton Boys 9 Peel/Little Hulton Utd 1: BOYS under 9s destroyed a Peel/Little Hulton team with a breathtaking second half display. Middleton opened the scoring when Vinnie Howells took his chance and drilled the ball home from 10 yards. Peel came straight back and equalised within two minutes. But Boys' nerves were settled when a freekick was expertly curled in by Anthony Hoolickin.

Middleton started to dominate the centre midfield, and a tactical switch to bring Andy Parfitt into his normal right midfield role paid benefits when his intelligent pass released Howells. His cut back was met by the oncoming Jordan Hindley whose rocket shot nearly burst the net.

The second half started with Peel pushing forward in an effort to get back into the game, but Howells scored his second goal of the game when he slotted home in the 34th minute, and from then on it was Middleton wave after wave. Kieran McCarthy demonstrated what this result meant to the Boys when he picked the ball up on the halfway line and beat off four tackles before delightfully placing the ball past the Peel goalkeeper. Further goals from Andy Parfitt, Alex Walker, and two from Anthony Hoolickin rounded off a superb display.

The central defensive pairing of Jamie Hesketh and James Chapman were outstanding. But player of the match was goalkeeper Callum Jackson whose critical first half saves gave Middleton the platform for this impressive win.