Norton Under-13 Bs, with coaches Chris Adams and Steve Atkinson, took a break from their TJFA League and Cup campaign to travel over 300 miles to Mullion, Cornwall, to compete in last week's Cornwall Cup.

Their five-team group contained local league leaders Holmans FC, Brummie side Dudley Metz, who have won their Birmingham league with four games remaining, the newly-formed Truro Development Centre, and local side Moors Youth.

Norton won their first game comfortably on Sunday against Moors Youth 4-0, with some great football, and the scoreline could have been bigger had it not been for some fine saves from Moors keeper.

Ancients' second game was played at 9am on Monday, and they came from behind to beat a strong Dudley Metz 2-1. Monday was Norton's day for two matches, and in the second, they played better than the first, but lost to Holmans 1-0 with the last kick of the game. Holmans lost 1-0 to Metz, the three strongest teams taking points off each other, and it was then a case of who could finish with the best goal difference, as the top two sides in the group would play in the final.

When travelling back to the site after the first game, their coach was halted as a bandstand on a lorry in front caught a tree and fell into the road, blocking it completely. The team had to walk back to the site and, on passing the bandstand, noticed that it was being transported by a Cleveland company. The lorry driver cringed when he realised the vehicle behind him, on a winding Mullion lane, was a Compass Royston coach - small world!

Norton, in their last group fixture against Truro on Tuesday afternoon, really turned the group on its head by recording a 20-0 win. This left Metz & Holmans to play their last group games fighting to avoid third place and elimination. Metz beat Truro 14-2, while Holmans beat Moors 5-0 and went out.

The Cup Final was played on Wednesday afternoon, and after leading 1-0 at half time, Norton eventually ran out strong 3-0 winners, and were certainly the best team on the day. Good relations were built with several clubs, and a summer meeting with runners-up Dudley Metz is now likely. Nobody at the tournament could believe the Norton side are not top of their domestic league, which demonstrates just how strong the TJFA really is. Sky Sports' Tony Cottee presented the lads with their individual trophies and the Cornwall Cup.

* On Wednesday, April 7 on Norton Under-15 B played against Cleveland Juniors and they started the game well, playing some great football. In a well fought game, Norton were first to score through Lewis Oliver. Cleveland equalised soon after. The end of the first half saw Norton winning 3-2 with goals from David Burns and Lewis Oliver.

Cleveland opened the scoring in the second half to equalise again, but Norton kept the pressure on and refused to let Cleveland score. Lewis Oliver went on to score his hat-trick to make the score 4-3 and deny Cleveland the three points.