11/02/19 Review: Scarborough Athletic U19 vs Pontefract Collieries U19

Scarborough Athletic U19 8-0 Pontefract Collieries U19 (Northern U19 Alliance, East Division)

Flamingo Land Stadium

Having made the effort to finally tick off one of Yorkshire's finest old grounds at the weekend in the shape of York City's Bootham Crescent, I would now have the remainder of my trip back up to Bridlington on family visiting duties to find out what else was on offer. On this occasion, the opportunity to hop along to the new Flamingo Land Stadium was waggled under my nose and on a cold Monday night who wouldn't want to go out and watch under 19's football in a pair of horrendously flimsy shorts? It's like being on holiday, right?

Okay, maybe it was just me. Everyone else looks pretty cosy

In yet another act of bold braveness I stepped out of spending a night in front of the fire with my Nan watching Emmerdale in search of some fast-paced footy! Thankfully, I knew exactly the place to find such a thing and with a ding-dong battle of 1st vs 2nd lined up for the East Coast I was in my car and making the short journey from Flamborough to Scarborough. Although my intention was to visit the first team in my debut to their new ground, it isn't that often I'm in the area for a prolonged time and having been challenged by a work colleague who had a lot to do with the development of the facility, I arrived at the Flamingo Land Stadium about half an hour before kick-off so that I could have a potter around. Despite this being a development team game, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were plenty of folk knocking about Scarborough Sports Village and as I circumnavigated the ground I managed to grab a peak over the fence at the lads warming up.

The usual turnstile was closed for this one

My next move was to head inside to the reception-cum-clubhouse area which was obviously also very fancy and modern. From a headcount it looked as though roughly 100 had come out to watch the match and this naturally included a good spread of Pontefract mums and dads out to support their young ens as they represented the under 19 segment of the Evo-Stik Eastern Division One club. I have already watched the two senior sides in action this season, both away games, and on what I can only describe as my wettest outing to date I saw the Colls crush Gresley at the Moat Ground last December. The week before that I was in Basford watching the Seadogs lose at Greenwich Avenue at a crucial time when Boro were top of the Evo-Stik Premier Division. At the start of yesterday's match, Scarborough's youngsters were top of the division by just two points, with the Colls' lads sat in second. Interestingly, the only defeat Scarborough have suffered so far was at the hands of their West Yorkshire opposition and if the visitors could repeat this they would leapfrog the coastal club. Would the Boro be able to take the pressure? I predicted a 4-2 victory, for the record.

No ultras in force tonight

The match got started at dot on 19:45 and within the opening minute the hosts were ahead, as Aiden Thurston took advantage of an early Colls error to slot home. Scarborough 1-0 Pontefract. Some people were still getting themselves comfy in the main stand for this table-topping clash and no sooner had they got settled they were up on their feet again celebrating a second. Harry Bissett managed to get away from the visiting defenders and he was able to double his side's lead with still just three minutes played. Scarborough 2-0 Pontefract. The blue kitted away side looked shell shocked and knew that they already faced an uphill task. This would be made even more the case in the 16th minute as Flynn McNaughton was brave in his efforts to poach yet another goal. Scarborough 3-0 Pontefract. Boro were clearly in ruthless form and well up for the fight, meaning that despite a fifteen minute goalless spell we would soon see the fourth. Bissett was the man again to hit home and it was already game over. Scarborough 4-0 Pontefract. The Pontefract gaffer responded with a quadruple sub in response and this did at least keep the score at four until the break.

A four goal first half, lovely

If, like me, you expected the second-half to be slightly less eventful, you'd be mistaken. The second 45 kicked-off and with the introduction of a Boro substitute in the form of George Warmsley, we would see the left-winger add another level of quality to proceedings. The number 16 picked up the ball on the left, cut inside and then smashed home the best goal of the game with his first touches. Talk about impact. Scarborough 5-0 Pontefract. On the hour mark it was a similar occurrence from Warmsley, this time from in the box, as he again was able to waltz past the struggling Ponte defence and knock home his second, Boro's sixth in another devastating attack. Scarborough 6-0 Pontefract. Although the scoreline at this point was reading as a rout, it would be unfair to not mention the chances that the visitors had too. With the side sitting in second and seven points clear of third placed Huddersfield YMCA, they are obviously a good side in their own right and were it not for a mixture of decent goalkeeping at times from Thordasson and poor composure by the away side we could well have seen a 6-3 or even closer scoreline. As it was though, the last five minutes approached and Boro still had a couple more goals in them. It would be Walmsley and Fergus McGauthrie who combined for both of these goals and on the first occasion McGauthrie laid it off for Walmsley who proudly swept his hat-trick much to the delight of Blott and Ingram on the Boro bench. Scarborough 7-0 Pontefract. The roles would then be reversed in stoppage time as this time Walmsley returned the favour and unselfishly allowed McGauthrie to get a well-deserved goal to round off a great evening at the Flamingo Land Stadium. Scarborough 8-0 Pontefract.

Full-time, 8-0

The game ended shortly after the final goal and I headed straight back to my car ready to drive home. All that's left to say really is well done to Boro on a great display and hopefully one that will help them on their way to glory!