Promotion for Town kids

DINNINGTON Town’s Under 11 side clinched promotion to Division A with an emphatic 7-3 victory on Sunday.

The youngsters defeated Hillsborough Pumas with their 13th victory of the season, although they didn’t have it all their own way.

Pumas took the lead within a minute thanks to a speculative effort from long range.

But a minute later Town were level after Corey Kelleher crossed for Josh Croot to fire home at the back post.

Goals followed from Danny Williams, Nick Chapman, Marcus White and Kelleher himself who rounded off a fabulous Man of the Match performance with a hat-trick.

The final whistle was greeted with wild celebrations, Town finishing five points clear in third place and promoted.

Manager John Croot was full of praise for his lads, who opened the season with a six-game unbeaten run and were the only team to beat the eventual league champions.

He said: “With the step up from mini-soccer into the full sided game we never quite knew what we could do.”

“The early signs in pre-season were that we knew we’d have a good go and had settled nicely into the new format of the game.”

“It’s certainly not been easy because we’ve had a few setbacks along the way but we’ve rolled with the punches and to get promoted is a great achievement because it’s a tough league and in the top divisions there are certainly no easy games.”

“I’m delighted for the players who have really bought into the ideas we’ve coached, they have always tried to stick to the principles of playing fluid passing football even when up against kick and rush teams.”

“They have worked so hard, trained really well and made so much progress – every game has been entertaining and we’re delighted to have three of the division’s top scorers in the squad too.”

He paid tribute to his fellow coaches and said the promotion was indicative of the rise of the club’s junior section.

“I’d like to personally thank the coaches Steve, Paul and Steve who’ve given everything, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed the season and we have a squad playing very well,” he added. “I believe Dinnington Town Juniors are on the up and becoming one of the biggest clubs in the district with an increasing number of age groups playing in the highest divisions in the Sheffield Junior League.”

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