Gr-eight show from Tigers

OPENING CLASH: Spartak 78 under 11s put in a strong performance in their opening match on a full sized pitch on Sunday, but slipped to a 5-2 defeat against Cherry Hinton Lions.

Showing great character goals came from Jesper Walker and Joseph Whelan.

# The side are pictured above with coaches Darron Diggons and Pete Game Picture: submitted

Braintree Town U-8 0

Dunmow Rhodes Tigers 8

Dunmow Rhodes Tigers under eights put eight past Braintree in a comfortable first day victory.

After scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes Tigers were always

in control.

Two goals from Louie Wise, and one each from Brandon Frost, Harry Chew, Michael Braithwaite, Alexander Scott-Bell, Sammy Williamson and an own goal completing the rout.

Boss Neil Bell said: "It was a good performance, but I thought we looked a little rusty in all areas of the pitch, so there's plenty of room for improvement. There is still a lot to do, but this is a good start."

Dunmow Rhodes Tigers U-9 2 Fennlands United 0

A fantastic team display saw Rhodes victorious against a well organised the Fennland side in the first game of the season.

Rhodes had to defend well in the first half with solid performances from Soutar and Barry keeping the game scoreless at half time.

The second half saw Rhodes starting to dictate the game, with Leaning leading the charge. But it was Evans who was the hero with two well taken goals which sealed the victory.

Burnham Ramblers U-9 0

Dunmow Rhodes Lions 5

Newly promoted Dunmow were off to a flying start against Burnham Ramblers claiming all the points with a comfortable victory.

Dunmow took the lead in the 13th minute when a great strike from Thompson was parried by the keeper into the path of Gallop who found the net, with Thompson adding a second minutes later.

The second half saw Wise get on the score sheet with two goals from Carey rounding off the victory.

Braintree Town U-10 Blues 0 Dunmow Rhodes Tigers 7

Dunmow Rhodes under 10s heralded their promotion to the top Blackwater League with an impressive display of youth football against Braintree Town Blues.

Rhodes clicked from the outset and took the lead after just seven minutes through Sutton. Two minutes later Baxter doubled the lead and Crook fired in a brace before half-time.

Braintree started the second half well, but could not sustain this intensity and conceded an unfortunate own goal.

Dicker slotted home Rhode's sixth goal, with Sutton completing the rout after 48 minutes.

Saffron Walden Town U-13 A 1 St. Ives Rangers A 1

The Young Bloods announced their arrival in their age group's top division with a well earned draw at Ridgeons Park on Sunday.

St Ives held their own in the opening period, but were rocked in the 20th minute when new boy Charlie Davies reacted first to a parried effort from Archie Adams to give Walden the lead.

Walden's joy was short lived however as only a couple of minutes later, a hopeful pass was latched on to by the St Ives centre forward who levelled the scores at the interval.

The second half saw some great end to end football with both teams having chances to win, but the defences held firm.

Saffron Walden Town U-16 3

Bar Hill Colts 8

Despite a well taken effort from Walden man of the match, Jimmy Hall in the 12th minute and two successful penalties from Tom Foxley, the Walden boys were made to look very pedestrian as they were humbled at home by a revitalised Bar Hill team.

Three goals in the first half and five in the second told their story and served to make the home side look at best, mediocre.

Spartak U-15 2

Isleham United 4

Spartak under 15s slipped to a narrow home defeat against Isleham on Sunday.

Spartak had the better of the early exchanges, but Isleham took the lead after a fine parried save from keeper Henry Wells rebounded into the net off a Isleham forward.

Isleham scored a second early in the second half, but goals from debutant Lewis Luscombe and a header from Jack Baker brought Spartak level.

However Spartak were stunned when from the kick off Isleham scored from a superb 30 yard shot which gave keeper Wells no chance. Spartak pushed forward in search of a further equaliser and United took advantage to wrap the game up.

Spartak 78 U-14 1

Brampton Spartans 2

In a close match Spartak were unlucky not to take a point against Brampton Spartans.

Trailing 2-0 at half time, Spartak fought back strongly in the second half. Soon after the break, several chances opened up and they finally made the breakthrough when Sam Mitchell chipped the goalkeeper.

Spartak pressed for an equaliser, but time ran out and Brampton

took the victory.

Dunmow United Bombers U-10 5 Hatfield Peverel Stripes 1

Dunmow United put in a five-star performance to defeat Hatfield Peverel on Sunday.

Bombers got off to a great start taking the lead through Tom Nash's penalty in the first minutes.

Rory McCormack tidily knocked in a second goal and a fantastic free kick from Sam Mixture put the Bombers 3-0 up at half-time.

Rory McCormack then scored his second before Hatfield Peverel added a consolation. Mixture fired in his second goal late in the second half to round off the victory.

Dunmow United U-10 1

Focus Ferrers 0

Dunmow Stars enjoyed an impressive start to the season with a victory over Ferrers.

United were under pressure in the first half and had to defend resolutely, but just before the break Goodwin became a threat to the visitors and the score line opened up with a skillful run and a great shot into the back of the Ferrers net.

The second half proved much the same with Ferrers putting pressure on keeper Longley, although not deterring him to pull off some fine saves to keep the stars ahead.

Dunmow United U-9 Lions 0 Chelmsford Orient 3

Dunmow Lions played an outstanding first half in their debut match this season, but it wasn't enough as they slipped to a defeat against Chelmsford.

The Lions dominated the first half and narrowly missed a goal when James Benbrook hit a dipping shot that beat the keeper only to see it go inches over the crossbar.

Dunmow failed to maintain the pressure in the second half, but held out until 10 minutes before the end when a penalty was awarded to Chelmsford Orient, which was

duly converted.

Two goals quickly followed despite Lions goalkeeper Tom Carrington making a string of fine saves in the second half.

Aztecs B U-13 4

Chesterton Villa 3

Aztecs got the new league season off to a good start with a narrow victory over Chesterton on Sunday.

The visitors made a confident start and Aztecs had to withstand early pressure, however, it was Aztecs who took the lead

after 15 minutes when a header from Jack Fosberry was fired home by Tim Jefferies.

The lead was doubled shortly afterwards when a pass from James Jefferies found his brother on the right wing, who neatly placed the ball past the keeper for his and Aztecs' second goal.

Chesterton had several chances to score, with two shots just

clearing the bar, and it was no surprise when they pegged Aztecs back to 2-1 at half-time.

After the interval, substitute George Reynolds gave Aztecs extra pace and it was his run and cool finish which gave Aztecs their third goal. Two excellent goals from Abraham Mayanja brought the scores level and the match seemed to be heading for a draw until a late winner from James Jefferies gave Aztecs the points.

Thaxted Rangers U-11 5

Meadow Youth Eagles 2

Goals from George Simmons (2), Tommy Mercer, James Kelvin and Chris Gliddon, gave Thaxted a healthy start to the new season.

Thaxted dominated the match and though the visitors never gave up, solid defending by the home side restricted Meadow Youth's chances.

Although Meadow did pull one goal back through a late first half penalty to make it 2-1, Thaxted soon restored a two-goal cushion and by the time the visitors scored their second goal, the result was never really in any doubt.

Thaxted Rangers U-12 3 Sporting 77 4

Thaxted gave a good account of themselves in an evenly fought contest against Sporting 77, but ultimately lost to a break away goal four minutes from full-time.

Sporting took the lead after 10 minutes, but Thaxted came back to equalise shortly before half-time through Danny Buckley.

In the second half Sporting scored twice in two minutes to go 3-1 up, but Thaxted fought back to level the score with two goals from Freddie Haynes. However a late Sporting strike game the visitors the victory.

Tiptree Minors Athletic U-9 2

Flitch Youth 5

Newly-formed Stebbing-based Flitch Youth FC played their inaugural league match under the baking hot Tiptree sun, and came away with a well earned victory.

Flitch put their opponents under constant pressure from the opening whistle, but fell behind to an early Tiptree strike.

The remainder of the first half was largely one-way traffic, with Flitch equalising through an own goal and then taking the lead through goals from Frost and Bull.

A long-range screamer from Dicker gave Flitch their fourth goal in the second half and Frost wrapped up the points with his second and Flitch's fifth near the end, before the home side scored a late consolation.

Plantation Youth U-8 4

Balsham Colts 6

An action-filled game saw Plantation make their mini-soccer debut against Balsham

After falling behind in the second minute, Plantation gradually found their feet and it wasn't long before Mason McCandless slotted home the equaliser. However, a lack of concentration saw the visitors grab two quick goals before the end of the first period.

A brave second half fight back, with sound defensive contributions from Josh Weeks and good forward play from George Clarke,

saw Plantation level the game at

3-3 with McCandless grabbing

his second of the match from

close range.

All was set for a storming final 15 minutes, but the visitors grabbed two quick goals in the space of a minute. Plantation fought back with McCandless completing his hat-trick with a well taken effort

As the home team pushed forward looking for a last gasp equaliser Balsham broke out to wrap up victory in what was an exciting game to kick off the new season.

Plantation Youth U-12 2

Littleport Town 1

Plantation put in a great performance to defeat Littleport at the weekend.

With just two minutes on the clock Plantation opened their account for the new season through Matthew Jones. The visitors battled back but the Plantation back four and goalkeeper held firm.

After the break the visitors turned up the pressure and deservedly equalised in the 43rd minute.

However, with five minutes remaining, Jack Eady whipped in a corner which was met by the head of Sam Richardson. His looping header beat the outstretched keeper's hands and nestled in the back of the net to give Plantation a well deserved opening day victory.