Youth League match of the week: St Annes Greens v Layton Junior Clarets

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James made some spectacular saves for the Greens, then came out to score a goal, while Blake gave a calm and confident display for the Clarets.

Each keeper took his team’s player of the match award but everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly in their first season of organised football.

Greens manager Caroline Doran told The Gazette: “It was a really good game and we have improved a lot since Christmas. We put the team together over the summer and most of them haven’t had their seventh birthday yet.

“They listen to everything we ask of them, give 100 per cent and play with smiles on their faces.”

Clarets boss Andrew Farnworth says his side are loving the season too.

“We are doing really well,” he said. “We were promoted in the first phase and it looks like we will be again. We spent last season just training, which was a benefit coming into the league.”

Both clubs are thriving at the younger end of the youth football spectrum. The Greens are one of three under-seven teams at St Annes, while Layton have enough players to form a second team as under-eights next season.

FY Academy still lead the Under-18 table after beating Staining JFC courtesy of goals from Mitch McCormick, Yash Passi, Ash Taylor, Dan Valentine, Theo Cunliffe and Matt Ryder.

A club derby between Bispham JFF Blades Blues and BJFF Phantoms was won by the Blues with goals from Lewis Watson, Josh Pinder, Josh Hamer, Daniel Taylor, Ashton Barker and George Carr.

Fin Marsh and Archie Addison scored as Poulton beat BJFF Blades Whites to move joint-second with Thornton Cleveleys Blacks, who won another inter-club match against Thornton Cleveleys Reds.

BJFF Predators’ scorers in their win over South Shore Youth were Ruben Perry, Nat Topping, Harrison Hill, Mason Wild, Nathan Parkinson and Tom Gannon, while Lytham JFC beat Wyre JFC with goals from Oliver Heywood, Cam Palmer, Harris Fairgrieve and Liam Sinclair.