Playing in a friendly against our u12s is never an easy fixture and today proved no different with playing conditions very difficult on a very heavy surface.With the next game against Sherburn in mind Stanley switched players around with Connor Walsh reverting back to sweeper and Nathan Bentley moving to left back.Stanley u13s made the better start to the game playing the more positive football and for the first 20 minutes camped in the u12s half,several half chances were created and spurned and this gave the u12s a lift and they started to get into the game as Stanley u13s reverted back to there old ways ie standing off the opposition letting them play,not marking,not tackling and a inability to either pass the ball more than or clear the ball above 5 feet and it was no surprise when the u12s took the lead.This prompted a reshuffle from the u13s with Connor Walsh pushed back into midfield to try and grab the initiative back,and following good work from first Jordan Morris then Ben Stephens the ball broke to Ben Maundrill who took his chance well to level the scores at 1-1 (and also to equal his tally off 8 goals for the whole of last season),which is how it stayed to half time.The second half went pretty much the way of the u13s who looked the more likely side to score but had to be mindful of the u12s on the break who forced goalie Chris Beech into a couple of scrambled saves.From a long ball passed forward from Connor Walsh, Ben Stephens was first to react and ran on and even though the goalie made a good save the ball dropped kindly for Ben Stephens to make it 2-1 despite Stanley u13s best efforts from the impressive Ben Maundrill hitting the post and with the goal gaping and Ben looking as though he was going to head into the net changing his mind and blazing the ball over there was to be no further score and the u13s just about deserved the 2-1 victory.C&I Smith Builders m.o.m honours were shared between Nathan Bentley and Ben Maundrill with Ryan Sweeney taking second and Chris Beech third.Points;On a day where a lot of players had an off day especially the midfielders it was good to see Ben Maundrill step up and with him and Ryan Sweeney at times doing the work for most of you i hope this is a response from Ben to the threat to his place that Jack Lawton is now posing because competition for places is what we need to keep us on our toes.Remember nothing in life is gifted we have to work hard for what we get(just ask your parents) without hard work you will get nothing and a lot of you forgot that today.Lets not let a promising 2008 turn into a poor 2009,its time to double your efforts and with the right attitude week in week out you will not go far wrong.MERRY CHRISTMAS and lets hope its a HAPPY NEW YEAR