3rd April – Wideopen 5 Haden Bridge 1 League Div 3 UNDER 15s

It looks like our season could be turning a corner following our first win last week against Marden since the opening game of the season saw us lifted off the bottom of the table. We welcomed table topping Haydon Bridge to Lockey Park and Wideopen started the game very brightly quickly getting into their stride and creating a couple of early chances. We took the lead through a set piece deservedly with Elliot Carr rising above everyone to power his debut goal for Wideopen into the net. We continued to dominate the half until a late tackle on Elliot left him needing hospital treatment for a broken leg. The lads were again spurred on for Elliot and we went 2 up when Tom McBride finished well. The second half saw the lads continue in the same vain with the midfield being dominated by Shaun and Bryn and the visitors struggling to cope with Sam and Aaron up front. Bryn scored the third with an excellent free kick before Haydon Bridge got a goal to bring them back into the game for a while. However, a wonder goal from Ollie from his own half finished the visitors off and Mez added a fifth to put the game beyond doubt. A great performance and result.

This was for Elliot who has broken his tibia and Fibia and will be out for the rest of the season. We all wish him well and hope for a quick recovery.

Well done Lads

Mark, Jack & Burden

27th February – Wideopen 2 Ashington 2 League Div 3

After a long run of games where the lads have been playing some excellent football but losing games by the odd goal we finally got a result that rewarded all the effort the lads have put in over the past few weeks.  Second top Ashington were the visitors who on the reverse fixture had put 6 past us in a 6-4 game which saw us lose the influential Bryn Tennant to a serious injury. The game started brightly and both teams created chances with Ashington just edging the early exchanges as it took our lads a bit of time to get the sleep out of there eyes. By the time we started to play our football after about 20 mins we were a goal down although again it was a wideopen error that gave the opposition an easy opportunity. To the lads credit it only took a few minutes until we were back level with a stunning strike from the ever impressive Aaron Stokes who curled one into the top right hand corner. At half time the lads came in having finished the half the stronger side and went into the second half full of confidence. However after a basic error on our part again straight from a goal kick we went behind again. The frustration of the manager and the parents did not spill onto the pitch and the lads showed what great spirit they have by battling hard through the second half again and got the reward they deserved when Mez sprang onto a loose ball and equalised. The final few minutes saw us have a goal disallowed for a dubious offside but a point is a great result against a team sitting second top of the division. Lets hope this is a season of two halves and we can take the confidence from the game cut out some silly errors and prove to the division our position does not reflect the way we play the game.

Well done Lads

Mark & Jack  

Heaton Hawks 2 – 3 Wideopen Wanderers

The rain was torrential as we arrived at the academy for this top of the table clash; it was touch and whether the game should go ahead with the water starting to lie on the pitch before kickoff.
Wideopen had the better of the early exchanges and were unlucky not to break the deadlock with the ball holding up in the goal mouth puddles on more than one occasion. As the half progressed the home team came more into the game and it took a great pass down the line from Ryan Niven to pick out Tom Comerford’s run, still with plenty to do Tom smashed an early contender for goal of the season past the excellent keeper.
The game was well into the second half before the lads managed to double their lead, Matty Horner finishing after a great pass from Richie Coulson. The lads seemed to be cruising and none of us were prepared for what happened next, the conditions going against on both occasions as we conceded two goals in quick succession. This was the first real test of the team spirit this year and the response for brilliant and immediate, a great passing move through the middle led to Dean Aitman finding the bottom corner with the keeper to beat. However the drama was far from over, the lads could have easily added more goals if it hadn’t been for the conditions but it was an outstanding save from Andrew Robson that ensured the lads continued their unbeaten run.

26th September – Wideopen 4 - 2 Tynemouth 2 (AET) League Cup

The early season fixtures saw us up against Tynemouth again in the cup this time after they beat us in the league a couple of weeks ago. Wideopen started the game brightly looking good in the new strips thanks to our sponsor 'Port of Tyne'. We created the best chances in the opening exchanges with Sam Noble going close twice hitting the bar and forcing a good save from the visiting keeper. However with the game twenty minutes old the visitors found some space on the left wing and crossed to a player coming in at the back post. We were two down in the space of another 5 minutes from a corner when some slack marking found a Tynemouth head who glanced into the net. The second half started with the visitors pushing hard again and the safe hands of Josh Graham keeping the score down to 2-0. Wideopen kept on trying to play their football and won a free kick twenty five yards out through some good work by Aaron and Bryn stepped up to hammer home the free kick and give the home team a lift with five minutes left on the clock. The lively Mez for wideopen was causing some problems fro the visitors and pounced onto a through ball to finish well and level the scores taking the game into extra time. Wideopen were now in full flow and the better of the two teams as Tynemouth started to crack under the pressure giving away a penalty in the first period of extra time which Bryn despatched with coolness to take us into the second period of extra time 3-2 up. The second period saw wideopen keep things tight at the back with Ethan, Oliver, James and Tom all playing there part. Bryn completed his hatrick in the second period to cap a fine display with a header from a corner and Wideopen move onto the next round. A great display from the team in there new strips. Well done lads

Mark & Jack

19th September – Haydon Bridge 1  - 0 Wideopen

The longest away journey of the season against a strong Hayden Bridge side saw a battling performance from the lads. The home side started strongly and caught us a little asleep when they scored an early goal after ten minutes. Hayden Bridge's midfield were strong and dominating the opening exchanges. Ten minutes in saw Wideopen starting to play their football and match the home side for strength and commitment. This created a couple of good chances with Tom McBride unlucky not to equalise before half time.  The second half was very close and Wideopen were again unlucky not to equalise through James Moffat. Elliot Carr, who had another excellent game at the back with Ethan Tenant, also went close but unfortunately we failed to level the scores. Although the defeat was tough to take by the lads I am sure they will take out the positives and the way they reacted to going a goal down was excellent.   

Mark & Jack  

5th September – Wideopen 1 Prudhoe 1

The start of the new season saw a new look Under 15 side with three players making their debuts in Bryn and Ethan Tennent and James Johnstone. The opening league game welcomed Prudhoe Town to Lockey Park and on a bright sunny, windy day. Wideopen started the game brightly and after ten minutes seemed to be getting the better of the visitors in the opening exchanges with the new look defence looking strong for Wideopen. It was Wideopen that made the breakthrough when Sam Noble tried his luck from distance and the bounce seemed to deceive the keeper who could only watch as the ball looped over his head into an empty net. The second-half saw Prudhoe come back into the game and they were looking the stronger of the two sides. Their pressure resulted in the equaliser. This seemed to spur Wideopen back into life and the industrious Arron Stokes started to cause Prudhoe some problems at the back to deal with. The windy conditions spoiled the game a little and a 1-1 was probably a fair reflection of the game. Some good performances of note from Bryn and Ethan, the twins, who have never played in the same team before and Arron Stokes who led the line well and never stopped his hard work. All-in-all, with a few players still to come back, it looks like we could have a good season ahead of us.

Mark & Jack

7th September – Wideopen 2 - 6 Cramlington United

For our second league game of the season we arrived at the newly formed Cramlington United’s pitch, only to be faced with cold winds and a dark night. The game got under way and saw Wideopen loft a ball from the centre of defence to the front line, the ball was nicely brought down and finished off by Lee Mather within the first 2 minutes of the game. Wideopen remained to look strong and holding the attacking play of Cramlington well until a ball through left our defence in pieces. 1-1,
A series of long balls over the top from the Cramlington defence and a few lucky bounces saw the home team score another 2 in quick succession. As these goals went in our football seemed to stop, and a few heads began to drop. The home team then scored again just before the half time break. 3-1 down at half time and things were looking bleak.
We came out in the second half revved up and knowing we could be doing better. The lads started to pass the ball around as they were in the first half and suddenly found themselves pulling a much deserved goal back. Sam Noble with a thundering strike from inside the area saw Wideopen claw back, a come back looked on the cards when two minutes later we were awarded a free kick roughly 25 yards out. Bryn Tenant stepped up and fired a shot goal bound only to be denied by the woodwork, The ball ended up in the back of the net after it was headed in, only to be ruled offside!
Cramlington kept battling and began to find their feet after Wideopen’s stint of possession and scored a well worked goal. Finally a tackle from behind inside our own area resulted in a penalty kick with minutes to go, which was simply the nail in the coffin for us.
We fought well and the game was spoilt by weather conditions in the first half. The result does not reflect the effort that was put into the game

Jack and Mark

9th September - Wideopen 2 - 1 Ellington Jnrs

A home game against a side that were relegated from the league above last year come to Lockey park in hope of their first league points this season and our Wideopen side looking for some points after Tuesday nights game.
A perfect night for football with the sun out as the game started, Wideopen immediately looked the stronger side with a few chances coming within the first 15 minutes, one particular one-on-one looked a sure goal as Sam Noble was treaded through a great ball, only to see the shot well saved and pushed over the keepers bar for a corner kick. Although Wideopen looked the stronger of the two sides, Ellington were still putting up a good fight to keep us on the back foot. A good defensive line and organisation saved us on a number of occasions from potential goal threats.
Eventually a goal came for us quiet late in the 1st half from another fantastically weighted through ball from midfield, to which Sam took down and drove towards the goal. His shot flew past the keepers outstretched left hand and into the goal.
Ellington seemed to be spurred on by this and came out in the second half with a little more bite about their game. Shortly into the second half we took our foot off the pedal and got caught out. A long ball over the top and some slick off the ball running from the Ellington front men created problems for us at the back and ended up levelling the score. The game then became a battle that was end to end stuff. As the away side began to get frustrated with chances going to waste Wideopen started to capitalise on the lack of defence and sure enough with 10 minutes to go Aaron Stoke was chopped down in the area and a penalty kick awarded. Bryn Tennant stepped up and buried it in the bottom left hand corner.

Overall a well deserved win, with special mention to our defensive line up, for they we they handled everything that was thrown at them with composure.

Jack & Mark

12th September - Kingston Park 0 - 3 Wideopen

Wideopen arrived at the Kenton school pitches still on a high from their win earlier in the week to face a struggling Kingston park side. As the game kicked off it was quiet clear Kingston Park were the weaker of the twp sides, playing with only 10 men from the start. Wideopen’s first goal came from a corner kick (there’s a first time for everything!). Kieran whipped the ball in from the left hand side and Bryn Tennant rose above the rest to head home. The game seemed to be flowing well, with Wideopen seeing the majority of play. The odd occasion that K.P did start an attack it was snuffed out and turned into a counter attack. Our second goal came from Sam Noble, who finished off a one on one chance after a great through ball from midfield. The chances were coming thick and fast for us after this and we were lining up to take a pop at the Kingston park keeper. Unfortunately two more of the oppositions players had to hobble off as they were injured. This left Kingston park playing with only 8 men! The game became very one sided and we received a penalty kick late in the first half. Azza stepped up this time to fire a great penalty kick into the keepers left hand top corner.
As the half time whistle came we were asked if we could leave the game there, as Kingston park were seriously struggling for players. We agreed and took away 3 goals and another 3 points well done Lads.

Jack & Mark