Youth football match of the week: Foxhall Under-13s v Squires Gate

Squires Gate goalscorer Daniel Fryer on the attack

Trailing 4-0 at the interval, any thoughts of a Gate comeback disappeared when Foxhall added a fifth early in the second half

But credit to Squires Gate for upping their game and pulling two goals back to make the final score 5-2.

A Foxhall side who were exceptional in that first half now have a seven-point cushion at the top, though BJFF have games in hand.

And the leaders showed their all-round talent as the goals were shared among five different players, several of them blistering shots from outside the box.

Aiden Wright’s cracking drive into the top corner set the tone inside 10 minutes and Kaiden Shorrocks soon added the second in similarly unstoppable style.

Foxhall were in complete control by the break after Bradley Norman netted the third and the outstanding Harry Melia the fourth.

Twin strikers Melia and Shorrocks looked a deadly combination in that opening period and were a constant threat.

Dylan Henshaw completed Foxhall’s handful with another drive from distance soon after the interval.

But far from letting their heads drop, Gate reacted positively.

And although the result was never in doubt, they were rewarded with well-taken goals by Daniel Fryer and Jack Walker. Indeed, Fryer was only denied a second by the woodwork.

But it was Foxhall’s day as their excellent season continued. They reached the last 16 of the Lancashire FA Cup and are looking forward to the next round of the Hogan Cup.

Manager Stephen Connell said: “We were superb but credit to Gate for their good second half.”

Gate have lost a few players to professional academies but manager Nick Grindley is happy with his rebuilding job.

“They have adapted well to 11-a-side this season,” he said. “We are getting a decent squad together.”

“We didn’t do ourselves justice in the first half and they were the better team, but we got to grips with what we had to do in the second half.

Striker Harry Melia was the Foxhall man of the match, while hard-working midfielder Angelo Karadzinhov was the Gate choice.