GRIMSBY Town's Under-10s claimed a thrilling 5-4 victory in their opening game of the new School of Excellence season.

A brace apiece for Brandon Buckley and Emil Powles, and one for Charlie Bratley saw Town triumph against Notts County.

Both sides started brightly, with players working hard to keep possession and create opportunities on goal.

But it was Town who made the early breakthrough. Good build-up play from the right involving Jack Pargeter and Aidan Bass caused problems in the County penalty area and the ball eventually fell to Buckley, who slammed the ball home.

The Mariners doubled their lead soon after when Powles scored a tremendous free-kick from just inside the County half.

The Magpies tried to get back into the game but the solid unit of Lightfoot and Stephenson at the back, plus the industry in midfield from Walker, Buckley, Powles and Pargeter, meant Town ended the first quarter with a two-goal lead.

County began the second quarter in a lively manner and soon scored when their striker netted from close range.

They almost equalised when a long-range drive was tipped over superbly by keeper Cartwright.

But they soon levelled the scores when the ball was swept home from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

County were trying to dictate the tempo, but an incisive break involving trialists Jack Tasker and Bradley Thompson saw the ball fall to Powles, who scored another screamer from distance.

County were quick to respond when a deep cross from the right found the impressive left midfield player who hit a stunning volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Town came out for the third quarter closing down their opponents quickly, and soon regained the lead when Bratley picked out the top corner with a sensational free-kick. The Mariners were really working hard to protect their lead, with Bell and Lightfoot competing for everything, and a long-range strike through a crowd of players was parried terrifically by Cartwright, but unfortunately it fell to a County attacker who prodded the ball into the empty net.

Both teams went into the final quarter looking for the winner, but Town seemed the hungrier team.

Great work by the impressive Walker created a chance for Thompson, who turned his man well and unleashed a rocket left-foot strike on goal, only to see it smash against the bar.

With time running out, good work by Bass down the right saw the ball fall to the composed Buckley, who hit a fabulous volley from outside the area that flew into the corner to win the game for Town.

For reports from Town Under-Nines' and Under-12s' games against County visit sportgrimsby.co.uk

TOWN'S Under-16s started the season positively with a well-deserved victory over decent opposition.

Town controlled the game throughout, keeping good possession while creating some decent opportunities in front of goal.

The back four of Blaize Kerr, Elliot Evans, Ben Cuff and James Grant restricted the County forward line to very few opportunities in front of keeper Harry Ashton.

In midfield, Will Peers, Jack Griffin and Lewis Smith linked well and controlled the play and joining in with the forward line of Jack Barker, Rob Bryant and Josh Morrall.

Town's first half was the strongest performance the side have given over the last two seasons, and they deservedly went in 1-0 up at the break after Barker neatly chipped the County keeper from 30 yards.

Town continued to control after the break and were soon two up when Bryant, in similar fashion to Barker, again found the net from distance, catching the keeper cold.

County came back into the game and pulled one back when a midfield player broke free and, unopposed, fired low past Ashton. The visitors pressed hard to equalise but were pegged back again, when Bryant stepped in and punished the County defence for indecision, firing low between centre-back and keeper.

A HAT-TRICK from Jack Stephenson saw Grimsby Town Under-11s beat Notts County 4-1.

After a close opening period, Town started the second strongly and their neat passing football began to break through the County defence.

York chased a through ball and held off two defenders before showing great vision to square to Meiwald who smashed the ball low passed the keeper.

The lead was well preserved by Aldrich, Foster and Taylor who defended bravely throughout.

Early into the third period the Mariners extended their lead. Smart play down the right saw Meiwald cross to Stephenson who nudged the ball over the line under pressure.

Despite Town's dominance, they were thankful to Nadin who made a string of fine saves.

The final period began with York and Burchill combining well to create scoring opportunities and Town got the third goal when Stephenson rounded off a flowing move by finishing well into the bottom corner.

Stephenson completed his hat trick with the fourth when he was played in from the right and calmly finished past the onrushing the keeper.

Notts County completed the scoring late on with a penalty.

TRIALIST Kris Fawcett impressed with a hat-trick to give Grimsby Town's Under-13s a narrow victory against a physical Notts County.

Town took the lead when Fawcett hit a 20-yarder over the keeper's head.

Josh Coulten then had a shot narrowly deflected wide.

County made it 1-1 after a cross was fired in from close range.

The second period began and Town keeper Pearson again saved well.

With Coulten and Charlie Stewart, getting to grips in midfield, it was Fawcett again who scored from close range.

Trialist keeper Theo Cieply was then called upon to make a superb stop to keep Town ahead.

Fawcett completed his treble, and could have had four but his chip beat the keeper and hit the bar.

County rallied and scored late on, but Town hung on.

THE Grimsby Town Under-14 side started the season with a 3-2 win over Notts County.

Town started off much the better team, but a mistake in the defence allowed the County striker to run through and finish.

After the goal, the young Mariners lost their way a little and the game became scrappy.

In the second period, Town came out with a better tempo and were rewarded early on with Luddington linking up with Dale who broke from midfield and finished excellently.

A well-delivered free-kick into the County area gave Helsdon the chance to score and, when Wright was pulled down in the area, Helsdon stepped up to take the penalty and score a second to give Town a 3-1 lead.

Going into the final period a sloppy start gave County a corner which was never cleared properly.

And it was converted past a crowd of players into the bottom corner of the Town net.

THE Mariners' under-12s commenced the new season in fine form in an extremely closely-fought encounter.

A big, strong Notts County side took the game to them in the early stages but fine defending from Bailey Powell, James Hopkins, Harvey Mawer and Billy Merrison ensured no real chances were created.

Played at a high tempo, both sides competed strongly to get on top with the midfield quartet of Lewis Hoad, Tom Sawyer, Lewis Graham and Charlie Wilkinson holding their own against their impressive counterparts.

Town did show nice passing football in parts but the County midfielders worked hard to close them down.

In attack, Joey Finnegan and Callum Degruchy worked tirelessly and constantly kept the Notts County defence on their toes.

Both sides created half chances but the defences held firm.

JJ Smith and Kyle Howitt came on in defence and continued in the same vein.

Any Notts County chances were well dealt with by Lewis Tomlinson in the Town goal.

Finnegan, Degruchy, Sawyer and Hoad all had shots at goal but could not beat the Notts County keeper.

During Town's best period they took a deserved lead. Degruchy outmuscled the County full-back in a tussle he had no right to win and played an inch-perfect pass to Finnegan who finished superbly.

County were now throwing more players forward but again the back four of Hopkins, Mawer, Howitt and Merrison, marshalled by Tomlinson held firm.

Town came close to wrapping up the game with a good break from Wilkinson and Finnegan, but the latter's shot was well saved.

But Town were dealt a sucker blow in the last minute when, from a free-kick, the ball was bundled over the line for the equaliser.

THE new under-nines lost out 4-1 but there were many positives for the coaches to take from the first game of the season, despite the scoreline.

County dominated the first quarter and took a deserved 2-0 lead with two brilliantly taken goals.

Town dominated the second quarter and pulled a good goal back when Harry Stuart crossed for Will Staples to fire home.

Town had enough chances then to take the lead and Luis Adlard brought a good save from the County keeper and smashed one shot narrowly wide after great work from Staples and Archie Lumby.

The third quarter was even, but County extended their lead despite great defending from Alex Taylor and twins Joe and Charlie Flemming.

Trialist Oliver Baxter also tested the excellent County keeper with a fierce shot as the game swung from end to end.

The fourth Quarter saw a continuation of attack and counter-attack by both teams with County extending their lead to 4-1 with another great strike.

Town attempted to strike back with a good move which saw Adlard cross from the left; Ben Smith met it brilliantly on the volley and his goal-bound close-range effort was miraculously saved by the diving County keeper's face, for which he needed treatment.