Norristhorpe again suffered as they went down 5-2 at YMCA in Division II of the Under 14 section of the RCD League.
Having accumulated 10 points from their first four games, relegated Norristhorpe were looking good for a quick return to the top division but, with only one point from their last four outings, their promising start has faded.
YMCA, on the other hand, narrowly avoided relegation to Division III last season by winning four of their last six games and they have carried their good form into this season.
Norristhorpe were under pressure from the start as Kevan Mallinson, Joel Denton and James Ainley took control and it was no surprise when Ethan Horsfall sent a 30 yard free kick into the net off the underside of the crossbar to give the home side a 10th minute lead.
The visitors found an outlet in the form of Matthew Gascoigne who forced several right wing crosses but, despite shots from Jed Bowers and Jack Martin, keeper Joe Turner ensured neither effort found the net.
Like his counterpart, keeper James Randal needed to pull off a couple of fine saves to keep Norristhorpe in the game.
Luke Stewart, Joe Kynaston and Tom Skelly had worked hard throughout the first half to keep Norristhorpe in the game.
However, they were undone when Dayjon Johnson was allowed far too much freedom in the centre of the field and he made the best of it when Alex King provided a pass to the edge of the penalty area for Johnson to drill a left foot shot into the bottom corner to give YMCA a two goal cushion.
The half-time break produced a turn round in fortunes for the visitors whose neat passing between James McCulloch and Alex Jones-Gomersall set up Skelly who gave Norristhorpe hopes a lift with a goal minutes after the restart.
All YMCA’s first half dominance was wiped out when Osait Aliwan powered home an equaliser, but the Norristhorpe celebrations had barely ended when Mallinson pounced to restore YMCA’s lead.
The strength of Jayden Donaldson and Ashley Wilkins began to cause problems for the visitors who had given YMCA a run for their money on a heavy pitch but tired legs began to take their toll and when Donaldson, Horsfall and Denton combined to send in a cross from the left, Alex King was left unmarked to score YMCA’s fourth goal from close range.
The last goal was route one when keeper Turner launched a huge clearance that caught the Norristhorpe defence square, allowing Donaldson to drill a shot into the top corner.
This was a solid and deserved win for YMCA who move into mid-table.
Norristhorpe played some good football in patches but, they’ll have to produce more of it if they want to challenge in the top half of the division.
