Coxhoe Boys got their first taste of what manager Bobby Orton called "the little big-time" when they played under the floodlights at UniBond club Spennymoor United.
Orton switched the Under-12s team fixture against Peterlee Town to the Brewery Field on Wednesday evening to give his players a special treat after their storming to start to the season.
In what is their first season after forming a year ago they head they Russell Foster Premier League by six points and following postponements hold four games in hand on their rivals.
"It was great for the kids to play on that pitch under floodlights," said Orton. "And I had butterflies in my stomach all night.
Orton, who footed the bill for use of the floodlights, admitted he wanted the players to savor every moment.
"They loved it. Their manager came up to me just before the game was supposed to start and asked if we wanted to kick-off but I said 'no, let them enjoy it'. It was great for them under the lights with the music playing.
"The warm-up probably lasted longer than the first-half!"
And Orton, who played as goalkeeper under Billy Bremner at Doncaster Rovers in the early-1980s as well as having spells with Gateshead and West Auckland, wasn't to be let down by his team as they romped to a 4-2 victory.
"It was a brilliant night," said Orton. "I once played in front of a 4,500 crowd in an FA Trophy game for Gateshead against Bangor and the kids' game meant more to me than that."
"It was great to see to teams playing really good football. In training I only let the players have three touches and it works because when they play, they've been brainwashed into passing and moving."
He praised Spennymoor and particularly football secretary Brian Boughen for their assistance on the night. "They were unbelievable. Brian was worth his weight in gold and if it hadn't have been for him it would never have went ahead.
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