Our Player Development Centre has recently got back underway for the 2019/20 season with plenty of games programme fixtures taking place.
Here's how our sides got on…Town U10/11s 1 -2 780 coaching
Harrogate were beaten 2-1 by 780 coaching in a good performance where Harrogate were the better for the most part, but allowed 780 to get into the game towards the end leading to a couple of goals for the opponents. The Harrogate goal was scored by Albie after good work from Dan Thompson to test the goalkeeper, Albie followed up to put Harrogate in front. Overall it was a strong performance by Harrogate who just got edged out at the end after a battling display.
Tom Hullock
U14/15 3-3 Yorkshire Elite
The u14/15's started off their games programme with a tough game vs a very good Yorkshire Elite side. The game started very even with Ethan Simpson and Dylan Elliott both going close for Town.
The deadlock was finally broken however by Yorkshire Elite when their striker got between Ben Green and Alfie Lee to score at the near post. Danny Wilson was the next to come close for Town after good work from Joe Smith down the right, he pulled the ball back to Wilson whose effort was blocked on the line by the Yorkshire Elite defender. Town finally pulled level after Alfie Lee stepped through the middle of the pitch with the ball and found Elliott at the edge of the area. Elliott turned his marker and curled the ball into the far corner.
Josh Sharkey was called into action near the end of the first half. A Yorkshire Elite freekick from 25 yards out was brilliantly tipped over by the young Town keeper. Town did find themselves behind again just before half time. A Yorkshire Elite player found himself unmarked from a corner to head home.
Town started the second half very strongly with the Yorkshire Elite keeper making a string of top saves. First tipping Simpson's shot wide at the near post. Joel barker was the next to be stopped after a point blank save to keep the score at 2-1. Town deservedly got their equaliser when Smith was fouled inside the box. He picked himself up and slotted the penalty away. After a very good defensive display from Luke Plant, Lee, Green and Will Sharman - Town continued to push forward. Town thought they went in front when the ball broke to Sam Wright-Manzano at the edge of the area. His shot finally beat the keeper but bounced back off the crossbar.
Yorkshire Elite thought they'd won it with five minutes to play. Frank Greenwood 2nd half performance in the town goal saw him deal with everything but when the ball broke to the Yorkshire Elite striker, his effort into the bottom corner left Greenwood helpless. Town had one last chance to get a draw with a freekick in the last minute. Barker stepped up and drilled the ball into far corner to draw Town level. A brilliant game between to good sides. A draw a fair result. Thanks to James Rourke and his Yorkshire Elite side for coming over.
Squad: Josh Sharkey, Frank Greenwood, Joel Barker, Luke Plant, Will Sharman, Alfie Lee, Ben Green, Alex Rennocks, Ethan Simpson, Harry Mills, Sam Wright – Manzano, Danny Wilson, Nathan Young, Dylan Elliott, Joe Smith
Goals: Barker, Elliott, Smith
U15 Girls Academy match report
The evening of Wednesday 16th October saw the U15 Girls Academy play their inaugural fixture. It was a tough first game, away at Ilkley Town. Town got off to a flying start, taking an early lead from an excellent corner delivered by Livi Johnson, landing at the feet of Lydia Corner, who calmly slot home. Town lost their way, with Ilkley taking advantage to grab a couple of quick fire goals. With Town not having a recognised goal keeper, Ilkley soon took benefit from this. Town continued to press forward with some great build up play from the back, starting with Connie, playing the ball through the midfield before releasing Lucy whose vicious shot was well saved. Town got caught out on the counter attacked with Ilkley grabbing another three goals. Town didn't give up the fight with Livi and Connie firing just wide of the target. The home team were clinical in front of goal finishing with two goals in the last minute. The score did not reflect the balance of the game, but Ilkley were the better team on the night.
Town: Ciara Streatfield, Connie Parkin, Isabel Parkin, Lucy Taylor, Lydia Corner, Natasha Abbott and Livi Johnson
Goal: Lydia Corner
By Becky Wilson
Girls PDC Coach
U8/U9 4-3 780 Coaching
The evening of Friday 4th October saw an end to end game between two great teams as Towns U8/9 Academy side took on 780 coaching at The CNG Stadium. A solid start from Town seen us take an early lead through some great build up play before an excellent finish from Ted. Town then grew into the game, keeping possession in the middle of the pitch before some great work down the left, resulting in Freddie.P finishing off an excellent move. The visitors then started to push forward with some outstanding defending from Jacob and great saves from Harry, which frustrated the opposition forwards. Town were to be beaten at the back moments later with a superb strike. This wasn't to hurt Town as we continued to push forward and grab another two goals through Ted and Isaiah. Town were to be punished at the back due to a defensive mix up and some great play from 780 Coaching. The visitors pushed form an equaliser, but Town managed to hold out for a 4-3 win. Excellent all round team performance.
Town: Harry Ibbotson, Bobby Haveron, Freddie White, Henry Wardle, Jacob Tiller, Isaiah Prosper, Ted Smitherman, Freddie Pickering, Jonny Higgins, Sam Stalker, Archie Davy and Jenson Sumner
Goals: Ted Smitherman (2), Freddie Pickering (1) and Isaiah Pickering (1)
By Becky Wilson
U8/9 PDC Coach
Town U12/13s 1-6 780 Coaching
The U12/13's academy welcomed 780 coaching to the CNG stadium for their first game of the season. This was the first time most of the boys had played 11 vs 11 on a full size pitch and it showed in parts of the game. Although Harrogate moved the ball well in the early stages of the match and looked a threat going forward, chances didn't seem to be occurring. Against the run of play 780 coaching took the lead through a fantastic strike from around 25 yards out. However, the boys didn't let this get them down and they fought back to earn an equaliser when Donnie Green found space in the area to slot home the goal. From then on Harrogate failed to create any clear cut chances and began to tire. The new environment began to take effect on the boys and they began to lose shape and give the ball away too easily to the opposition resulting in780 Coaching having much of the ball and created dangerous chances especially from set pieces in which they scored 3 from corners. 780 Coaching ran out 6-1 winners but there were many positives in the game for the Harrogate players. In their first game at this level they showed that they could move the ball well and be dangerous going forward. However, they need to learn the massive difference in football when it is played 11 vs 11 in terms of their running and decision making. We move on to the next. Well done to the boys it was a great learning experience for them.
Town: Harry Manterfield, Henry Straker, Andrew Todd, William Todd, Harry Washbrook, Issac Harris, Charlie Moss, Oliver Saltmarsh, Murray Brierly, George Meaking, Asim Suleman, Johannes Shaw, Donny Green, Charlie Parker, James Wield
Lewis Riley
U12/13's lead coach.