HBU’s U15 team continued its winning ways in their third tournament of the season to hold their lead at the top of the table. Their first game since last November saw them against 2nd placed Norwich, HBU started slowly but once going ahead they were never behind with U13 players Jamie McVey (3) and Josh Butcher (2) adding to goals from David Martindale and captain Josh Branchett.

The 2nd game saw them against the strong Walpole team, who, with a couple of big hitters in the team shoot regularly from within their own half.

HBU gifted their opponents a soft goal in the opening seconds but equalised shortly afterwards, only to find themselves a goal down again and at half time were losing 1-2. Basic errors were making their opponents look stronger and following the half time break HBU went out determined to put on a better display. The second half saw HBU equalise and when awarded a penalty the well hit shot appeared to hit the cross bar and the back of net however with the referee unsighted he was unable to award the goal. This seemed to spur on UTD who continued to move the ball with pace against their bigger opponents and this movement saw HBU gain the lead, from then on the Walpole tactic was to rely on long range efforts which Goalkeepers Rhys Young and Ishen Kiff dealt with. Goals from McVey(3) Butcher(1), Martindale(1) and Branchett(2) saw the final score a repeat of the first game with HBU 7-2 winners.

The final game saw HBU play a friendly against a guest side and having been awarded the points, HBU used this as an opportunity to rotate the squad and although leading 2-1 at halftime went down 3-4 with goals from Branchett, Parkinson Wellard and McVey.

Results leave them needing to continue their winning ways in the final two tournaments if they hope to finish as Champions. HBU have conceded only 7 goals in their 9 games, with keepers Young and Kiff showing their class.

HBU Squad: Rhys Young, Ishen Kiff (GKs), (c) Josh Branchett(4), Jamie McVey(6), David Martindale(2), Josh Butcher(3), Will Parkinson Wellard(1), Katie McVey(1), Amelia Parkinson Wellard.

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