Youth football returns to action

FAKENHAM U18 travelled to Mildenhall and came away with an excellent 3-0 victory. Tom Macarthy and Jordan Penty made their debuts. The Ghosts started brightly with Betts, Mcilveen and Penty causing many problems. After a sustained period of pressure Fakenham scored through Mcilveen. They continued to press with further efforts from Harris, Penty, and Betts having a shot cleared off the line as half-time neared. The second half was a scrappy affair with neither side playing with any real quality but further goals from Penty and Felton made the last 15 minutes more comfortable. An excellent three points but performances will need to improve with many tough fixtures to follow.Team: Elliot (Broughton), Drewery, Felton, Savory, Alamanos, Macarthy, Harris, Berry, Mcilveen (Rudd), Penty, Betts (Schoenmakers).

WELLS TOWN U10 won 2-0 at Reffley. Wells started the strongest team with a shot from James B just wide. Good passing play paid off when George lobbed the keeper from an acute angle after 10 minutes. Reffley put pressure on but with Harry and Scott strong in defence it stayed 1-0 at half-time. Wells came out second half with the bit between their teeth and created several chances. James B had two shots that went just wide and George hit the bar before George blasted in a goal to make it 2-0. Wells started to get tired but held on to their two-goal advantage. Man of the match : George Lear. Team : Kailem, Jack, Harry, Scott, Mark, James B, James P, George and Conor.

LITCHAM U12 welcomed Thetford Bulldogs for the first leg of their League Cup semi-final. Both teams started well but Litcham stuck the first blow with Alby netting his first of two goals. Thetford always threatened on the break with two fast forwards keeping Litcham's defence on their toes with Kyle making some important saves and man of the match James Harvey sweeping up any through balls assisted by Bradley and Ben. Litcham's midfield of Harry, Charlie and Nathan worked tirelessly with wing play from Kai, Titus and Matthew creating chances for the hard-working Aaron and Alby up front. It was a good game to watch with Thetford contributing some excellent defending and quick breaks. Nathan also scored twice but the biggest cheer was for James who scored his first goal for the club with a brave header from a corner. Final score: Litcham 5, Thetford Bulldogs 0, with the second leg in two weeks.

FAKENHAM U10 began the second half of the season by hosting West Winch at Trap Lane. They were unable to impose themselves in the first half as West Winch through hard work and the desire to win the ball enjoyed a greater amount of possession. Fakenham were always quick to break but were unable to convert the several chances they created. In the second half the Ambers raised their game but were disappointed as West Winch took a chance to take the lead. Ambers worked hard to restore the balance and as a result of a well-taken free-kick by Ben, Aaron scored from close range. But West Winch soon restored their lead with a well-taken driven shot. Calum was called upon to make several important saves to keep the game close but Fakenham lost 2-1. Team: Calum, Rahul, Josh, Reece, Aaron, Ben, Jake, Charlie, Tom.

FAKENHAM GHOSTS U10 entertained Mattishall. The first half was very evenly balanced with neither side being able to create any clear-cut chances, Jamie in goal comfortably dealt with any Mattishall shots. Dan, Travis and Kia had a good first half too, preventing Mattishall from getting too close to the Fakenham goal. Half-time 0-0. The football in the second half improved a lot with both sides passing the ball around more. Jack worked really hard for the team and soon Fakenham were creating some good chances. Jack, Ben and Mattie passed the ball well and each came close to scoring. As the game opened up Mattishall created more chances, although for most of the second half Chant, Travis and Dan were able to cope. Mattishall's first goal came when Fakenham were unable to clear the ball from defence. Soon afterwards Mattishall were two goals up when a speculative shot from near the halfway line found its way through all the players into the Fakenham goal. Fakenham got themselves back into the game when Jack scored a superb goal from a long-range free-kick but there was not enough time left to get an equaliser. MoM: Jack. Team: Jamie, Travis, Dan, Kia, Chant, Jack, Ben, Mattie.

DEREHAM WANDERERS U12 GIRLS got a deserved 1-0 win at Swanton Herons. A steady start by both teams saw the ball being played mainly in the middle of the pitch. Rochy started to run at their defence and had a near miss. Hannah and Rochy produced some good passing between them, which resulted in a good chance that hit a post. Cerys had a shot cleared off the line. Drew was pretty quiet in goal with no real saves to make as Ella and Chelsea were outstanding in defence. Erren and Anna held midfield well between them, then the pressure finally paid off with Rochy putting the ball past their keeper at last. The second half saw more chances going begging. Millie was making some good runs, weaving in and out of the opposition, sending the ball just wide of goal. Cerys also had another chance in a goalmouth scramble. Mary kept up with the midfield pace. Anna went wide with another shot along with Rochy. The ball just wouldn't go in. GoM: Millie, great second-half performance.

DEREHAM TOWN U9B were away to Reepham. A good header forward by Joe W was met by Jake and a corner was won from which Dereham were just wide. Reepham piled into the Dereham half but some fine defensive work from Ryan and Jamie kept the ball out of the box. A run from Jake was well defended by Reepham and a further two shots on goal by Tom were well saved by their keeper. Second half Reepham won a free-kick on the edge of the box and the resulting shot was deflected and a shot on goal was saved by Harry. Joe H won a free-kick just outside the Reepham box which went just wide. It looked like a 0-0 draw would be the result, however a clever back-heel by Ryan to Joe H spurred the boys on. Jamie broke free down the right, slipping past the Reepham defence and netting his first goal of the season. Jamie had a second breakaway and a superb pass set up Joe W to make it 2-0. Reepham then found away through Dominic and Tom in midfield and a good move ended with the ball slipping through Harry's hands for 2-1. Joe H came back on and immediately scored a good goal down the left for 3-1. A mistake by the Reepham defence resulted in a back pass to their keeper and a free-kick on the outside of the box which was well struck by Joe H for the final goal, making it 4-1. Great play by all the squad. MoM: Jamie.

DEREHAM WANDERERS U13 GIRLS visited Costessey. From the first whistle they played some thrilling passing football and soon took the lead when Lanti scored. Goal two followed again scored by Lanti. There was clever play between Joy, Lanti and Merrick. That spell of play led to Joy helping herself to two well-taken goals and at half time Dereham went in 4-0 to the good. Georgy had an outstanding half, showing some terrific touches, passing and always a threat with her long throw. Second half Dereham completely dominated with some outstanding passing and movement from everyone. Bea was back on for the second half and added goals five and six. Lanti completed her hat-trick before Paige got in on the scoring. Having come on as a sub shortly before half-time and playing an unfamiliar left sided midfield role she was full of running, causing defenders problems. Lanti got her fourth goa before Paige added the game with a cracking left-foot shot. Bea added to her brace with two more and Merrick rounded off an awesome personal performance with a well-deserved goal to make the final score 13-0. Managers player of the week was Paige for the way she adapted to playing a new position, goal scoring and over all contribution.

DEREHAM WANDERERS U11 GIRLS put in a determined performance to get a good 6-1 win at Brandon Lasses. The first half was evenly-balanced with Brandon taking the early initiative and the lead. After a number of shots, including a long-range effort from Charlotte and good saves from the home keeper, Alice hit a post and followed up to slot the rebound home. With Jasmin making her debut for Dereham, the team played well but were forced into a substitution soon after the re-start with an injury to Alice. Laura intercepted a goal-kick to give Dereham the lead then Hollie made it 3-1 with a looping shot over the keeper's head. Alice came back on and increased the lead, Laura made it 5-1 and Alice then completed her hat-trick towards the end of the match. Dereham squad: Jess, Saskia, Charlotte, Hollie, Leah, Jasmin, Alice and Laura. Goals: Alice (3), Laura (2), Hollie. Manager's players of the match: Jasmin and Hollie.

DEREHAM WANDERERS STAGS U10 lost 4-1 at Weeting in their cup quarter final first leg. Dereham made a steady start but Weeting began to pressure Dereham's defence and when a pinpoint ball through the middle found their striker he finished well to make it 1-0. Dereham started to play some great passing football and were unlucky not to equalise when Callum got on the end of Logan's cross. Weeting went one-on-one with Alice who made a fantastic save. Dereham were now playing their best football and when Logan found Callum with a great pass out from defence Callum played a first time ball through the middle to the waiting Regan and he made no mistake to level the score at 1-1. Adam was working hard down the wing using his pace. The third quarter started with Josh and Logan working really hard in defence as Weeting mounted attacks and Chris and James were getting back to help but in the end Weeting scored a second goal, identical to their first. Dereham were caught half asleep at the start of the last period as the Weeting player picked up the ball in his own half and ran straight down the middle of the pitch unchallenged and claimed an easy third for Weeting: 3-1. When Logan was moved up front with Regan slotting into defence, Dereham started to pressure Weeting and were unlucky not to score when a Chris corner was headed onto the bar by Logan. Weeting then scored the killer fourth goal. Josh was desperately trying to clear a ball from defence but his clearance fell to the Weeting striker and he scored a fourth. Player of the match: Alice. Manager's PoM: Logan.

DEREHAM TOWN U11 expected a hard game from visitors top of the league Old Catton, and they lost 3-1. The first half was all one-way traffic from the visitors and it was only a matter of time before Old Catton scored. They opened the scoring from the penalty spot and minutes later, with Dereham watching, Catton made it 2-0 at half-time. Dereham came out the second half more determined. A great goal kick from Ollie led to a flick-on from Jamie and Ryan was through on goal to make it 2-1. In the last minutes Old Catton had a shot which Ollie did everything he could to keep out, but the ball had crossed the line. MoM: Tyler.

TOFTWOOD U9 entertained high-flying Hillside, conceding a goal in the first two minutes, They went on to control the rest of the half with Mudd, JP and Copeman controlling the midfield, spraying passes around the park, picking out the hard-running Molster playing in the lone striker's role. Toftwood did everything apart from score. Toftwood started the second half how they finished the first. They were throwing everything at a very resilient Hillside defence and goalkeeper but could not score. Long pushed into midfield allowing Bishop to come on in defence alongside the impressive Jarvis. Molster came off to give Reeve a chance to try and put the ball in the back of the net. With most of the Toftwood team coming close to scoring several times, Hillside broke and scored three quick goals. Toftwood still controlled the game, finally getting their reward when Jarvis found the back of the net after yet another goalmouth scramble. Well done to Ampleford in goal whose kicking and general distribution is improving greatly. Final score: Toftwood 1, Hillside 4. MoM: Mudd and Penn.