UTTOXETER Juniors under-14s suffered their first defeat of the Burton Junior League campaign in a seven-goal thriller.
Juniors knew the visit to Stapenhill Swans would be a tough assignment — and so it proved as the home team ran out 4-3 winners.
The visitors found themselves 4-1 down at the interval, with their only response to Stapenhill’s competitive and direct style of play being a Jack Scallan strike from 18 years.
However, Juniors fought back strongly to reduce the deficit in the second half.
Brandon Alkins side-footed home their second after making a perfectly timed run, and they cut the home team’s lead to one when Thomas Dee danced past his marker and fired low into the net.
Ed Farnley (pictured), who made his debut at right-back, was named Juniors’ man of the match.
A lacklustre performance by Uttoxeter White under-10s resulted in a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Santos Ravens.
Juniors defenders Robbie Charlesworth and Chandler Davies were under immense pressure from the off and it took Santos only 10 minutes to break the deadlock.
Conlon Newton-Taylor almost levelled for Juniors from a corner, but was denied by a block on the line before James Wright’s follow-up shot was saved by the keeper.
Santos took a deserved lead after 10 minutes through a simple tap-in after Juniors had failed to clear a throw-in.
James Wright gave the Juniors defence a break by winning a corner after going past two Santos players on the wing, with his cross being deflected out.
Apart from an Owen Emery effort, the rest of the game belonged to Santos as they twice increased their lead in the second half.
Goalkeeper Owen Watson picked up the man of the match accolade.
DOVERIDGE under-nines opened their account for the season with an entertaining 1-1 draw against Stretton Eagles Black at the Washlands.
They found it difficult to get into the game in the first half, though Alfie Clowes twice went close to opening the scoring.
Stretton took the lead from a free-kick from outside the box that gave keeper Will Wilcher no chance.
Doveridge flew out of the blocks in the second half and quickly drew level.
A corner from Billy Eley was collected by Aidan Fletcher and his neat pass was fired in by Joe Watts.
Wilcher was named Doveridge man of the match after making a series of superb saves to keep the scores level.
ROCESTER Blue under-10s were the comeback kings for the second game running as they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Outwoods Hawks.
Striker Nathan Winstanley fired against the woodwork inside 90 seconds, but it was Hawks who took the lead against the run of play.
Goalkeeper Jack Wright parried a shot, but Hawks pounced to score from the rebound.
Within 90 seconds of the restart, Rocester had a shot on goal through Winstanley.
Sustained pressure at the other end eventually took its toll, but Rocester missed the chance to draw level when Owen Carrington’s penalty rolled wide of the target.
However, the Blues were not to be denied and more pressure was rewarded when Oliver Owen forced the ball over the line after the Hawks had been penned into their area by a series of throw-ins.
Rocester pressed hard in the closing stages but could not turn heavy pressure into the winning goal.
Bobby Samuel was named man of the match.
ROCESTER Red under-10s suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ashby Ivanhoe Jesters in their opening game of the season.
A poor start saw the Romans quickly trailing and the Ashby side held the advantage up to half-time.
Changes to the line-up resulted in an improved display after the break and the equaliser was scored by Charlie Cope.
Kieran Swinson and Cope worked the ball into the box and the latter was on hand to score from a goalmouth scramble after his teammate’s shot had been blocked.
Ashby went ahead again when they broke through.
George Walker made a great save, but the ball was diverted into the path of an on-rushing Ashby midfielder and he scored from close range.
Rocester still had the bulk of the possession but could not find an equaliser, with Swinson’s shot going narrowly wide.
Man of the match was Harvey Belcher.
