Nantwich Town U17 2 FC Leek Town 5
THE HOME side started quickly, with Elliot Booth striking goalward from six yards – but Leek keeper Tom Porter-Hargreaves was well placed to block.
From the resulting corner, Jordan Long leapt unopposed to head narrowly wide.
The visitors were finding the unfamiliar artificial playing surface a little difficult to deal with.
In a rare foray forward, Jack Davis put Sam Bostock through – but his shot went straight into the arms of Nantwich goalkeeper Andrew Emerton.
The Nantwich pressure eventually paid off when they were awarded a free kick five yards outside the area, and Jordan Wain sent the ball round the defensive wall and past the helpless Porter-Hargreaves.
The response from Leek was immediate, with Bostock forcing his way down the right flank and crossing into the area for Davis to fire into the roof of the net to level the scores.
Within minutes, Nantwich were back in front when Jordan Wain was given too much time on the edge of the Leek area, allowing him to curl a fine shot into the top corner.
Leek hit back with a couple of good crosses from Harry Hitchen and another effort from Davis that was just the wrong side of the post, as they pressed to equalise.
A fine strike from Booth brought an equally fine save from Porter-Hargreaves as play swung from end to end.
As half-time approached, Leek eventually levelled when a Marco DaSilva through ball was picked up by Davis, who held off two challenges before slipping the ball into the net.
In the second half, Leek continued to peg their opponents into their own half and were soon extending their lead.
A DaSilva free kick from close to the half-way line was met by the head of Davis at the far post who rose to direct the ball across goal and into the far corner for his fourth of the game.
The visitors continued to dominate proceedings and added a fifth goal to their tally when Kieran Scotland struck an excellent shot that keeper Emerson could only parry and George Dawson was quick to capitalise and lift the ball over the keeper and into the net.
Scotland then brought a fine one-handed save from Booth, as Leek looked to add to their tally.
Booth was again called into action as Pete Bassett forced a save before Dawson almost made it six, as his powerful volley was blocked.
Leek Town Girls U12s 4 Stone Dominoes 0
DESPITE a rather lacklustre first half, which saw Stone dominate possession, Leek girls turned a corner with just one minute to go before half time. A lucky pass by striker Ellie Salt set up Tasia Brough, who calmly volleyed it in to the net. Both teams were fired up for the second half and for a while matched each others’ runs at goal.
However, Leek retained the passion and the ever-energetic Abbie Sanders just didn’t stop, while Leek goalie Jenny Hesketh could only stand still and watch the action from afar.
A great break by Brough looked like it was going to become her second goal but her blast was met by the keeper’s hands.
Kiera Wells continually positioned herself well on the pitch and worked tirelessly together with Maddie Bragg. Kayleigh Sheldon also stood up well to a persistently strong Stone attack.
The positive approach soon paid off, with the ball finding Sophie Walley and Laura Evans, who both grabbed numerous opportunities to push forward with some good runs.
The whole team was now properly focused and an opportunity arrived after a Stone throw-in was intercepted by Leek defender Libby Johnson.
She found Salt, who in turn found Walley, who was ready and waiting to make it 2-0.
The solid teamwork was now paying off, although subsequent shots by Brough and Walley were both saved.
An excellent run right down the line by Johnson saw the Leek star outwit Stone’s defence one at a time with her zig-zag moves. She finished with a powerful shot to bag Leek’s third goal.
With ten minutes remaining, Salt seized another opportunity off a ball from Johnson and drove through to make it 4-0 just minutes before the whistle blew.
