Barnsley Boys U15's
Written by Mark Stokes on Tuesday 26th May 2009

Barnsley Boys U15's tough season came to a close finishing in a wonderful double for the young reds.

All season the management expected this group of lads to be in and around the honours, come the end of the season.

Last wednesday saw Barnsley v Middlesboro at Pocklington FC ground in the final of the Yorkshire Plate competition. Barnsley started the game in confidence and took the game to Middlesboro from the first whistle, but rarelly tested the opposite keeper. Barnsley's defence remained strong, giving nothing away, which helped the team to search for openings.

CUNLIFFE drew first blood, rifling an angled drive into the far corner. A quick second half goal came as kilburn found schofield out wide who then picked out WOODHEAD who finished keeping a cool head, stroking the ball into the bottom corner.

Middlesboro came back with a goal, but celebrations were short lived as PORTMAN wrapped the game up to win 3-1.

A fantastic night of football was seen on Monday evening at Dorothy Hyman Stadium, as Barnsley, Leeds, Sefton and West Lancashire played off in a round robin tournament to play for the NORTHERN MERIT TROPHY. The games were played in a very competitive spirit, and were refereed by LUKE WATSON and ALBERT RENNISON, who were superb on the night, keeping a tight grip all night, allowing just football to be played and not allowing any foolishness to develop.

Barnsley's first opponents were Sefton, who took the game to the reds and pinned them down for a long period, barnsley scrapped it out and went toe to toe turning the game in Barnsley's favour. Stones went past his marker and crossed to find the head of WOODHEAD who powered the ball home at the near post to finish 1 - 0 winners.

Barnsley's next opponents were West Lancs, and finished 0 - 0 in a somewhat stalemate affair. Leeds also drew 0-0 with Sefton.

So it was all to play for between Leeds and Barnsley starting level on points, and level on goals already having played and beat each other earlier this year. It promised to be a very good game. This was a typical derby game, end to end, with no corner given. Barnsley's openings came from Butler who was in determined mood to search behind the Leeds defence, but Leeds kept hanging in.

Private battles were going off with individuals and almost cost Barnsley dearly, as free kicks were given away around the box. The deadlock was broken, as PORTMAN beat the offside trap, racing away and beating the keeper confidently.

Leeds response was positive, scoreing from a set piece, but Barnsley had the last word as they scored late on with STONES sliding in to finish, resulting in Barnsley winning the tournament. So a fitting result to give the boys a cup double, a fitting result fully deserved by one and all.