Season 2009 / 10 Reports

Tuesday, 30 March 2010
NORTON LEES JUNIORS 6-0 Hackenthorpe Warriors

Sunday 26th March 2010

At first glance at the table this fixture may have looked a meaningless end of season mid table fixture. Not at all, with Norton having games in hand on the clubs above this was a game we needed to win to push on and put pressure on the top three. Norton lost the toss and had to defend against a strong wind in the first half, and a free scoring Warriors side. Early exchanges proved to set the tone for the game as Norton defended very well and were creating chances when the conditions suggested otherwise. On 15 mins Norton went ahead with Bucknall-Smith nodding home after Huckstepps effort was parried. On 24 mins Norton went further ahead again through a Bucknall-Smith header after he lost his marker to head home at the near post.

Half Time Norton 2.0 Hackenthorpe.

With the wind at their backs Norton started the second half strongly and with 5 mins on the clock the ball fell to Bucknall-Smith 25 yards out who hit a terrific shot into the far corner giving the keeper no chance. 5 mins later Spiers got his name on the score sheet as he burst through the defence to smash home. Warriors threatened from time to time but found the defence in fine form, and if they got beyond them they found Stevenson in goal tidied up. On 18 mins Norton were awarded a free kick 30 yards out, Bucknall-Smith took it and hit it into the top corner to give Norton their fifth and take his tally to four. With time ticking away Norton completed the scoring with a fine free kick from Spiers to end a terrific match for Norton.

Full Time Norton 6.0 Hackenthorpe Warriors.

Supporters man of the match George Bucknall-Smith.
Managers man of the match George Bucknall-Smith.
A fine win for Norton as we had our own "Lampard" scoring 4 from midfield.




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Monday, 22 March 2010
NORTON LEES JFC 1 - 1 Wasps JFC

Sunday 21st March 2010
It's coming to the end of the season and the games as they come along become tense affairs , with promotions and relegation becoming the focus of all. This encounter against Wasps was very much a case of promotion hunting with both sides handily placed. Both sides started well, keen battles all over the pitch but it would be Norton who settled best and began to put Wasps under constant pressure in searching for a breakthrough. The goal that Norton's play deserved came on 20 minutes, a superb corner by Hodges headed in at the second attempt by Huckstepp to put us 1.0 up. The lead lasted only minutes as Wasps equalised from a free kick when perhaps for the only time in the game Norton were guilty of losing concentration for a few seconds. Norton were unlucky just 2 minutes later as Huckstepp smashed a free kick against the under side of the bar.
half time Norton 1.1 Wasps.

The second half was again keenly contested, Wasps trying to force a mistake from the defence who time after time got in telling challenges to clear, all the lads at the back were having terrific matches and limited Wasps to only a couple of half chances. Norton continued to press on hoping for a breakthrough to give us the points, but found the Wasps back line in good form also. This was a fantastic advert for junior football, played in the right spirit with 100% effort and commitment from both sets of players and refereed superbly allowing the game to flow. Fantastic effort today lads, keep up the effort and desire and we will not be far away come the end of the season.
Full time Norton 1.1 Wasps.
Supporters man of the match Sam Newall.
Managers man of the match Tom Huckstepp.


Sunday, 8 November 2009
Grenoside 1 -3 NORTON LEES JUNIORS

Sunday 8th November 2009


As we drove to Stannington for todays match I made a remark about it being a great day for football as the sun was out and not a sign of rain - until we got there, me and my big mouth ! it belted it down . Grenoside started very well and were causing us all kinds of problems and deservedly went ahead on 5 . Constant pressure by Grenoside as they tore into Norton looking to extend their lead but after a couple of great saves by Stevenson Norton began to settle and began creating chances. A mixture of bad luck and great defending kept us at bay until Otter scored at the far post after Parsissons header came back off the bar. An even contest continued as both sides looked to go ahead in the terrible conditions. It was Norton who got the breakthrough on 33, Spiers sublime lob giving the keeper no chance.

Half-Time Grenoside 1.2 NLJFC.

No change in the weather or the commitment as both sides slogged it out in the opening exchanges, Norton going close and at the other end Stevenson again making important saves to preserve our lead. As Grenoside pressed with time running out our magnificent defence stood firm backed up by the tireless and battling midfield and the forwards who gave welcome relief as we too pushed forward trying to make the game safe. And with just seconds remaining we did make it safe, fine work down the left gave Wake his chance and he coolly chipped the keeper to give us a very , very hard fought victory.

Full-Time Grenoside 1.3 NLJFC.

Supporters man of the match Jack Stevenson.
Managers man fo the match Lewis Lucas.

Fantastic effort today in truly terrible conditions each and every one of you were outstanding and all deserved reward for your efforts.




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NORTON LEES JFC 6 - 2 Maltby Miners Welfare

Sunday 1st November 2009

With absence and injuries we were forced into a 3-5-2 formation for the visit of Maltby,a system we had not played before but one we had hoped the lads could adapt to. Maltby started strongly and goals either side of a Spiers strike gave them confidence , and in the opening 25 mins Norton were fortunate not to be trailing by more. With a change back to a familiar 4-4-2 Norton started to get a grip on the game and on 30 were level, Spiers again finishing well and with half time upon us Wake's fine finish would send us in at the break 3.2 up.
Half-Time NLJFC 3.2 Maltby.
Norton started the second half in confident mood and increased their lead on 40 with Spiers completing his hat-trick to put us 4.2 up.The lads continued to dominate for long periods and although Maltby competed well the defence held firm to restrict them to just the odd half chance.On 50 Norton scored again, Spiers curled a corner in and the defender sliced the ball into the roof of the net.With 8 mins to go Bucknall-Smith got his name on the score sheet at the back post to complete the scoring and give us a convincing 6.2 score-line.
Full Time NLJFC 6.2 Maltby Miners Welfare.
Supporters man of the match - Kyle Hewitt.
Managers man of the match - Jon Wake.




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Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Chapletown Colts 4 - 6 NORTON LEES JUNIORS

Sunday 1st November 2009


Back to league action for the lads after an unrecognisable performance in the trophy last weekend. You always worry a little after a bad defeat how the next game would go, but knowing our lads they would be determined to put that game behind them and "concentrate on the league". Playing at last seasons runners up would as expected prove a tough test. After a fairly even start Norton began to create chances and went ahead on 15 mins. Great work down the right by Lucas was finished at the back post by Wake to put us 1.0 up. However within 2 mins it was 1.1 with Colts first chance of the game. The lads responded well and on 23 regained the lead through Newall. De-ja vu as Colts again levelled and as time ticked by it seemed we would go into the break level. Just before the break Otter pounced to make it 3.2 and with the last kick of the half Huckstepp scored from 18 yards to send us in at the break 4.2 up.
Half time Chapeltown Colts 2.4 NLJFC.

A fairly even start to the second half saw few chances with Colts trying to get back into the game, Norton stood firm though and increased their lead through another long range effort from Huckstepp to give us a little breathing space. As it turned out we needed it as Colts pulled 2 goals back and looked like pegging us back until Spiers determination got us the killer 6th goal and Norton saw the game out with few problems.
Full Time Chapeltown Colts 4.6 NLJFC.
Supporters man of the match Tom Huckstepp.
Managers man of the match George Bucknal-Smith & Alex Spiers.




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Monday, 12 October 2009
NORTON LEES JFC 5 -2 Hallam Rangers

Sunday 11th October 2009.

Hallam provided the opposition for our first home game at our new home pitch at St Aidans. Both sides started very brightly with flowing football but were unable to break down two very well organised defences. The breakthrough did come though in the 25th minute,and it was Norton who took the lead. After excellent approach play the ball fell to Hodges who split the defence with an excellent pass and Otter raced through to coolly lob the ball over the keeper. The lead didn't last long though as Hallam took advantage of a quickly taken corner to equalise with a free header.
Half Time NLJFC 1.1 Hallam Rangers.

Hallam started the second half the better side and within 5 minutes had taken the lead creating space down the left for the unmarked forward to score easily. Just 2 minutes later it could have been 3.1 if it hadn't been for Stevenson in goal who made a fantastic save to keep his team in the game. This proved to be a pivotal point in the game as Norton began to re-assert themselves and were soon level with a neat finish at the back post by Spiers. This gave Norton a timely boost and after 25 minutes went into the lead this time Wake racing clear and firing into the top corner giving the keeper no chance. With 5 minutes to go Norton made the game safe, another measured finish from Wake to make it 4.2. With time running out Hallam pushed forward in search of a goal to get them back in it and were caught on the break as Spiers smashed in a superb half volley to ensure the points for Norton.
Full-Time NLJFC 5.2 Hallam Rangers.
Supporters man of the match Jonathan Wake.
Managers man of the match Jake Hodges.
Another fantastic performance and result today lads, every single one of you were outstanding and in my eyes all 13 of you were man of the match.




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Hillsborough Pumas 2 - 4 NORTON LEES JFC

Sunday 4th October 2009.

Finally a match to help us get the Millhouses debacle out of our system ! After missing 2 matches due to other cup ties and swine flu, the lads were more than ready for the game at in-form Pumas. Right from the off Norton pushed Pumas back with wave after wave of attacking football and it seemed only a matter of time before we would turn our dominance into goals. We duly took the lead on 7 mins with Otter firing in from close range as pressure finally told on the Pumas defence. The lads continued to press and it was no surprise when we increased our lead on 15 mins, a corner from the left was met by Huckstepp who smashed in a superb volley. Norton continued to dominate so it came as a bit of a shock when Pumas pulled a goal back with their first attack of the game. A hopeful ball over the top fell kindly for their forward to lob the ball over Stevenson and into the empty net. Despite the setback, Norton continued to dominate and re-established a 2 goal cushion with 5 mins to go to half time, Newall with a neat finish after the keeper could only palm away a Wake effort.
Half time Pumas 1.3 NLJFC.

Norton started the second half in much the same way as the first, but as the half went on Pumas came back into the game and created some decent chances but were unable to break down the well organised defence. With 10 mins to go Norton made the game safe, Newall again with the finish to put us 4.1 up after we had been frustrated by the Pumas defence and some wayward finishing. Two mins later Pumas pulled a goal back, a disputed penalty that gave Stevenson no chance. Despite the concession Norton controlled the remainder of the game and could have added to the score while giving Pumas no chances to get back into the game.
Full time Pumas 2.4 NLJFC.
Supporters M.O.M Sam Newall.
Managers M.O.M Tom Huckstepp.
Fantastic performance today lads against a team who had started the season with 3 wins and were confident of continuing their run.