Opening Day Delight for Youths and Hale!

Heavy rain overnight and on Tuesday morning put paid to nine fixtures on the opening day of the season, but on Yardley's 3G pitch and Blakenhale's astro-turf, the Youths and Hale both took advantage and netted six points apiece to set the early La Liga pace.

Blakenhale entertained La Liga regulars Colebourne, and newbies, Firs. Hale were quick about their business, and though they could have had more, they had to settle for a comfortable 4-0 victory in a dominant display over the Coles. Firs then put up a brave fight against the home side, but Hale prevailed by 3 goals to 2 in a ding-dong affair. In the evening's other fixture, Firs compounded Colebourne's misery by nicking the points, 2-1.

Across on Yardley's still pristine 3G surface, the Youths, with fresh vigour following a promising pre-season, made light work of St Bernadette's as they cruised to a 4-0 win. The Youths had a much sterner test against SSPP. In a close and competitive first half, SSPP took the lead and their defensive duo, winning every arial battle, helped preserve the advantage to the interval. The Youths continued to press in the second stanza and finally broke the black'n'white rearguard down midway through. Both sides went in search of a second goal and with just a couple of minutes remaining, Youth's 'keeper launched 'route-one style' deep into SSPP territory. The ball finally eluded SSPP's towers and a Yardley attacker toe-ended the ball home for the winning goal. SSPP did go back to Erdington with some consolation though as they downed a hapless St Beernadette's, 3-1. "It's going to be a long, hard season", huffed Bernie's boss, Mr M-J after he endured a miserable afternoon.

So, the la Liga season is up and running and Blakenhale sit atop the fledgling table, ahead of Yardley by virtue of having scored one more goal than the Youths. SSPP sit third, with Firs, fourth. Early days though!