Akzo are the perfect hosts

AKZO Juniors annual five-a-side competition proved to be another huge success -- with the host side enjoying another trophy winning year.

Nearly 100 teams from across the North West competed in the popular knockout event which was split in to 10 age groups.

And Akzo proved to be the perfect hosts by winning four events -- with two sides competing in one final -- and finishing runners-up in another.

The event was held over two consecutive weekends with the under under sevens to under 12s taking place on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday while the under 13s to under 16s were held the following weekend. Again the entire event was held on Darwen FC's Anchor Ground.

In the younger age groups, touring side Unsworth AFC were the first to win a trophy, beating Haslingden Juniors in the final.

The under eights was Akzo's first final appearance but it turned out to be a losing one, going down to Accoutre, formerly Blackburn Boys.

Fife Rangers beat Coppull United to win the under nines event.

Akzo's first silverware came in the under 10s competition when they beat Dynamo Burscough.

Then two Akzo sides fought out the under 11s final with Akzo Orange beating Akzo Blue 2-1 after extra time thanks to goals from Daniel Pilkington and Jamie Perkins.

Burnley side Borrowdale beat Brandlesholme Warriors to win the under 12s final.

The following weekend, Akzo got off to a winning start in the under 13s final.

The Darwen club beat West End 3-0 thanks to two goals from Anthony Pilkington and another strike from Kayle Smith.

The impressive Knuzden Youth side continued their amazing five-a-side sequence after beating Blue Star 4-1 in the final of the under 14s with skipper Sam Morris lifting a trophy for an incredible 26th time.

Knuzden reached the final with some fine, flowing football.

In the mini league stages, they beat Blue Star 1-0, Bolton Eagles Blue 1-0, Bolton Eagles Red 1-0, Knuzden Youth Red 3-0 and Borrowdale 3-0 before blotting their copy book with a 1-0 defeat against a very good Akzo side.

But they saved their best until last to beat Blue Star.

Knuzden's team included Sam Morris, Adam Williamson, Gordon McKay, Gavin Harrison, Carl Winstanley and Steve Wotherspoon.

Akzo's fourth success came in the under 15s with a 2-1 win against Borrowdale while another Darwen side Birch Hall Lads beat Parma FC 2-1 in the under 16s.