Under 13 Review
After the success of last season where the side had won promotion from the ‘D’ League as runners-up the new campaign was going to be a new venture for the Under 13s. After of three seasons under the duel management of Paul Scigala and John Simpson had taken over the helm as Paul had left the area. Initially he was assisted by Dave Jones but this was only for a short time, leaving him to battle on, virtually alone, which in reality is at least a two-man job, running a junior football team. Lost from last seasons squad was Ryan Scigala while two new players joined, Tom Dealtry (playing only 8 games) and Tomas Phipps who joined in January and became a regular team member.
September
The season got off to a losing start with a 6-2 home defeat against Horncastle. Then the side saw progress in the cup with a 10-0 victory over Cranwell ‘B’ from the ‘D’ League. Hat-tricks were scored by Lewis Kelly and Harry Wright who would contest the leading scorers ‘mantle’ through to the end of the season. The big cup win was enough to help John Simpson to the Manager of the Month Award League Position 11/12
October
A second clean sheet in a row was registered in the next game as Ruskington were beaten 4-0. Unfortunately this was the last clean sheet also. Then to complete what proved to be the best run of the season (3 straight wins) the side beat Louth Town 4-2. The first away game of the season saw the side visit Navenby where some dubious officiating saw exit in the cup 7-4. This was followed by the worst away defeat of the season as champions ‘elect’ Saxilby won 13-0 (albeit only 9 players were available for the trip). The month closed with an equally heavy defeat as Cranwell ‘A’, who would contest the title won 12-0. This was the second game in a row in which the side failed to score but it was also the last occasion. League Position 10/12
November
The first game in November saw another trip to Navenby, this time in the league, and a 6-3 defeat was suffered. Their match officials had not improved! This reverse signalled the end of the (equal) worst run of the season – 4 straight defeats. The next game saw the biggest home win of the season with East Coast beaten 12-4 – Lewis Kelly hit three and Harry Wright – 6. This proved be the last game until the New Year due to our freak weather but John Simpson lifted the manager of the Month Award for a second occasion and Harry Wright lifted the Golden Boot Award for November - League Position 8/12
January
The enforced break did the side no favours as the first three games of 2011, all at home, all finished in defeat. In a game which saw only nine players available, the side lost 7-3 to Sutton Rovers at the start of January. This game saw Tom Phillips make his 50th club appearance. The next match produced a league double for Cranwell ‘A’ who won 5-2 and then on Harry Wright’s 100th appearance, local rivals HBW Utd won 3-1. The month closed with two games in two days, the first of which saw Tomas Phipps make his debut. First came a good 3-1 win against Horncastle, avenging the earlier defeat and then a long trip to Sutton ended in an 8-5 defeat and league double number two – Lewis Kelly bagged his third hat-trick of the season. This game saw Harry Wright score his 175th club goal in only 102 games while Luke Sullivan made his 50th appearance - League Position 9/12
February
February saw two big wins from the three games played. Lewis Kelly registered his fourth hat-trick of the season by in doing so also reaching 50 club goals in just 34 games as Louth Town were beaten 8-2. It was also a milestone for captain Sam Flintham, who made his 100th club appearance. This was the sides first league double of the season. The team came to earth with a bump on their trip to Welton, losing 7-2 for another league double. Bouncing back East Coast were beaten 9-3 for a second league double with Lewis Kelly getting yet another hat-trick. With the team hitting 19 goals in three games it saw John Simpson lift a third Managers Award of the season. League Position 8/12
March
March proved a busy month with no less than five games. The first two both ended in 5-2 defeats, the first at Woodhall and then at home to Navenby (another double conceded). The sides biggest away win was secured in the next game as Ruskington were beaten 10-2 (Lewis Kelly netting his 6th hat-trick). The last two also ended in defeat with champions Saxilby winning 7-4 and HBW Utd 9-2 (both league doubles for the opponents). League Position 8/12
April
The season closed with two home games. The first saw Welton become the sixth side to complete a league double as they won 5-1. This game saw Luke Jones make his 100th club appearance. Then the final game brought Woodhall Spa to Metheringham and in a really close game a seventh double was conceded with a 3-2 defeat. League Position 9/12
After high hopes of finishing in a mid table position on promotion the side had to settle for 9th. Of 15 players used 11 made 15 or more appearances. Of these, five were ever present, Sam Flintham (missed only 1 game in 5 seasons), Tom Phillips, Josh Siddons, Aaron Stafford and Harry Wright (5th successive season –ever present). As mentioned Lewis Kelly and Harry Wright would contest the leading scores and from 95 goals scored they contributed 62. In total 11 of the 15 players found the net. Harry Wright was top scorer for a 5th season scoring 32 in 23 games (av. 1.35) and Lews Kelly 30-20 from mdfield (av. 1.50 per game). The side were the clubs top scorers with 95 goals at an average of 4.04 per game but they also conceded the most – 122 (av. 5.08 per game). Seven of the eight sides above them in the table completed league doubles with the bottom three all conceding doubles to Metheringham.
There is one thing no one can say and that is that the U13s matches are boring as 217 goals were seen in the 24 games played – that is an amazing 9.4 per game. The team certainly know where the goal is, so all that is needed now, going into the new season, is to be able to defend a little better and a good season could be anticipated.