Dukinfield Youth 5 Stalybridge Celtic Blues 0......By Alun Ireland.................
The Blues were second best to a fantastic Dukinfield team, as they struggled to a 5-0 defeat.
Dukinfield passed and moved all the game, with Stalybridge struggling to get the ball from them, and then struggling to hang on to it.
The day started badly when with five minutes to kick off there were only just enough boys there to make up one team.
And the lack of preparation showed as Dukinfield took control from the first minute, their striker volleying wide and then forcing Deacon into the first of many saves.
It was only a matter of time before they took the lead, and even though the boys had defended well until this point, the goal was a sloppy one to concede from a weak cross. When the ball was again lost in defence, Dukinfield quickly doubled their lead.Jack C came close when he hit the Blues’ first shot over, but Duky got a third when the Blues lost the ball in attack, and within three passes were picking it out of the net.
The Blues played better in the second half, with William and Jack C both going close.
But the boys could not handle Dukinfield’s passing and movement, struggling to win the ball, and being pushed back to their own goal.
When the Blues lost possession from a goal kick, Duky made it 4, and with another corner came another poor goal to give away.
Last ditch defending by Deacon, Jack I and Connor kept the score to 5-0, but there was no way back for the team.
The team voted Daniel Laing as man of the match for his effort.
Dukinfield Youth 9 Stalybridge Celtic White 1
The Whites were outpassed and outclassed as they struggled to contain Dukinfield.
The green and whites dominated right from the kick off, with the number 17 and the number 9 terrorising the defence.
The boys held out for 5 minutes, but once the first goal went in, the Whites struggled to live with their opponents.
The first goal was a great finish which left Tom with no chance, and when Tom parried a good drive, it was the Duky striker who reacted first to double the lead.
Tom again pulled off an outstanding one handed save, but the third was inevitable as Duky dominated possession and passed the ball into the net.
As the Whites were forced deeper and deeper, Duky scored three more before half time.
At 6-0, there was only pride for the Whites to play for in the second half, and they started much better as Robson, Callum and Archie began to show form.
The three combined for Stalybridge’s only goal, finished by Callum.
But it was Duky who finished strongest, scoring their seventh from close range when the ref might have blown for a foul on Tom, and their last two goal following good runs at a demoralised defence.
The Whites were not at their best – but we should take nothing away from a fantastic Dukinfield side who played some superb passing football when in possession and were determined and committed when in defence.
