Town back with a bang

After only two training sessions it was back to competitive matches and this week Richmond welcomed Catterick Village for the first time this season. As Richmond Under-9s kicked off it was apparent that the two teams were evenly matched and it wasn't long before Richmond's Sam Witty was picked out after a storming run down the left by Sam Devlin and slammed in the first goal. By the end of the second half Richmond notched up two more goals one from Sam Devlin and another one for Sam Witty. This was a commanding performance by the Under-9s, winning 3-0.

The second match was lead by team captain Emma Morris, along with Tim and Will Henderson ran the midfield with grit and determination and battled for every ball. With the midfield doing their job there was a constant supply to James McNeil who, if it hadn't have been for excellent and brave goalkeeping from the Catterick keeper would have had a hatful of goals. However, it was not long before James found his range and scored the games only goal. The team was backed up by Dominic and Joseph Smith who controlled the back line. Joseph even managed a cracking strike which had the keeper beat but for the post. The coldest player on the pitch was Kieron Plum who had very very little to do in the Richmond nets. Excellent game, well done all.

Richmond Town Under-11s entertained Bedale in a cup match at home and took the game straight to their opponents and within two minutes Chris Garside stooped to head the ball into the net from a cross by William Gardner to open the scoring. The same player again met a corner from Ethan Stamp to outjump the Bedale defence to score a well placed header to make the score at half time 2-0. The second half saw Richmond keep the upper hand and with a good run from William Gardner who then scored with a shot from the 18 yard box to make the score 3-0. Bedale pulled a goal back half way through the second half. From the re-start Richmond immediately restored their three-goal lead after Chris Garside scored his hat-trick. Bedale reduced the score once more and the final score was Richmond Town 4, Bedale 2. In an excellent team performance by Richmond Town man of the match was Chris Garside.

Richmond Under-14s' visit to league leaders Leeming Lads produced an enthralling match. Leeming were the better side in the first half and deservedly took the lead shortly before half time. Richmond improved in the second half and equalised with an excellent individual goal from Sam Pritchard. Both teams pressed for a winner and with five minutes left Byron Tack moved on to a through ball from Adam Hillary and slipped it past the keeper to win the match.

Because it was a lovely winter's morning Richmond Under-12s made the most of the good weather and have a third game, mixing the players of the previous games and Richmond dominated throughout. Goals came thick and fast from Joseph Smith, Sam Witty, Lewis Stabler and Emma Morris. Even though Richmond were constantly changing every player grafted and worked for each other. There was even time for Kieron Plum to show of some silky skills dribbling in and out of the heart of the Catterick midfield. The match ended 4-0.

Brompton

Brompton Under-10 A played against Stokesley and started attacking straight from the kick-off and won a corner within the first minute. This corner, like several others, was not capitalised on, the sticky pitch making the players' boots so heavy as to render long crosses virtually impossible. The next attack saw a through ball from Thomas Armstrong reach the gap between Mark Watkinson and the Stokesley goalkeeper. Mark made contact with the ball, but his shot was blocked by a diving keeper. There followed a good run by Chris Holmes down the right-hand side sliding the ball to Robert Maclean who beat two men and pulled the ball back to Mark Watkinson, the keeper again making a fine save. A long clearance from the keeper set up an attack by Stokesley which was repulsed by Brompton defenders, David Holmes and Daniel Macfarlane. The ball was cleared only to reach a Stokesley mid-field player ten metres outside the box. He lifted the ball speculatively over the defence. It glanced off a Stokesley striker into the waiting net. The game continued end to end until Mark Watkinson hit the post in what was Brompton's nearest chance to scoring before half time. Stokesley began the second half with a striker missing an open goal. At this point Joe Richards came on for Mark Watkinson and soon after Jack Cullen replaced Daniel Macfarlane. A through ball from Thomas Armstrong reached Joe whose shot just missed the left-hand post of the Stokesley goal. The match ended with a very close 1-0 Stokesley win.

Brompton Under-16s started nervously against Barnard Castle and and after 15 minutes Barnard took the lead with a quick break and finish from out on the left. Captain Sean Van Brockhurst then had a strong and determined run down the pitch holding off two defenders on the way before skewing his shot wide of the Barnard net. Dawson was next with an effort that the Barnard goalie did well to pluck from over his head as the Brompton player tried to lob the ball over him. Just before the break Barnard were given the opportunity to double the lead when Porritt was harshly but probably correctly adjudged to have pulled on a players shirt in the box. Robinson had no chance with the spot kick and so Brompton went into the break two down. James Waldron and James Marley were introduced at the break for Henderson and Dawson and Brompton started the second half on top. That said after five minutes Barnard got their third goal after eight minutes of it when a slip by the outstanding Pinkney at the back allowed the head strong Barnard striker in for a simple tap-in. A free kick awarded to Brompton after 20 minutes and some 30 yards out seemed harmless enough but up stepped Craig Johnston to fire in an unstoppable effort. Brompton continued to press for another and a second free kick on the edge of the box was defended by a well set wall. At the other end Brompton's wall did a good job in a similar position but unfortunately the ball rebounded to a Barnard player who had a free shot at goal and he finished the scoring for the day. This was a good entertaining game well refereed by Tony Peart and while Craig Johnston and Simon Pinkney took the one and two honours for Brompton the whole Barnard team are due praise for an excellent performance capped by a hat trick for centre forward Callum Tallentire. Final score was 4-1 to Barnard Castle.