Roma romp to great win over Milan in derby

20 June 2012

AFTER a first week of friendly matches, the Crossgar Youth League started its 43rd year to a somewhat damp start.

However, the weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of around 300 soccer-mad kids from the Crossgar area who play from U-6 to U-14 level in this tremendous festival of football.

The U-6s led the way with some champagne football and a five-goal feast as Roma beat AC Milan 5-0 in the opener. Goals from Callum Rogan, Harry Smith and Toby Coole were too much for AC Milan, the defending U-6 cup champions.

In the second U-6 match, Shane Kernan topped a great performance for Juventus with a scorching match-winning goal from a Callum Teggart cross.

For the opposition Hannah Morgan was the pick of the Inter Milan players with a superb performance.

In the U-8 section, Spurs drew 0-0 with Leeds in a tense and very close match that saw great performances from Fionn Mulhern, Chloe Ward, Jack Kerr and Aidan Brannigan.

Manchester United overcame a lively Liverpool outfit 2-0 with the opener from Michael Morgan, a penalty five minutes into the match, and the second from the effervescent Ben Hynds, who always seemed to be in the right place. They were ably supported by Conor Kernan, Jack Hewitt and Aoife Boyle who all had great games. It was also good to see Niall Robb keeping another clean sheet in goals as well as making some darting runs upfield.

Arsenal beat Aston Villa 1-0 in a cracking match that saw Lewis Montgomery going close early on and Bebhionn Rogan having a great game in goals. Arsenal should have gone ahead, but Paul Casement was denied from the penalty spot by a diving Shaun Murphy in the Villa goal.

A draw seemed to be on the cards until a great run by Finbar Macklin led to Arsenal’s winner. This match was a real treat for the fans with Luke Murnin, Reza Pour, Paul Casement and Finn Heaney also having great games.

In the U-10 section Dundee beat Aberdeen 1-0 with a superb solo effort from a rampaging Jay Hawthorne the difference between the sides.

Hibs beat Rangers 3-2 in a fantastic match that had the capacity crowd at Lislea Drive enthralled throughout.

In the other U-10 match, Jamie Rice won it for Hearts against Celtic with two well-deserved goals for Rangers after a typically swashbuckling performance.

In the U-12 section England beat Germany 3-0 in the opener with great goals from Adam Kennedy and Nathan Heath while in the second match, Ireland beat Spain 1-0 through a solitary Christ McCallen goal late in the second half.

This was a tight game with some sparkling long range efforts and Finn McKendry doing very well at the back for Ireland.

In the sole match in the new U-14 age group Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Barcelona.

U-6 results: AC Milan 0 Roma 5 (Callum Rogan 2, Harry Smith 2, Toby Coole), Juventus 1 (Shane Kernan) Inter Milan 0.

U-10: Aberdeen 0 Dundee 1 (Jay Hawthorne), Hibs 3 Rangers 2, Hearts 2 (Jamie Rice 2) Celtic 0.

U-14 Barcelona v Valencia. Barcelona didn’t field so Valencia get the points, Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 1.

U-8: Spurs 0 Leeds 0, Liverpool 0 Man United 2 (Ben Hynds, Michael Morgan), Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 1.

U-12: Germany 0 England 3 (Adam Kennedy 1, Nathan Heath 1, other scorer unknown), Spain 0 Ireland 1 (C McCallen), Holland 2 Italy 2.

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