Squad
Louis Watts (Aldridge); Dan Overton, Jack Skinner (Arthur Terry); Darryl
Westlake (Barr Beacon); Adam Weaver (Brownhills); Ryan Thompson (Joseph Leckie);
Dean Humpage, Scott Simpson (Pool Hayes); Joe Lyng (St. Francis of Assisi); Dale
Cooper, John Handley (St. Thomas More); David Webster (Shire Oak); Craig Ball
(Sneyd); Tom Harris, Michael Lowe, Ashley Mardenby (Streetly).
The under-12 squad 2002-03 pictured before their
West Midlands game against Wolverhampton.
Press Reports
Coventry U-12 2 Walsall U-12 1 - 5.04.03
The under-12s chose their West Midlands semi-final to produce
one of their better displays of the season and they took Coventry to extra-time
before slipping to defeat. Walsall dominated the early play with Craig Ball
(Sneyd) and Dale Cooper (St. Thomas More) controlling things at the back. There
were few chances for either side and the second half followed a similar pattern.
Coventry grabbed the lead against the run of play but John Handley (St. Thomas
More) equalised to force extra-time. Coventry again took the lead after Walsall
looked the most likely to score a decisive goal. Handley had another good chance
near the end but Coventry held on.
Walsall U-12 1 Stafford U-12 5 - 22.03.03
Walsall under-12s crashed to defeat against Stafford in the Staffordshire
league. Craig Ball (Sneyd) scored Walsall's only goal.
Cannock U-12 3 Walsall U-12 2
- 15.03.03
The under-12 game saw Walsall fight back from a 2-0 deficit
only to lose out near the end. Walsall trailed by a single goal at the break and
found themselves 2-0 down early in the second half. John Handley (St. Thomas
More) pulled a goal back when he latched onto a through ball; beat the defence
and the keeper, before slotting the ball home. David Webster (Shire Oak)
equalised with a similar goal and Walsall looked to be heading for an unlikely
victory before Cannock scored following a looping free kick into the box.
Walsall U-12 1 Wolverhampton U-12 3 - 25.1.03
Walsall under-12s slipped to a disappointing first West Midlands defeat of
the season against Wolverhampton. Both sides have completed their league section
fixtures but Jack Skinner’s (Arthur Terry) goal for Walsall keeps them above
Wolves on goals scored and is enough to book Walsall a semi-final spot. In the
game itself Wolves were always on top after Sam Winnall (Smestowe) scored an
early goal. Skinner’s vital equaliser failed to spur Walsall and Jacob Jones (Parkfield) put the visitors in front again. Walsall’s Darryl Westlake (Barr
Beacon) was denied by a brave block from Wolves keeper Gurtej Bhullah (Coppice).
From the clearance Jamie Elwell (Northicote) sewed things up with the third
goal.
Stafford U-12 0 Walsall U-12 3 - 18.1.03
The under-12s continued their push for a West Midlands
semi-final spot with this good performance at Stafford. Darryl Westlake (Barr
Beacon) set them on the way after five minutes when he slotted the ball past the
keeper. On ten minutes John Handley (St. Thomas More) latched onto a through
ball to fire home the second goal. With Ashley Mardenby (Streetly) and Tom
Harris (Streetly) both strong in midfield, Stafford found it difficult to get
back in the game. The Walsall defence was well marshalled by Dale Cooper
(Streetly). Mardenby finished the game off with a cracking left foot shot.
Stoke-on-Trent U-12 1 Walsall U-12 5 -
30.11.02
Walsall
under-12s had not won since beating Stoke in their first game of the season and
they turned in a good performance to thrash the same opposition again. Darryl
Westlake (Barr Beacon) got Walsall off to a good start when he latched onto a
through ball before chipping the keeper. Ritchie Shankland equalised for Stoke
before the break but John Handley (St. Thomas More) restored Walsall’s lead
early in the second half. Jack Skinner (Arthur Terry) came on for Walsall and
went close twice before finding the net for the third goal. Handley went on a
good run beating several players before being brought down in the box. He got up
to score from the spot and David Webster (Shire Oak) finished things off with
the fifth goal two minutes from time. Dale Cooper (St. Thomas More) was a rock
at the heart of the Walsall defence.
Redditch U-12 3 Walsall U-12 2 (a.e.t. ESFA Cup) - 16.11.02
The under-12 side also went out of an ESFA cup competition
but they can genuinely claim to have been unlucky as it took a second period of
extra-time goal to beat them. Redditch took the lead but Dean Humpage (Pool
Hayes) equalised before the break. The second half saw John Hanley (St. Thomas
More) put Walsall in front. With Ashley Mardenby (Streetly) and Tom Harris
(Streetly) controlling things in midfield and Darryl Westlake (Barr Beacon)
threatening up front Walsall looked likely to wrap things up but a Redditch
equaliser forced extra-time. Walsall continued to dominate but conceded the
vital winner.
Walsall U-12 2 Halesowen and Stourbridge U-12 2 - 9.11.02
John Handley (St. Thomas More) got Walsall off to a
great start in the under-12 game with a goal after five minutes. Halesowen and
Stourbridge hit back with an equaliser from Tom Birch late in the second half.
Adam Meacham put the visitors in front after the break but Walsall piled on the
pressure. With ten minutes left Tom Harris (Streetly) set up Michael Lowe
(Streetly) for the equaliser. Keeper Ryan Thompson (Joseph Leckie) came to
Walsall’s rescue when he palmed a terrific shot round the post. Walsall then
had good claims for a penalty turned down in the dying minutes.
Walsall U-12 1 Wolverhampton U-12 2 - 2.11.02
The under-12 side slipped to a narrow defeat in the
Staffordshire league against Wolverhampton. With ten minutes to go Walsall were
2-0 down when John Handley (St. Thomas More) pulled a goal back to revive their
spirits. In a hectic end to the game Walsall had a goal disallowed for offside
and another effort clipped the crossbar.
Walsall U-12 2 Leeds U-12 3 -
26.10.02
Playing only their second game of the season Walsall
under-12s were always chasing the game against a touring Leeds team after going
two goals down in the first half. The second Leeds goal was a superb free kick
that flew into the top corner. Dean Humpage (Pool Hayes) came on for Walsall in
the second half and pulled a goal back after a run from the halfway line ended
with a cool chip over the keeper. Leeds then regained the two-goal advantage.
Walsall hit back with David Webster (Shire Oak) being denied by a brave block
from the keeper. Humpage pulled another goal back but Leeds held out to claim
victory.
Walsall
schools' football