Photo: Under 13 blacks champions.
Whites 18’s crowned Champions of the Wilts Senior League U18 Floodlit Division
In truth there is only six games in this division, but last night’s 4 v 1 win at Pewsey means the Whites with two games remaining have an unsaleable lead in the table and the Silverware will be coming to the Ray Mac this season.
The under 18 squad is being stretched left, right and centre at the moment with many playing not only South West Counties U18 games and the above U18 league, they are also involved in the Whites Development games.
Fixtures on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday this week possibly had a slight influence on the side that went down 1 v 3 to high flying Poole town on Saturday morning. Poole started strongly and took the lead on 20 minutes when Balmer scored. They probably thought they had sealed the win when Wright extended their lead on 50 minutes, however Ryan Penny pulled one back just 5 minutes later to give the Whites a glimmer of hope, that hope was extinguished on 70 minutes when Sam Hockey put the match beyond Salisbury when he made it 3 v 1.
Poole remain on track to win the South West Counties Youth League title, were as the Whites season is now over with this being their final league fixture. Salisbury are currently 4th, however Bath City have three games to play. After they put 11 past BC Saints on Saturday you wouldn’t put it beyond them getting the 4 points they need to leapfrog Richard Rendall and Mark Somertons boys.
The lads should be proud of the season they have had, 4th or 5th is no mean feat given the clubs and their resources that are in this division. An excellent run in the FA youth cup to the first round proper and a game under the lights of the Ray Mac against full time Swindon town is a memory the players will keep forever. A number of the squad have made their 1st team debuts as well.
Whites 14’s have a weekend to remember
Under 14’s was according to U18 boss Rich Rendall ‘the season from hell’ when his side were this old. Mark Winter now 100% understands what he meant. This season has seen the lads suffering far more injuries than usual, and it is mostly down to it being just about their fastest growth period (apart from the 1st year after birth perhaps). From a squad of 21 it has too often been the case of a bare 11 or worse. So when we were able to field a nigh on full strength side on Saturday to take on Basingstoke Town in the JPL there was to be no excuses.
The Whites from the start to the finish dominated the game and the back three of Owen Davis, Thom Feest and Declan Green protected as usual by Capt. Alfie Hawke in the holding midfield role never gave Stoke a shot on goal. In fact a couple of half saves was all that troubled the White’s goal all game. Jack Eagles got the opening goal for Salisbury and the 5th in-between that Reece McSoreley notched a wonderful Hattrick. 5 v 0 it would be kind to say flattered the Whites, but in fact it didn’t on this occasion. Basingstoke broke Whites hearts in the tie earlier in the season when they came back from 3 v 1 down to win 4 v 3. There was no coming back from this one though, that back three was not going to allow it.
On to Sunday and what can only be described as a promotion playoff game before the play offs.
Add to that, the history between these teams. Hedge end White were the opposition as they were last in last season’s playoff final which the Whites won 2 v1. Games between these two sides are always competitive to say the least and this one was no different. Again a back three was deployed although Thom Feest and Alfie Hawke was the only survivors from the previous day’s defensive line up. In came Sam Butt and Ali Cheetham to complete the rear guard. The attacking part of the squad was as per Saturday, less two goal hero Eagles. Defensively the resulting performance was as per Saturday a clean sheet, attacking wise one goal from Sam Butt was enough seal the 3 points needed to keep the Whites on track to either get automatic promotion should they win this Sunday, or the more likely scenario is another play off final against…you guessed it Hedge End White again.
Rob Hawke and Mark Winter on the Whites bench knew that a win was more important for us than H.E, with ¾ of the game gone and the score at 0 v 0 the electric Sam Butt had the defensive shackles removed and was moved up to midfield as the whites reverted to a 4-4-2 to go for broke. Within 2 minutes Butt stole the ball off a H.E midfielder just inside their half and burst forward, importantly this lad runs with his head up, and on this occasion he noticed the goal keeper was outside of his 6 yard box. No further invitation was needed and he shot from 35 yards over the head of the back rushing keeper into the back of the net. Salisbury then saw out the game to take this promotion battle to the last week of the season.
Despite what was riding on this game both teams played it in a great sporting spirit helped by a young but very impressive referee who came over to collect his hard earned match fee shaking his head repeating ‘what a game’ 3 times, yes ref it was.
Champions and undefeated in the league, not two shabby for your first season!
Champions last week, U13s Blacks still have a 100% Win Ratio to seal, as well as players own targets. Baddesley Templars were the opposition.
The Blacks put on early pressure testing the Opposition keeper from the off, he held out for nearly 20 mins before Bradley Robinson lashed a loose ball low into the net. A tidy finish from Matt Shobbrook followed almost instantly, Shobbers had another cleared off the line before adding his 2nd. MOTM Bradley Robinson then struck his 20th league Goal of the season just before the break. 4-0 HT.
Baddesley’s young keeper held firm again in the 2nd half despite intense pressure from the Blacks, some quick feet in the box led to a Penalty which Whites keeper Christopher Mundy buried for his 3rd goal of the season. The Blacks Defence then took centre stage with Alex Oxley-Thorne breaking from RB to smash one into the top Corner and Bishal Rai CB powering in a header from a corner. Baddesley did grab a consolation, when their keeper put a long ball into our box and some indecision led to an easy finish.
Baddesley Templars 1-7 Salisbury Blacks.
It was two games in two days for Salisbury FC U8 Saturday team.
Saturday was a short trip to Barry 's field in winterslow to play a very determined Clarendon Juniors. Salisbury soon got into their passing rhythm with Elliott Eyers and Theo Crew causing clarendon problems with there ever excellent dominance in midfield. Defensive pair Charlie Creese and Camron Dean played an excellent part in keeping Clarendon at bay during the game . Strikers Ollie Page and Warren Downing excellence throughout the game was too much for Clarendon to deal with on the day.
Sunday was a road trip to Cheltenham Town FC training ground to play Cheltenham FC Academy. The game provided an excellent experience for the young whites playing against the best team they have faced this season. Salisbury started well with Eathan Standen and Tyler Voce matching Cheltenham's Excellence. But Cheltenham showed there class with an excellent performance throughout the game. A big thank you To Cheltenham Town FC for their kind invite to their impressive training ground. A memorable experience! COYW
Do you want to play for Salisbury FC Youth?
