Moors Academy sides had mixed fortunes on the opening day of the National Football Youth League on Wednesday afternoon.
Ben Beals took charge of our Bede College Academy outfit for the first time and enjoyed an incredible result as his young charges ran out 8-0 winners over UFCA.
It took just three minutes for Moors to open the scoring when Dwaynne Ramirez pressed the visiting goalkeeper into an error and slotted the ball home.
The second goal arrived on 21 minutes when Oli Sooderland fired into the net on the rebound after an Archie Hughes’ free kick fell loose.
Beals’ side then scored twice just before half time to take a stranglehold on the game as Mike Smith won and then scored a penalty before more great work from Hughes gave Ramirez the chance to convert his second of the afternoon for 4-0.
The onslaught continued after the break and Hughes’ incisive pass set up Mike Smith for the fifth goal and then Ramirez was on hand to fire home his hat-trick, following up a great effort from the influential Hughes.
It was 6-0 before the hour when Sean Earl set off on an incredible run from inside his own half to weave in on goal and fire home a brilliant finish.
And Moors rounded off the rout on 62 minutes when Earl turned provider with a pinpoint cross which was finished off neatly by Nathan Atkinson.
It was a fantastic way to kick-off the season for Beals and his young players who were watched by Moors boss Graeme Lee in the encounter at Bede Sports College.
“The lads were absolutely incredible, and I couldn’t be prouder,” admitted Beals afterwards.
“It’s a great start and a big confidence boost for the season ahead so now we have to use that as a platform and maintain that standard throughout 2025/26.”
Full Time: Moors 8 UFCA 0
Moors: T Smith, Earl, Atkinson, Simpson, Sooderland (Fish 62), Augay, Lancaster, Hughes (Swinburn 62), M Smith, Rainsley (Young 31), Ramirez (Ubah 62).
Subs not used: Kenning.
Meanwhile, it was defeat to Whitby Town on the opening day for our New College Durham youngsters under the watch of Moors midfielder Matty Dolan.
The visitors looked strong in the opening stages, but Moors kept them at bay and began to look more comfortable in the game as time went on.
Lewis Stapleton could have put them in front on the half-hour mark with a long-range strike, while Ollie Griffiths had a shot blocked as Moors finished the first half on top.
However, it was Whitby who got in front early in the second period when the stirker went through one-on-one and produced a neat finish, before a mix-up at the back cost Moors a second goal on the hour.
Leighton Hope came close to pulling one back with 20 minutes left but fired wide, but Whitby secured their win on the break with a low shot under keeper Jack Harris to make it 3-0.
Brandon Neely could have headed a consolation for Moors late on but saw his effort blocked and Owen Robertson couldn’t quite convert from the rebound.
“The lads showed some really stuff towards the end of the first half, but Whitby deserved the win overall,” Dolan commented afterwards.
“We have some real positives to take and there were some good individual performances, so once we gel as a team, I am confident we’ll come out on the right side of the result more often than not.”
Full Time: Moors 0 Whitby Town 3
Moors: Harris, Neely (Dodds 60), Storey (Wright 60), Stapleton, Robertson, Griffiths, Knox, Oakes (Jones 55), Docherty, Brechin (Robson 55), Howarth (Hope 55).