The goals flowed once again for the Young Anchors as they comfortably booked their place in the FA Youth Cup First Qualifying Round with victory over Pickering Town.Â
Joseph Kennedy and a Daniel Dryden brace gave Stockton a comfortable lead at half time.
A further four goals were added in second half through Theo Hutchinson, Jacob Johnson and substitutes Jack Spears and Louie Aldus.
Stockton Town had reached this stage after a 6-0 win over Penrith in the Extra Preliminary Round, while Pickering had knocked out Newcastle Benfield on penalties.
The opening quarter hour saw both teams in an even contest.
Stockton goalkeeper George Scaife was forced into an early save after Ethan Jones was robbed of the ball on halfway.
Hutchinson then played in Dryden who sent a tame effort at the goalkeeper and from the quick breakaway Pickering hit the post at the opposite end.
Stockton opened the scoring when Kennedy picked up the ball on the right and curled a lovely strike into the bottom corner.
Another was nearly added when Johnson took the ball and waltzed into the box before his shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
In the final stages of the first half Stockton added a further two goals through Daniel Dryden to make it comfortable at the break.
First he converted at the back post from a right wing corner, then he finished smartly after the ball was played to him in the box.
Pickering threatened to pull a goal back when they struck the post for the second time in the final act of the half.
Half Time- Stockton Town 3-0 Pickering Town
Four minutes into the second half, Pickering came close again when a header from a corner was tremendously saved by Scaife.
The Young Anchors then had a fourth when the goalkeeper made a meal of Hutchinson’s free kick from the right and spilled it into his own net.
The quality in the Under-18s was on fine display for the fifth. Dryden produced a sublime touch before he played in Johnson who lobbed the on-rushing goalkeeper.
Despite trailing by a significant margin, Pickering threatened to get on the scoresheet and came close with a drive that went narrowly after the ball had bobbled around the box. They then hit the post for the third time in the match minutes later.
Stockton continued to push for more goals but were denied by two decent saves from the goalkeeper. Kennedy was denied by the foot of the goalkeeper and he was there again with a fantastic stop to deny a close range effort.
There was no stopping the next strike as substitute Spears scored the sixth with a rasping drive from range.
It was a classic case of whatever you can do when fellow substitute Aldus rocketed a shot into the top corner from outside the box.
That completed the scoring in what was another excellent performance from the Young Anchors.
Full Time: Stockton Town 7-0 Pickering TownÂ
The Young Anchors now face a trip to Blyth Spartans in the First Qualifying Round. The tie is scheduled to be played on the week commencing Monday 18th September.
Words: James Cartwright
Photo: Harry Cook