Hilton leave it late to secure Duffy crown
SCHOOLS FOOTBALL
THREE of the four Newcastle Schools’ Under 11 Leagues have now finished with just the Dale League still to be decided.
Going into the last night of the Newcastle Schools’ Under-11 Duffy League, three teams still had a chance of emerging as champions.
Waverley had an outside chance but they had to hope other results went their way.
Hilton and St John Vianney were strong favourites and just happened to meet in the last game.
They had to win their early fixtures to set up a ‘winner takes all’ matrch.
They duly did this and stopped Waverley taking the title - and it set up the last match nicely.
A draw would be enough for St John Vianney but Hilton had to win as they had drawn an earlier clash.
It proved a wonderful occasion. Neither team looked like scoring until Hilton broke away and put in a shot which the goalkeeper did well to save.
However, the rebound bounced out to a Hilton player who put it away to seal a lead at half-time.
St John went on the attack in the second half and equalised.
They dominated for a period but were unable to go ahead thanks to the Hilton goalkeeper.
Just when it looked as though the draw was going to give Vianney the title, a Hilton player turned and shot from distance.
The ball arrowed into the top corner, giving Oliver Holland no chance in the goal.
This strike was enough to secure Hilton the game and the Championship by one point.
The Under-11 Simpson League, also went to the final fixture.
This time Gosforth East had to watch the final game between Gosforth Central and Gosforth Junior Academy to see if they could win the title. East had beaten Central and drawn with Junior.
This meant Gosforth had to win to have a chance of winning the championship.
Throughout the match Junior constantly applied pressure on Central but they were unable to break them down and the game finished 0-0 - giving the title to East.
English Martyrs comfortably won the Westgate League for the third year in a row.
They won all their games to finish ahead of St Michael’s.
The Dale League finishes on Wednesday and the four winners will then play in the King Cup on April 23 at Walker Technology College (3.30 kick-off).