U13 Minute Maid Cup: North Final
Tuesday 06 May 2008By ESFA Office
Last Updated:
10/02/2021 11:49:03
St Thomas More (North Shields) 0
Trinity (Nottingham) 3
Trinity School added to their collection of Minute Maid Cups with their third of the season to follow the Nottinghamshire and Midland trophies as they reached next week’s national final with what was eventually a comfortable victory over their Newcastle opponents. Glanford Park (Scunthorpe United) provided a superb pitch for the occasion and it was St Thomas More who had the better of the first 15 minutes with some slick interpassing. Some sound defending by Trinity notably from centre back Joseph Dodoo and left back Thomas Williams protected keeper Oliver Pannell well with Williams making two superb saving tackles.
At the other end, centre back Sean Cowxs and full back Ryan Legg were equally impressive as neither side could produce a testing shot in the first 20 minutes although Trinity’s Louis Greenway-Tambini bustled through only for Leo Caufield to make a good save to his right. The only other efforts on target can from Jovan Mullings and Jamahl Salmon, both of which were comfortably saved by Caulfield while St Thomas More’s best opportunity came from a 30 yard free-kick which a quickly breaking Trinity wall blocked.
The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute when a corner on the left was cleared to the right hand side where Mullings was released down the right and his probing cross was met by Greenway-Tambini who could not force the ball in but it fell to Dodoo (still upfield for the corner) who hit the ball in from six yards out.
Trinity went close to doubling their lead early in the second half when a Greenway-Tambini effort was bravely blocked by Caulfield at the striker’s feet. St. Thomas More retaliated with a good break down the left but Adam Campbell’s effort was deflected for a corner by McAleese. Mullings then shot wide from 20 yards At the other end before Trinity scored a crucial second goal when the always dangerous Greenway-Tambini went by two defenders and paced his left foot shot into the bottom corner.
St Thomas More then missed a golden opportunity to bring themselves back into the game when a good move found Leame Robinson at the far post but as he stretched for the ball, he put his shot back across the goal high and wide. The Newcastle side driven forward by the excellent Callum Ross who set a captain’s example and also well served by Michael Durrant continued to fight hard but seldom troubled Pannell.
It thus came as no surprise when Greenway-Tambini was released to the right of goal and put a fine shot across Caulfield into the far corner to make the score 3-0 and Trinity could have made it four when Dodoo now in midfield because of substitutions elsewhere, broke clear down the right and hit the post with a rasping shot two minutes from time.
Trinity Team Manager, Henry Parr, expressed his delight with his whole squad for a performance which although it did not match that given in the Midlands final last week was still of a high quality. He felt that nerves played a part in an uncertain start but that as the team settled the performance levels improved.
St. Thomas More were gracious in defeat and wished Trinity the best of luck for the final as well as saying how much they had enjoyed their long run in the competition.
Squads
Trinity
Oliver Pannell, Joseph Burden, Thomas Williams, Joseph Dodoo, Danile Brenan, Luke Williams, Jamahl Salmon. Michael Thomas, Louis Greenway-Tambini, Jovan Mullings, Malachi Lavelle-Moore, Arrn McAleese, Gamal Ryan, Liam Butters, Joshua Kettle, Paris Xavier
St Thomas More
Leo Cualfield, Ryan Legg, Alex Kempster, Sean Cowxs, Josh Horn, James Hedley, Callum Ross, Leame Robinson, Ross Bennett, Adam Campbell, Gavan Nugent-Doyle, Elliot Dyson, David Gittings, Michael Durrant
Trinity will play Poole Grammar School in the National Final on Friday 16 May at Coventry City Football Club. Kick-off 2.15 pm.
