Southampton got off to the best possible start in this year’s Junior Section with a fine 3-0 victory over Zacatepec of Mexico. The English Premier League side were on the front foot from the word go, with Jonathan Afalabi testing the goalkeeper with an early volley. The opening goal came after just ten minutes, when the impressive Jake Vokins went on a mazy run which caused confusion in the Zacatepec box. The ball was eventually cleared but only as far as Dan Bartlett, who struck his shot cleanly past the goalkeeper.

County Londonderry took on OC Blues from California in the opening match of the Milk Cup at Roe Mill in Limavady. It was County Londonderry who started the game with the higher intensity as they wouldn’t let the Americans settle in possession.

Sydney United striker Mirza Muratovic dedicated his side’s Milk Cup Junior Section opening victory to his mum back in Australia.

Strikers started strongly, immediately threatening in the opening minutes of the game. However, when Colina did have possession and attempted to go on the counter attack they struggled with the slippery conditions. The Strikers’ defensive set up proved too strong early on with the first of many excellent saves by the Striker goalkeeper, David Calva. The end to end football which followed resulted in excellent attacking play by the Strikers number 17 Leamzy Valdez.  Whilst Colina’s number 11 Carlos Yanez and number 16 Alans Yanez linked up well just outside the box, Calva denied them the chance, comfortably saving a shot inside the box.

County Down met Brentford at Cloghwater Road today in the Milk Cup Junior Section, but it was County Down who prevailed, with a comfortable four to nil victory.

Right to Dream began their Milk Cup journey with an impressive performance. Both teams played their part in a cagey opening 10 minutes. There was little to choose between the two sides; Right to Dream dominating possession, but GPS FC Bayern looking threatening on the counter attack. Right to Dream were having most joy on the right hand side, Isaac Atanga a constant threat. In the early exchanges, GPS left back Tobias McKay Jnr was more than able to extinguish that threat, managing to have a few surging runs forward himself. The first chance fell to Right to Dream’s central midfielder, Modibo Diarrasouba who saw his good strike saved by GPS keeper Ryan Manning.