Clee Town join Athletico in the quarter-finals

IT was a mixed weekend for local sides in the County Cups last weekend as both the Under-16 and Under-14 tournaments approached their final stages.

In the Under 16 tournament Kev Taylor's Cleethorpes Town side travelled to Scunthorpe to play Crosby Utd JFC and beat their steeltown rivals 3-2 to join local rivals Athletico in the quarter final. Goals from Devaney, Keys and Torrington secured the closely-fought win.

They will now make the long trip to the Abbey Lawn ground in Bourne where they will meet a strong Bourne Town side who overcame Louth Old Boys 2-1 after extra time in the previous round.

Kevin Darwood's Discoveries A were unable to complete a hat-trick of local quarter finalists as they narrowly lost 3-2 to Skegness side East Coast Juniors.

Tony Walker's Athletico will meet Appleby Frodingham Jrs in the quarter finals at Novartis on Sunday. All matches kick off at 1.30pm

The Under-14 tournament saw both remaining local sides bow out.

Cleethorpes Town played their much postponed tie against Messingham Juniors and were defeated in an entertaining game.

Andrew Clarkson's side had surrendered their home advantage in an effort to complete the fixture and the 'new' home side netted half a dozen times to run out 6-3 winners.

Local participation was ended as Optis Boys crashed out 6-1 at Lowlands JFC in their quarter final.

Tony Birkett's Optis side had been one of the tournament favourites until they met the strong Waddington-based outfit.

Discoveries A are still in with a great chance of lifting the Under 12 County Cup but they must overcome a tricky away semi-final at Holbeach Utd in March.

Athletico warmed up for their County Cup game with a league fixture against Clee Community B at Lindsey, and they made hard work of a game that they appeared to have in the bag early on.

Goals from Munson, Pinion (two), Ridley and an own goal saw them cruise to a seemingly unassailable 5-2 lead.

This was Athletico's first league game since November and, as the game wore on, their lack of matches began to show in their legs.

Credit must go to Clee as they approached the second half with a more determined attitude.

They got at the Athletico defence, who seemed uncharacteristically vulnerable, and reduced the deficit.

They seemed a good bet for taking at least a point from the game.

But, despite a hat-trick from inspirational frontman Crowder and a strike from team-mate McGrath, time ran out for the Clee side and Athletico displayed enough grit to hold out for a 5-4 win.

Athletico remain handily placed in the league in fourth place, four points off the leaders with two games in hand.

Bernie Clifton's Clee Community C moved into second place in the Under-15 league table as they completed the double over Cleethorpes Rangers.

This was the Clee sides seventh win from as many games and, along with Discoveries and Breakaways, they have a 100 per cent record.

The 4-1 victory came courtesy of goals from McLean, Catley, Seddon and Young. Rangers' reply came from Hassani's second goal of the season.

GSC narrowed the gap on Under-14A leaders Optis Boys as they overcame Clee Community A 3-2 at Lindsey School.

Burns, Skelly and Starkey were the scorers in GSC's fifth league win of the season, while Hammerton and Mansfield replied for the home side.

GSC now lie four points behind the leaders having played a game more.

Clee Community A remain at the foot of the division, but only five points separate everyone except the leading pair.

At Stallingborough, Healing Hotspurs entertained Immingham Pilgrims A and a close game was eventually won by Healing by a 5-3 scoreline.

Simpson (two) and Smyth netted for the visitors but Healing replied through two goals from Pearson and a match-winning hat-trick from frontman Taylor.

The title race for the Under-14B championship is really hotting up and both contenders Solar Tigers and Breakaways registered convincing victories at the weekend.

Iain Boyd's Tigers overcame hosts Clee Community B 5-0 at Lindsey School.

Striker Cook took his season tally to 12 with a well-taken hat-trick and Rothenberg and Gregory each registered once to complete the scoring.

At Humberstone Comp, Breakaways entertained Immingham Pilgrims B and took the points with a convincing 6-0 scoreline.

Scott, Perrin and Bell each scored once and Glover completed a hat-trick.

The two sides have already played each other twice this season so they know it's their performances against other sides that will ultimately decide the title race.

Elsewhere Caistor notched their sixth win of the season as they won an entertaining encounter against Discoveries D.

Caistor netted through a Smith pair, a strike from Page and a four-goal haul from in-form striker Orren Oliver.

Discoveries replied through Potter, Graves, Conway and Crawford.

The 7-4 scoreline accurately reflected a terrific game played in a great spirit by two excellent sides.

Crows Nest and Clee Community C shared six goals as they played out a thoroughly entertaining 3-3 draw which really could have gone either way.

Smith scored twice for Crows who also netted through Dennis, while Downie, Overend and Wilson replied for Clee.