Our Year 9 football team faced off against Gateshead outfit Cardinal Newman Catholic College for a place in the national cup quarter finals.

The current year nines under Mr Coates' guidance felt they had the capabilities to reach the much clambered for quarter final stage of English Schools' elite competition.

On Tuesday they looked to continue their mission and faced Gateshead outfit Cardinal Newman Catholic College who were the latest team to try and stop Coates' side in their quest for silverware.

Both sides started cautiously and were wasteful with their early possession but it was Cardinal who were boldest from an attacking persuasion.


As the game steadied out Macmillan gained some rest bite from a flurry of dangerous attacks and managed to put themselves ahead against the run of play; forward France Angioy cooly slotted home after narrowly beating the offside trap.

The away side responded and struck back though as a zipping from distance shot flew over the head of Sam Train in between the Macmillan sticks. Two quick fire goals minutes before the break seemingly dashed Macmillan hopes, as the away players started to celebrate at half time, to the distress of their a manger.

Ollie Cairney put Macmillan on the right path as he got the end of his namesakes through ball. Middlesbrough man Cann's penetrating ball lifted over the centre half, allowed Cairney to brilliantly lob the out-rushing keeper from the edge of the box.

Unfortunately it wasn't enough and Macmillan slipped to a defeat in a game which could have went either way. Tuesday nights defeat for the year nines meant that all of the age groups in the academy have exited the national cup. Interestingly year 8 and 9 fell victim to he same school while Mr Featherstone's outfit saw heartbreak earlier in the month at the hands of St Aidens' of Harrogate.

On the whole though a great run for the school and all squads have given their all. The new year sees the start of the Town Cup season and all five A time sides have their eyes on silverware at Hurworth come the end of the year,