HB Saints All Stars u80

FLOODING at Brearley Fields meant that the venue for this keenly awaited derby had to be changed to Luddenden school where the speed of the ball off the artificial surface combined with the wet conditions led to a fast and furious games in which mistakes were heavily punished.

Scorpions got off to a dream start with Dan Bradshaw running through the centre and hitting home in the first minute.

All Stars pressed forward and were unlucky not to be level on 11 minutes with a shot against the post and the follow-up forcing a fine save from keeper Thomas Boom.

A minute later Scorpions doubled their lead with a searching shot from Jake Blackhurst creeping past the unlucky keeper. Two minutes later they went further ahead with Edward Ludlum threading a lovely ball through for man of the match Bradshaw to grab his second goal of the game.

In the second half All Stars’ midfield began to work the ball better but the Scorpions defence were reading the game well with interceptions from Simeon Thomas preventing the final pass.

Scorpions continued to look dangerous on the break and came close to extending their lead with a spate of shots on goal. In the last few minutes All Stars mounted a fierce series of attacks but crucial tackles from Blackhurst kept them at bay and Scorpions finished the game with a victory and a clean sheet.

HB Saints Scorpions 1

HB Saints All Stars 3

In a second game well-organised defending by both sides kept the score at 0-0 until just before half-time when All Stars struck twice in a minute.

In the second half All Stars kept the Scorpions defence busy with sustained pressure form midfield but it was Scorpions who were first to find the net with a superb individual goal on the break by Thomas Robinson.

The last word went to All Stars

though with cracking long range strike that went in off the post as they ran out 3-1 winners.