CHAMPIONS!! Big well done to all the boys who played for us today, you did yourselves proud, and our penalties in the shoot out were superb.
We know how hard it is to lose on penalties, so commiserations to Cramlington Town, who play the game in the right spirit.
After a uncertain few weeks where a number of players have gone on to pastures new, it has been a case of trying to get a squad together ready to go to Killingworth, and it looks like we are going in the right direction on todays showing
Also lots of credit to the Hurricanes boys in the other group, they were competitive in all their games, going down to two close defeats, and getting two draws against good strong sides. So well done to all the Hurricanes, yet again it has been a struggle to get the team on to the park, but they all did Gary proud.
Details of the day
HURRICANES RESULTS
Northburn Blues 1 Hurricanes 0 - A good tight game against Northburns first team, and Gary said we had the chances to win this game, unfortunately we couldn't take our chances and went down to a close defeat, against the eventual winners of the group.
Bedlington 2 Hurricanes 0 - Again pretty much end to end stuff, with one of the Lightning goals being rather unfortunate, good performance with the boys not being over run.
Hurricanes 0 Cramlington United 0 - United beat our two sides last time out at their tournament, so this was an improvement for the boys, gaining a point in a very tight game between two well matches sides.
Milton Rovers 0 Hurricames 0 - Another draw to finish off what was a very tight group, where I don't think any team scored more than two goals in a match. Some crisper finishing in the opening game could have seen the boys qualifying.
Lots of positives to come from the day - Tewy steeped into goalkeeper role well, while new recruit Ben was very strong at the back, helped out well by Ryan & Alex. While Michael grafted in centre midfield, backed up nicely by Taylor, Seb & Nathan, while Mason led the line.
TORNADOES RESULTS
Longhoughton 3 Tornadoes 0
A slow start to the day, when two clinical finishes and a deflection saw Longhoughton win nicely. We probably had similar amount of chances, but the difference in finishing gave this good side a comfortable win. Told the boys not to worry after this game, and just to concentrate on winning the next four to get the qualification.
Tornadoes 9 Northburn Blues 0 Tornadoes were far too strong for the newly formed blues side, as the boys dominated from start to finish, with the prospect of qualification going to goal difference, the boys didn't take the foot off the gas, and started to pass the ball around nicely. No ides on the scorers.
Tornadoes 1 Cramlington United 0 - Against the other highly fancied team in our strong group, we knew only a win would be good enough. In a tight cagey affair there was little to choose between the sides, but as it went on we become the stronger of the sides, and a good team move led to a nice finish. We held out the last three or four minutes comfortably.
Tornadoes 4 AE Phoenix 0 - Pheonix were a much changed side from last time we played them, and they played with lots of aggression, and made the Tornadoes work hard for the win. Pick of the goals think was in this match when Dylan put through a superb ball for Ethan to finish first time.
Tornadoes 8 Milton Rovers 0 - With news that Longhoughton had been beaten by Cramlington Town on the other pitch, we knew that we had to get a good win to get through to the next round. The game was littered with stoppages which disrupted our rhythm at the start But once we scored after about four minutes it was all one way traffic with lots of sweet passing moves, and strong finishes. It was a nervous walk to the results tent to see how we had got on but the good news thanks to our high scoring we had qualified on top of the group with +19 goal difference from Cramlington Town +15 and Longhoughton the unfortunate ones to go out with +13.
SEMI FINAL - Tornadoes 1 Lightning 0
With two ex players on the other side and being a local derby, Lightning were certainly "well up" for it, with a lot of Lightning fouls putting us slightly off our stride. As the game went on though there was only going to be one winner, as the Tornadoes took charge, and the pressure paid off with Kyle finishing well from close range. Aaron & Joseph at the back saw the game out without further alarm as Keiran didn't have a save to make in the game. Did though have to come out well to gather at edge of the box. We certainly had the bruises to show we had been in a physical battle.
FINAL - Cramlington Town 0 Tornadoes 0 AET Tornadoes win 7-4 on Penalties
A good even game, with Town having the territorial advantage in first half of final, but Kyle moved to the back along with Joseph dealt with the pressure well, and Keiran only had one long range effort to deal with. After the break with the wind now in our favour, we had the better of the game, with Ethan, Harry, and James all going close to winning the game. Extra time couldn't find a winner so penalties it was.
First up with the pressure kick was the Captain James, and with the instructions of his Dad to smash it, he certainly did that smashing it low to the right of keeper. Keiran then saved Towns first spot kick. Next up was Dylan H hitting with superb power and accuracy. Town scored the next. Dylan S looked apprehensive walking up after Filey, but he showed no nerves putting away a lovely low effort to corner. A cracking save then from Keiran, gave us a two goal advantage. Aaron put away clinically to keep pressure on Town scored again. To make it 4-2 Kyle nearly then broke the net with a thunder bolt shot into top of the goal 5-2. Town scored to make it 5-3. Joseph then with the knowledge that this was to win it, made no mistake at all slotting it well into bottom right corner. A good save then from Keiran, follwed by Keiran putting his penalty away nicely, with Town scoring with the last to give a final score of 7-4. Our boys gave the Town keeper no chance with 7 well taken spot kicks.
An excellent day for the boys after a bad start. All the boys played there part and with all the boys likely to play at times in Summer league we go into that with confidence. Keiran - Quiet Day, but when it mattered was the penalty save hero, James strong at the back and a nuisance to defenders up front, Harry - some good touches and important tackles. Joseph - Excellent at the back in semi and final, Kyle - Strong all day long got the winning goal in semi final. Dylan H Superb on the ball, top free kick, a constant danger to opposition, Aaron - top notch performances through out comfortable on the ball, strong in tackle, super passing, Dylan S - A lot of poacher goals when up front, and played really well on right of midfield, back to top form. Ethan - Led the line fantastically scoring some lovely goals, worked well on right as well. TEAM AWARD for Player of Tournament.
Well done all.
