GNicholson

Published at 00:00, Thursday, 16 December 2004

NORTHBANK will travel to Calder Lion’s in the quarter-finals of the County Under 14 Youth Cup after their hard fought four-three victory against Workington on the sheepmount.

It was a highly entertaining game Northbank’s Niall Hughes fired in a hat-trick to make the difference in a game that saw seven goals.

The early exchanges were very much a battle for mid-field supremacy with Dan Barrass and Darryl Creighton the main contenders for Northbank and Greg Armstrong and Kieran Doyle for Workington.

Niall Hughes tried an early snap shot which had Jason Graham in the Workington goal frantically scrambling across his goal-line but the ball travelled inches wide of the far post.

The visitors then staged an attack and when Mike Lewis played the ball through the home defence a snap shot from Armstrong was just off target.

Further Workington pressure gained them a corner and when Lewis swung in an inch perfect cross Armstrong planted a powerful header narrowly over the cross bar. Play then swung to the other end of the field after Creighton set Robin Davidson free on the right.

The Northbank player then fed Hughes who broke away from Cieran McCrickerd before cooly slotting the ball past Graham for the opening goal.

Ben Gregory was a constant threat on the Workington left-flank and he broke through the Northbank defence on two occasions to deliver telling crosses but neither Lewis nor Grant Bethwaite were able to take full advantage and apply the finishing touch.

The Northbank players regained their composure and some quick mid-field play between Barrass and Creighton gave Hughes the opportunity to draw the Workington defenders out of position before cleverly slipping the ball to Robbie Hall who dutifully placed the ball into the corner of the net to give his side a 2-0 lead.

Much to their credit the Workington players battled their way back and were rewarded when Gregory scored to reduce the arrears.

The move started on the right where Lewis cut inside John Simpson before passing the ball to Bethwaite who was just inside the Northbank half.

The Workington striker then split the home defence wide open enabling Gregory to latch onto the ball before slotting it past a stranded Bradley Bushby in the home goal.

The goal lifted the Workington team and they pressed hard for an equaliser.

They didn’t have to wait long and their efforts were rewarded when Armstrong latched onto the ball some 25 yards from goal. He controlled the ball before unleashing a powerful shot into the top left-hand corner of the Northbank net.

Both team’s battled tooth and nail before the home team regained the lead five minutes before half-time.

Davidson made progress on the right before swinging the ball into the danger area for Hughes to slip between Graham and McCrickerd before tapping the ball into an empty net for a three-two interval lead.

Northbank began the second-half as they’d finished the first and their concerted attacks brought about a succession of corners.

The Workington defence of Carl Blinco, Dan Van Der Merwe, Darren Sharpe and McCrickard had to pull out all the stops to quell the succession of attacks mounted by their opponents but they eventually capitulated after conceding yet another corner.

Hall took the kick and when the ball arrived in the danger area Hughes outjumped everyone to plant a superb header into the net for a well deserved hat-trick.

Workington had no option but to go for broke. And with Armstrong and Gregory pushing forward at every opportunity, their combination play set up a shooting chance for Bethwaite who made the most of his opportunity by placing his shot into the corner of the net.

The visitors strove hard to level the scores at 4-4 but their repeated attacks were strongly resisted by the Northbank defence of Christopher Tibbetts, Michael Gilsenen, Tom Short and Callum Wilson.

With 10 minutes remaining Lewis almost equalised with the best shot of the match but Bushby was equal to it and he made a stupendous save to tip the ball around the post.

After Lewis collected the ball on the right of the penalty area he unleashed a great shot which was destined for the far top corner of the net until Busby flung himself to his right and pushed the ball wide of the post with his right hand.

The visitors still had it all to do and there was always the threat of Northbank catching them on the break but none of the home players managed the accuracy needed to set the speedy Hughes in motion and when the final whistle sounded the score remained four-three in favour of Northbank.

Northbank: Bradley Bushby, Christopher Tibbetts, Michael Gilsenen, Tom Short. Callum Wilson, Robin Davidson, Darryl Creighton, Dan Barrass, Robbie Hall, Niall Hughes, John Simpson. Sub: Shaun Beaty.

Workington Juniors: Jason Graham, Carl Blinco, Darren Sharpe, Dan Van Der Merwe, Cieran McCrickard, Kieron Doyle, Gregory Armstrong, Callum Robertson, Ben Gregory, Mike Lewis, Grant Bethwaite.

Alex Telford, David Little, Daniel Gommersal, Brett Connon, Matthew McCullough, Nick Telford, Jack Scott, Scott Harrison. Manager-Nick Stobbs. Assistant-Brian -Thorpe.

THE Warwick Wanderers boy’s played exceptionally well to achieve a 3-0 win against a talented North Bank 1970 team on their Down-a-Gate ground.

Warwick led 2-0 at half-time and added a third after the interval. The goals were all scored by the captain Matthew McCullough whilst two were laid on by Nick Telford with accurate left-foot crosses.

CALLUM scored two goals in his team’s excellent 4-2 victory over Denton Home at Richardson Street.

It was the first win of the season for the recently formed Harriers team and Callum Hubner personified the enthusiasm of all concerned.

He was here-there and everywhere throughout the match and thoroughly deserved his two goals.

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