Blackpool and District Youth League round-up

Two goals apiece from Jake Oldendorp and Harry Cox gave Clifton a 4-0 half-time lead which would have been greater but for some outstanding saves from Poulton’s keeper.

Four second-half goals from Denny Cain and a further strike from Hayden Abreu made the final score 9-0. George Acton was named man of the match.

YMCA beat Fleetwood Town 3-1 from a hard-earned game. The gale-force wind was never going to make it easy for either team and the early exchanges were even.

YMCA broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, when Jake Molloy thundered the ball home in spectacular fashion from fully 30 yards.

Town also looked lively in attack and levelled the scores eight minutes later after rounding the keeper.

YMCA regained their lead with a fine Toby Grant strike to take a 2-1 lead into half-time.

The second half remained mainly even but YMCA gradually began to take the initiative and increased their lead 15 minutes in as the impressive Spencer Baxendale picked up a loose ball at the edge of the area and guided the ball into the far corner with his left foot.

Town were unlucky not to reduce the score in the closing minutes, when a shot bounced down off the underside of the bar and was cleared off the line, but overall YMCA deserved their victory.

Credit to both teams for their efforts in very difficult conditions. Lewis Crawford impressed throughout in the centre of the YMCA defence.

In the beta league, BJFF Whites missed out on the chance to go top after losing 3-1 at Warton Typhoons Gold, despite Ertunc Ozturk’s goal. Dylan Williams (2) and Ashley Donald gave Gold the point.

Four goals from Louise Fielding and a brace from Matty Mercer gave Lytham Juniors a close fought 6-5 win against BJFF Vipers, for whom Teron Grave r(2), Jacob White, Sam Murphy and Zac Hickling replied.

Kirkham Blues stretched their lead at the top of the U15 Alpha division to 13 points thanks to their 8-3 win at Poulton Town courtesy of goals from Rory Kelly (2), Luke Seven s(2), Jaay Marolia, Josh Butcher, Liam Bradley and Joe Newell. Replies came from Connor Prendergast(2) and Nathan Feeney.

The Blues’ lead has been extended due to South Shore’s shock 2-1 win at second-placed Clifton, with Ronan Barratt and Cameron Gourley giving Shore only their second win of the season. Theo Iaunou replied.

Goals from Jack Galloway and Jordan Salthouse gave Blackpool Rangers Revoultion a 2-2 draw with Fleetwood Town.

In the U16 Hogan Cup, Staining and BJFF Vipers finally got their first round game played and what a cracker it turned out to be.

It was finished 2-2 after extra-time, meaning penalties were needed to decide the tie. Staining finally went through 9-8.

Marly Holdip scored both Staining’s goals to force the shootout as Berresford and Holland replied.

YMCA went back to the the top of the Alpha league with a 4-0 win at home to Poulton.

Despite a strong wind blowing across the pitch, YMCA gave signals of their intent in the early minutes when Jack Bishop lashed a shot inches wide from Ross Hart’s through ball.

The breakthrough came for YMCA when George Hawkins drove through midfield and linked up with Bishop, who set up Ross Hart to score from close range.

Isaac Eastham kept the YMCA midfield ticking over but some missed chances by Hart and Bishop meant they had to settle for a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Just two minutes after the interval, though, YMCA doubled their lead when Harry Fisher’s curling free-kick was parried by the keeper and Hart was on hand to fire home.

The home side continued to play some slick passing football and not give their opponents any time to settle on the ball.

After pressing high up the pitch, Bishop won the ball and crossed for Pat Lonsdale to extend the lead to 3-0.

Lonsdale added his second with a low drive following more fine work by Bishop. Tom Wyatt and James Cowburn added depth to YMCA’s passing repertoire as the team took the points with an excellent team display in the difficult conditions.

In the same division, Thornton Cleveleys (Callum Dickinson, Harry Johnson) beat Layton Blues(Alan Clark) 2-1.

In the Beta league, goals from Dean Glover(2), Jacob Treasure, Ben Schofield, Marcus Schofield, Sam Hemmings and Kyle Pilling gave Lytham Jaguars a 7-1 win against Poulton Town to send them up to second, Newiss replying.

A Kham Moreau hat-trick wasn’t enough to give Clifton the points at St Annes as goals came from Sam Ackrill (2), Charles Shaw and Harry Sagar to secure the hosts’ 4-3 victory.

The only game to survive the weather at U18 level was an all-Spirit of Youth affair, in whichs the Yellows beat the Blues 8-1.

The Yellows proved too strong and led 3-0 at the break thanks to a Rob Markillie hat-trick.

The second half was mainly one way, with a goal apiece from Jordan Parker, Connor Dunleavy, Josh Edwards, Kyle Hodkinson and Alex Footman.

Josh Halstead scored a late consolation for the Blues, whose goalkeeper was outstanding.

Three-goal Markillie was man of the match for the Yellows, who now share top spot with AFC Blackpool.

The result of the day came in the U12 Alpha division, in which second-bottom St Annes ended runaway leaders BJFF Blades’ 100 per cent record with a stunning 4-1 win thanks to a Luke Black hat-trick and Nathan Murray’s strike. Matthew Finney replied.

Second-placed Poulton took advantage by edging out Foxhall 2-1 thanks to Nico Cobb and Tom Gut, Jake Marshall scored for Foxhall.

Goals by Sam Adshead (2), Louis Johnstone (2), Nathan Beckett (2), Armin Khodabakhsh and Oliver Amos gave Thornton Cleveleys Reds an 8-0 win over their own Whites team (see match of the week article).

In the first round of the U13 Hogan Cup, Clifton Rangers went through with a 5-2 win against Foxhall courtesy of goals from Harry Webster, Oliver Shaw, Nathan Shaw, Jordan Heaton and Ryan Hamasalh. Replies came from Robbie Fitzpatrick and Jacob Stone-Grice.

In the league, BJFF Blades closed the gap on leaders Foxhall with a 5-1 win at Lytham Juniors thanks to Jake Guy (2), Charlie Croasdale, Owen Mason and Daniel Smith. Ewan Macauley replied.

Last but certainly not least, Ellis Wilson led the way for Thornton Cleveleys Blues with five goals as they beat Foxhall Hoops 8-2. Jack West(2) and Max Lewis scored the others, while Dylan Henshall and Benjamin Rukin netted for the Hoops.