Woodkirk Valley 3       Rothwell Juniors 0   
A return to form saw Valley U13’s put three past Rothwell to maintain third place in GJFL Division 1. Valley U13’s, now sponsored by Eddisons, www.eddisons.com, have struggled in the last couple of matches but this was a positive showing from the lads. The first half saw a notable display from Ellis who put in some superb passes down the right and a superb cross for Hartley, whose shot just flashed wide. Several more efforts went close and there really wasn’t much between the sides as the half ended goalless. The fighting spirit continued after the restart and Stott put Valley 1-0 up as he slotted home a header in the box from Holden. Rothwell always looked like they could reply and the defence had to be on their toes. The anxiety of a one goal lead was relieved when commitment from Lowrie turned defence into attack, winning a vital challenge, before clearing down the line for Widdowson who crossed in for Holderness to finish 2-0. The day was completed with a third as Holderness took on a pass from midfield, his shot initially being spilled by the keeper but didn’t need a second invitation to slot home. A good competitive game and played in the right spirit by both sides. A deserved Woodkirk man of the match was given to Parry.

Wigton Moor 6     Woodkirk Valley 2 - GJFL Challenge Cup    
A 6-2 scoreline put Woodkirk U13’s out of the GJFL Challenge cup on Sunday , although it wasn’t always an easy ride for Wigton. The first half witnessed a magnificent performance from Valley as they took the lead over a highly regarded Wigton side. McNichol was first to find the net with a superbly struck free kick that would have graced any premier league pitch. Wigton looked to reply but found it hard against such a determined Valley defence. Keeper Naylor gave confidence to his teammates as he judged well to make runs, closed down advancing strikers and gathered every ball to safety to earn him man of the match. Valley kept making attacking runs and Kennedy doubled the lead as he finished with style hitting first time from a corner kick. Holderness and Hartley also came close for Valley before Wigton found a reply to end the half 2-1 to Valley. The second half saw Valley change a couple of players and Wigton now had the slope of the pitch in their favor. A good move on goal saw them hit the crossbar before finally scoring from close in the box. With the game back to parity Wigton grew in strength and pushed on whilst Woodkirk, having given their all in the first half, begun to tire. The hosts killed of any hope of getting back into the game as they took command and secured a forth. Two further goals were conceded by Valley including an own goal before the whistle blew for full time. 6-2 Wigton now progress to round four. Woodkirk still have a chance of collecting some silverware as they drop into the Supplementary Cup.

Woodkirk Valley 5      Ossett Town 1   
A great display by Valley sees them maintain third spot in the div 1 table. Woodkirk have looked impressive lately and Sunday was no exception. Both teams started with commitment but it was Valley who camped themselves in the Ossett half. It took a while to get proceedings underway but Ellis settled any nerves as he slotted home Hartley’s cross. Hartley then grabbed the second as he latched on to a pass from Holden. The third goal was the best of the day. Parry, tightly marked at right midfield, did well to hold the ball up then loose his man before passing to Jaggar, who in turn found Holden to cross from the left and into the box for Hartley to finish. 3-0 at the break. The second half gave Valley the chance to change the team round and try players in different positions. Defender Kemp looked great up front and linked up well with Holderness. Hartley continued to antagonize the defence with his lightning pace and McNichol got on the score sheet as he hit a trademark free kick from some 30 yards out. Holderness made it five as he took on a high bouncing through ball, controlling it well before lofting his shot over the keeper. A flourish towards the end had the Valley lads queuing up for a piece of the action. Holden tried a speculative effort from 30 Yards forcing a good save from the keeper and out for a corner. Kemp, out on the right, hit toward goal but it came back for Jaggar to feed in again, where Holderness’s riffled shot was parried away to Stott who smashed against the post. A good showing from Kennedy, Widdowson, Webster and Chadwick meant a great team performance. Naylor had a quiet game but was denied a clean sheet as Ossett found the net with the last kick of the game following a corner 5-1.  Woodkirk man of the match: Hartley

Wigton Moor 5     Woodkirk Valley 0    
It was a brave battle at Soldiers Field but ultimately a second half injury forced Woodkirk’s destiny. Wigton remain unbeaten this season but Valley showed they were a match as they put on a magnificent first half display. The back four of Lowrie, Kemp, Parry and McNichol were absolutely solid and keeper Ellis had hardly anything to do. Wigton also played well and closed down quickly to deny Valley any real chances on goal. The game was still up for grabs at 0-0 as the ref blew for half time. The second half and the first strike in anger came from Wigton, but Ellis pulled off a great diving save to put it out for a corner. Moments later and the game had to be halted as Lowrie went down following a defensive scramble for the ball. There was nothing malicious in the challenge but he had fallen awkwardly and his neck was in agony. This was a blow for Valley and despite changing the team around, they never really found their balance for the remainder of the game. It didn’t look good as the ambulance stretchered off Lowrie off to the LGI, and Wigton raised their game to take control. Woodkirk let in five at the end but the scoreline was not a true reflection. Lowrie was later confirmed to be comfortable and had sustained torn ligament damage.  Woodkirk man of the match went to Kemp & Parry.

Shipley Lions 3      Woodkirk Valley 6    
Six goals and a hatrick from Holden saw Valley win through to round three of the Millennium Cup as they saw off Bradford based opponents Shipley Lions. The Sun was out and the skies were clear but half term holidays meant Valley arrived at the grassy planes of Baildon with only 11 players and no subs to call on. Nonetheless minds were firmly fixed on the task ahead.  Shipley were the first to have sight on goal but were denied by Ellis who put in a great challenge to clear away. Four minutes later it was Valley’s turn and they put their stamp of authority on the game as Holden turned within a crowded box and got enough on his left foot to find the net 1-0.  Holderness was always looking threatening and came close on 10 minutes as his shot from out wide swelled the side netting. A minute later and another Holderness run saw him cross in for Stott on the back post who did well to slot home from a tight angle 2 - 0.  McNichol and Kemp were resolute in defence and dealt superbly with everything the hosts could craft. Widdowson and Kennedy were doing a great job in midfield and a quality ball from Kennedy found Holden in space. With two defenders closing in fast he timed his shot perfectly to hit a low strike past the outstretched keeper and into the bottom corner 3 - 0. After the break Woodkirk were caught out as a determined attack from the home side made it through to score. Five minutes later and a hand ball gave them a penalty. The shot was well struck into the corner giving keeper Naylor had no chance. The comfortable three nil lead had all of a sudden been slashed to 3 - 2 and Shipley could sense a reprieve. Some great tackles from Lowrie helped ensure the lead was maintained until Valley got a lucky break on 40 mins as Holderness’s free kick from next to the corner flag took a deflection and went into the net 4 - 2. Woodkirk were now back in command as Stott hit a through ball for Holderness to latch onto and make it 5 - 2. Some good crosses in from Chadwick made sure the chances kept coming during the closing stages and Holderness was determined for a sixth. A run down the left saw him beat the defence and get his shot away, only for it to rebound off the inside of the post and roll agonisingly along the goal line where Holden was waiting to finish it off and net his first ever hatrick for the club! Shipley did manage to find the net once more before the ref blew for time but the day belonged to Woodkirk. A great team performance from all the lads. Woodkirk man of the match went to Holden

Rothwell Juniors 6      Woodkirk Valley 5    
Late flourish not enough A real game of two halves saw supporters on edge as Woodkirk looked to rescue the game and come back from 5-1 down. Rothwell were the first off the mark despite a strong shout for off side. Moments later and Woodkirk got just rewards as a mistake by the keeper allowed Hartley an easy tap in. Defenders Kemp and Lowrie did well to stop further chances but Rothwell were looking stronger as the half progressed. Valley were second to every ball now and let in two more goals during the first half. The lads came out with a much improved attitude in the second half but an unstoppable free kick plus a fumble in from close in the box early on meant they went 5-1 down. An undeterred Valley looked to reply and a ball from McNichol found Holderness to finish from a tight angle. Good passes from Kennedy and Widdowson then created a third - again Holderness the finisher. Woodkirk were on fire now and despite a sixth from Rothwell they really battled all the way to the end. Further goals from Hartley and Holderness had it back to an incredible 6-5 and they were still camped in the Rothwell half when the ref blew for full time much to the relief of the hosts. Joint man of the match was Kennedy and McNichol.

Woodkirk Valley 5      Horsforth St Margarets 3   
2 Out Of 3 Ain’t BadWoodkirk U13’s made it two wins from three on Sunday as Hartley netted all five to overcome Horsforth St Margarets. A pleasant day for a change and with the sun breaking through Valley gained the upper hand on 7 mins as Kennedy fed a long ball through for Hartley to apply a deft touch and beat the keeper. Kennedy nearly made it two as he looked to head home Parry’s corner only to be denied by the keeper who pushed it out off the post. Horsforth always looked threatening coming forward and some skilful play from their front men soon had them back on level terms. Stott and Holderness were linking up well and sustained pressure brought about the second goal as Hartley latched onto a sliced clearance to make it 2-1. With half time approaching Lowrie took a shot on goal and forced a corner. Parry’s initial cross in was cleared but he managed to send it in again for Hartley to head home to end the half 3-1.  Valley must have thought they’d got the job done because they switched off after the restart. With only a couple of minutes gone Horsforth pulled one back following a dubious free kick decision given on the edge of the box. The score was back to parity at 3-3 as they converted from a corner kick. The game could have gone either way as both sides created chances but the break came for Valley as Hartley was brought down in the box. He stepped up to the spot himself and fired into the left corner to make it 4-3. Keeper Naylor really kept the Woodkirk game alive as he pulled off a magnificent save, reacting at lightning pace to spring up and tip over a high shot from close range. The game was sealed as a battling Widdowson fed through to Hartley to score the fifth and final goal of the day. Woodkirk man of the match: Kennedy

Farsley Celtic Colts 3     Woodkirk Valley 4  
The fans were kept on edge on Sunday as Woodkirk U13’s needed extra time to clinch the winner against Farsley Celtic Colts. Valley started the game playing downhill and with a fierce wind behind them were soon three up with goals from Holderness, Stott and Hartley. Farsley showed fighting spirit to look for a reply and Widdowson had to clear off the goal line before they found the back on the net just before the break 3-1. The second half saw Woodkirk have a poor spell and perhaps a touch of complacency as they battled against the tricky conditions. Farsley took full advantage to bring the game back level at 3-3. No replays for this cup competition so extra time followed. Woodkirk rediscovered their previous form and keeper Naylor put in a fine performance to keep Valley in the game. They held out through the first period before Holderness struck the winner four minutes from time. Woodkirk man of the match: Naylor

Colton Juniors 1    Woodkirk Valley 4      

Woodkirk U13’s kicked off the new season in fine style with a 4 – 1 win over Colton Juniors. Colton played a hard physical game but Valley showed they were up for the challenge, with the ref having to stop play twice within the first 10 minutes for players on both sides to receive treatment to open wounds. It was Woodkirk who dominated the early play and deservedly went 1 up on 20 mins with a debut goal for new signing Holderness. An injury to Ellis forced a shuffle round of positions but they netted again on 25 as Holden’s long clearance from defence found its way to Widdowson to finish in the bottom left corner. Two minutes later and a foul on Hartley gave Valley a chance to make it three but McNichol’s free kick rebounded of the crossbar. With half time approaching a run down the left saw Holderness tight near the corner flag where he cut back, found space, and hit a superb ball high over the keeper and into the net to make it three. The second half saw Colton come back into the game and an early goal spurred them on as Woodkirk were put under pressure. Valley dug in deep and eventually turned things around to create further attacking runs. Hartley put the game beyond all doubt as he tapped in Holderness’s cross to make it four. The remaining 10 minutes belonged to Valley and it should have been five had it not been for the Colton keeper who was quick to dive the right way and save Parry’s penalty kick. A great performance from all the lads and an encouraging start. Woodkirk's Man of the Match was awarded to Holderness.