English Schools' Football Association

The U15 Trophy

Striker Harry Jacubait notched his seventh goal of the tournament as Bromley secured their sixth win in the ESFA Under 15 Inter Association Trophy to book their place in the final, where they will meet their the winners from Newcastle Upon Tyne, York or Warrington. Kent County Schools' FA player, Jacubait, sent his side through after finishing well from 20-yards, six minutes into the second half.

Vale of White Horse, who needed penalties to defeat Cambridge & District and Swansea in their last two rounds to reach the semi-finals, played with a 5-3-2 formation, and with Bromley lining up with a 4-4-2 formation, first half chances were at a premium. Bromley left-back James Knapp was rather hesitant in clearing his lines and he gifted possession to striker Jordan Davies, whose right-footed drive was comfortably saved by Bromley custodian John Green.

A penetrating run through the heart of the opponents’ midfield from winger Greg Cundle released Kieran Owusu through on goal but visiting keeper, Eddie Cavanagh, came out to save at the striker’s feet. Man-of-the-match Cavanagh made a string of smart saves to thwart Bromley during the game and his fingers were stung following Charlie Munnery’s rasping drive from 30-yards after Knapp’s cut-back. A well worked training ground routine resulted in Knapp cutting a corner back from the left, which resulted in Cundle hitting a right-footed drive from the edge of the box over the crossbar via a deflection. Cavanagh was called into action again inside the final minute of the first half when he got down smartly to his left to parry Jacubait’s low right-footed shot after Alex Arif played him in.

But Vale of White Horse almost grabbed the lead – against the run of play – inside first half injury time. Set-piece taker, left-back Ross Tanner floated in a free-kick from the right and Robbie Cundy, who came up from the heart of their defence, left his marker to make room for himself at the far post and planted a header on top of the Bromley crossbar.

Inside the opening minute of the second half, Bromley keeper Green almost gifted the visitors’ a lead they didn’t deserve. Aiden Hayes – who was later forced off with cramp – played a harmless back pass back to Green, whose clearance went straight to the onrushing Anthony Martin, but the Vale of White Horse striker lacked the composure to finish accurately.

In response, Cundle burst down the left and cut into the penalty area and his curling shot was pushed away by Cavanagh, who then got down low to his right to parry a right-footed drive from Cundle in a later phase. In the 46^th minute, Bromley scored what turned out to be the only goal of the game, when Munnery played a diagonal pass to put through Jacubait, who cracked a low right-footed drive across Cavanagh into the bottom far corner.

Vale of White Horse almost levelled when Owen Shaw sent in a right-footed curling free-kick, which was destined to find the far corner, only for Green to turn the ball away from underneath his own crossbar. Bromley striker Dominic Lelliott was then put through on goal but squandered the opportunity, his right-footed shot sailing over.

With Bromley players’ tiring, the game ebbed and flowed during the final fifteen minutes and Vale of White Horse looked favourites to snatch a late equaliser to force extra-time. Tanner swung in a corner from the right which found Tom White at the far post but he directed a powerful header just over the Bromley crossbar.

Then at the other end, Munnery came up for a corner and his towering header bounced off the top of the crossbar. Knapp got into a dangerous position down the left and whipped in a low cross, which saw Lelliott turn and his shot turned away by the busy Cavanagh. Cavanagh denied Lelliott again, beating away an angled shot from the impressive Bromley striker, and Mason Curtis sent a right-footed shot over the Bromley crossbar from 25-yards inside injury time.

Ultimately, however, Jacubait’s goal was to prove the winner and sent Bromley into their first-ever national final.

Bromley: John Green, Aiden Hayes (Rian Bray 80), James Knapp, Charlie Munnery, Jordan Gallifant, Cameron Bennett, Alex Arif (Hayden Baker 80), Harry Jacubait (Dan Vaughan 70), Kieran Owusu, Dominic Lelliott (James Burtonshaw 58).
Subs: Sam Willis, Tyler Gable

Goal: Harry Jacubait 46

Vale of White Horse: Eddie Cavanagh, Alex Thomas, Ross Tanner, George Francis, Robbie Cundy, Eima Meade, Jared Jones, Jordan Davies, Anthony Martin, Tom White, Owen Shaw.  Subs: Sam Barder, Cameron Taylor, Jack Ploszynski, Mason Curtis

Attendance: 145
Referee: Mr Nick Cornwell (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Noel Bevan (Upchurch) & Mr Liam Hobbs (Maidstone)

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