Goal glut beats the big freeze

Snow caused big problems again on matchday eleven of the NPL Football Academy's NPL Youth League.

Only the game between Leek Town and Mickleover Sports went ahead and that was only possible after the fixture was switched from Harrison Park to the FIFA accredited 4G pitch at the Northwood Stadium.

The two teams met two weeks previously when Mickleover were deserving of a 3-0 victory. Then, the Blues played well but were guilty of missing some guilt edge chances.

The NPL Football Academy is all about developing youngsters in the classroom and on the pitch and Leek's students are picking up on the ethos, learning from their mistakes this time around to put away their chances and earn a 4-4 draw.

The hosts got off to the perfect start in the first minute through top scorer Dylan Shilcock before Murtaz Haidary - fresh from training with the Sports first team less than 24 hours previously - equalised for the leaders.

A Nya Graham-Shea finish four minutes before half time ensured Leek went into the break 2-1 up. Shilcock then notched his second of the game on 52 minutes before the league's top scorer Craig Bagshaw - introduced before half time - reduced the deficit in the 55th minute.

Shilcock grabbed his hat-trick in the 67th minute and had looked set to give his side their first win of the season before Mickleover demonstrated their team spirit and character in the final five minutes, Bagshaw bagging his second with a penalty before Tyron Buxton maintained the visitor's unbeaten record when he struck two minutes from time.

NPL Youth League Results - Wednesday 28 January

Leek Town 4
Scorers: Dylan Shilcock 1, 52', 67, Nya Graham-Shea 41
Team: Jones, Harris, Bestwick, Burndred, Hall, Stanley, Faulkner, Knight, Shilcock, Graham-Shea, Swann
Subs: Richards, Campion

Mickleover Sports 4
Scorers: Murtaza Haidary 31, Craig Bagshaw 55, 85, Tyron Buxton 88
Team: Tolley, Amiri, Cronin, Hussein, Tickner, Sanderson, Tompkinson, Buxton, Haidary, Murphy, Ward.
Subs: Jones, Bagshawb.

* The EVO-STIK NPL is the first league in English football to launch a youth league and academy combining football with further education.

The NPLFA opened its doors to its first intake of students in September at five pilot clubs - Leek Town, Mickleover Sports, Newcastle Town, Radcliffe Borough and Romulus - after being officially sanctioned by the Football Association in May.

The initial pilot programme sees up to 20 students aged 16-18 studying for a BTEC Level 3 in Sport on two year courses at each club while working with FA licensed coaches on a daily basis. As well as competing in the new EVO-STIK NPL Youth League, they also play in national competitions led by the FA Youth Cup.

Four more clubs, Witton Albion, Lancaster City, Belper Town and Mossley AFC, have already signed up for next season since the start of the current campaign with the NPLFA set to continue expanding and welcoming more clubs on board.

Follow the new academy's progress at nplfa.co.uk, twitter.com/NPLFA and at facebook.com/NPLFA.

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