U10A
After finish 4th in their first competitive season last season, the U10A were hopeful of equaling this or perhaps bettering it. Paul Chambers and Jim Pacey were in charge of the side for a third season and welcomed Steve Gaukroger into their management team. Lost from last seasons squad was Matthew Pearson and after just three games Aiden McWilliams left for the Falklands with his parents. New players coming in were Spencer King, Steffan Lilley, Max Moore and Luke Wollington and together with the eight remaining from last season the squad became a very balanced side.
September
The season opened with a trip to Sleaford whose only side of last season at U9s finished in a mid table position in the ‘A’ league. A Harry Wilson goal was enough to see a 1-0 win recorded to get things off to a positive start. The opening home game saw eight goals shared with Saxilby, including a hat-trick for Jamie Gaukroger and one from Ollie Smith. These two would to share 37 of the 48 goals scored during the season. League Position 2/10
October
The second clean sheet in three starts came in the next game with a 6-0 win over Hykeham Tigers. This game was the last for Aiden McWilliam who scored his first club goal. The only other game of October saw Fishtoft ‘A’ from the ‘A’ league reap revenge for having been knocked out of the league cup last season by beating Meg 3-2. Keeper Jake Burrell collected the Monthly Golden Glove Award League Position 4/10
November
The next game produced a great performance and result as title chasers North Lindum Hawks ‘A’ were beat 1-0 thanks to an Olly Smith goal. With the enforced Winter Break the unbeaten league start extended in to the start of 2011 – Jake Burrell collected the Golden Glove for a second month. League Position 4/9
January
The first game of the New Year saw the first league double secured as Hykeham were beaten 7-0. This was also the biggest home win of the season and saw Olly Smith bag 4 goals. A fifth win in six league games came in the next game as Welton were beaten 4-1 but playing two games in one weekend took its toll as the side lost their unbeaten record in the next game as Sleaford inflicted the worst home defeat of the season 5-1. It became three in a row for Jake Burrell as he again won the Golden Glove Award. League Position 2/9
February
Having already beaten NLH ‘A’ February opened with an excellent 2-1 victory over NLH’B’ who would also be chasing for the title. This game saw Harry Wilson make his 50th appearance. The return game with NLH ‘A’ was the next game and this saw the 100% away record go as the sides drew 2-2. A second league double was picked up in the next game with Welton beaten 5-0 – a fifth clean sheet in eleven games. Guess who picked up the Golden Glove Award – yes Jake Burrell – League Position 2/9
March
March proved the worst month of the season as Rustons inflicted a heavy 4-0 home defeat in the first game and then HBW Utd won 4-3 a week later ending the sides unbeaten away record. To end a winless month the team drew 2-2 at Saxilby in a game which saw Jamie Gaukroger make his 50th appearance – the poor month saw the side slip to their lowest position of the season League Position 4/9
April
To be in a promotion position at the end of the season some fighting spirit was required and this came in the first game of April as Rustons were beaten 4-1. Jamie Gaukroger netted two, taking him to 50 club goals in only 51 games. Making his 50th club appearance was Ben Long. The side then reaped revenge on HBW Utd with a 2-1 victory. This left just one game left at NLH ‘B’. At least a point was needed to finish as equal runners-up and force a play-off. After an even first half NLH went two up but digging in Jamie Gaukroger reduced the arrear with only minutes to go and then almost on time Olly Smith (making his 50th appearance) went on a solo run to secure a point. The play-off for Runners-up was played at Woodhall Spa on 1st May and what a dramatic game this was. In sunny but windy conditions North Lindum Hawks 'A' went 1-0 up with the wind behind them but after the break the battling Meg side levelled through Jamie Gaukroger before going ahead through top scorer Olly Smith. The lead lasted only minutes before Hawks levelled and the game went to extra time. There was nothing to separate the sides in this period thus bring into the equation the dreaded 'penalty shoot-out'. After five penalties apiece the two sides were still tied at two converted penalties each and it went down to sudden death. This saw goallie Jake Burrell hold his nerve to be the hero of the hour as Hawks missed their kick and Meg were winners - there was no 'one' hero with all the players playing their part in this great performance as they deservedly took the runners-up spot to the glee of their jubilant supporters and parents.
FINAL POSITION – RUNNERS-UP
From the 14 players used during the 18 games played, 12 made 10 or more appearance with Jamie Gaukroger and Jay Pacey ever present and Spencer King, Ben Long and Olly Smith missing only one. 50 goals were scored at an average of 2.7 goals per game while 32 were conceded (Av. 1.77). 8 of the team found the net with Olly Smith the top scorer with 21 goals in 17 games at an average of 1.23 per game (he netted 1 hat-trick). Second highest was Jamie Gaukroger with 18 goals in 18 games (av. 1.00 per game) he also scored one hat-trick. No side in the league completed a league double but perhaps surprisingly Metheringham managed only two themselves, against the two bottom sides, Welton and Hykeham. The side only lost one away game conceding just 11 goals in 8 games. The best run was going unbeaten in their last five games, this did include three draws. The worst run was being winless in three games from 13/3 to 27/3 but this too included one draw. The biggest win was at Hykeham 7-0 and the worst defeat was losing 5-1 to Sleaford. All in all the club is very proud of the achievement of this season and wish you all the best as you go into full sided football next season – a new challenge – Good Luck and Well Done!