Crossroads U-12s....1 Burley U-12 s......2

A pulsating game saw Burley Under-12s run out 2-1 winners at Crossroads and so claim a well-deserved share of the title.

In difficult conditions both teams looked to attack with Burley having the better of the early exchanges. However, the away side's efforts were thwarted by the Crossroads 'keeper who had an excellent game. Midway through the first-half Crossroads took the lead via a high lob which every 'keeper at this age fears. Jonathon Woolley, in the Burley goal, was unlucky to see the ball escape his grasp and drop over the line.

Undeterred, the Burley midfield of Luke Nicholas, Tom Higman, Lee Jackson and Sandy Beeston pressed forward but half-time arrived with Burley still 1-0 down.

Encouraging words from team manager Jim Jackson seemed to have fallen on deaf ears as Crossroads took the game to Burley and dominated the early exchanges. That said this Burley team was prepared to battle for each other and the game was turned on its head in the space of two second-half minutes.

David Healey dribbled down the left-wing and into the penalty area where he centred, only for the ball to be turned out for a corner, with the Burley players appealing for a penalty for handball. From the resulting corner Healey floated the ball on to the goal line where an unfortunate Crossroads player headed the ball into his own net.

Buoyed up by this goal the next time Dave Healey received the ball he outsprinted three Crossroad's defenders to centre for substitute Adam Rhodes to head on to Phil Buckley to pick his spot for the winner. Nerves seemed to ease when Burley were awarded a penalty for handball but the Crossroad's 'keeper made a magnificent save to leave Burley with ten minutes to hold on to their slender lead.

These minutes seemed like an eternity as Crossroads pressed for an equaliser. Only a last-minute tackle from Ben Gardiner denied the home side an opening on goal. Solid defending from Jonathon Woolley, Jim Schofield, George Wright and Graham Parker saved the day leading to scenes of jubilation for the Burley following.Luke Nicholas covered every blade of grass on the pitch and he was named Man-of-the-Match in a game where every player performed.

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