Youth football round up - reports from Dunmow Rhodes, Flitch and the Muddogs included.

U10

Maldon Saints 2 Dunmow Rhodes 1

THIS top of the table clash saw both unbeaten sides meet for the first time this year.

Rhodes started the brighter of the two teams, with Alfie Bowen unleashing a powerful drive to put Rhodes ahead. Saints equalised just before half time with a fantastic goal from a corner.

The second half saw Saints push for the winner but Joe Beavis in the Rhodes goal pulled off some wonderful saves. In the last minutes Saints finally broke through and scored the winner.

U14

Flitch Youth 3 Dunmow Rhodes Lions 2

DUNMOW Rhodes Lions made the short trip to Stebbing to play rivals Flitch Youth on Sunday, and came away with a 3-2 defeat.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead in the first 10 minutes when Zak Jagathesan fired in a shot, but it was ruled offside. Another good effort by Adam Griggs was tipped around the post by the Flitch keeper.

The game was evenly contested in early stages of the first half with neither goalie being tested. It came to life on 20 minutes with three quick goals, all going to Flitch.

The second half did not get going until the last 10 minutes, when Dominic Roles scored for Rhodes, and they pulled another back in the last minute courtesy of an own goal.

Burwell Tigers 3 Great Bardfield Muddogs 1

JOSH Fairhurst’ss early headed strike for his fifth goal of the season for Bardfield was the only highpoint in this match, where two lax errors cost them dear.

Going in at 1-1 at half-time Bardfield felt confident for the second half and enjoyed probably their best spell of the match for the opening 10 minutes.

But two bad errors within 10 minutes saw them trailing 3-1 with an uphill task on their hands.

Once again the team fought hard, especially Forbes in midfield providing some great runs. Smith went close at the end trying to reduce the arrears but to no avail.

U16

Danbury Juniors 1 Flitch Youth 2

A GREAT performance saw Flitch Youth win this cup tie 2-1.

A lively first half saw the score level at 0-0, and the second half started with equal commitment from both sides until a scintillating passing move from Danbury saw them take the lead.

The hosts continued to press and only a heroic performance by Flitch keeper Luke Jenkinson prevented them from extending the lead.

Yet persistence and hard work from Flitch paid dividends when top goalscorer Adam Chappell finished a well worked move to level the score. And with 10 minutes to go a 25-yard strike from Chappell secured his brace, giving the Danbury keeper no chance.

Danbury continued to press hard trying to find the equaliser, but a man-of-the-match performance by Jenkinson kept them at bay, backed up of by a strong defensive performance.