English Schools' Football Association

Essex CSFA celebrate Trophy success

Essex 1-1 Merseyside (after extra time)
Essex won 5-4 on penalty kicks

On the first of the month these two county sides met at Nottingham Forest FC’s City Ground to play for the honour of being crowned champions of this season’s ESFA Under 18 Inter County Trophy for Boys.

What started out as blustery conditions, ended in almost torrential rainfall for the duration of the game, both teams battled hard against the elements to gain the upper hand.

It was Essex who looked the most likely to threaten early on, with only the offside trap thwarting them on numerous occasions. Merseyside held strong in a game which no one wanted to slip up and make the first mistake.

The goal that followed on the stroke of half time summarised how the first half had played out; with the ball coming into the area and the ‘keeper being unable to deal with it, ESFA England Schoolboy Daniel Jones pounced on the ricocheting ball and poked it into the back of the net.

The second half kicked off and Merseyside came out the stronger of the two sides. Within the first five minutes of the second half the ball was played in the air up toward the Essex goal and Merseyside number 8, John Mcauliffe, got his head to it and sent it looping over the keeper to level the score.

This raised the tempo of the game and had both teams vying for possession in the wet conditions. We entered a period of back and forth scrappy play. Neither team could capitalise on their chances despite a number of through balls being playing into the opposing penalty areas.

The rain continued as the game came to a close; with both teams visibly tired extra time only produced one real clear cut opportunity, for Essex from a corner, where centre back Tom Vickers came up and cannoned a header against the bar - agonisingly close for Essex.

The referee called time on the game and penalties loomed for both sides.

In a tense penalty shoot-out, where Essex number 9, Daniel Jones, scored an audacious chip with the opening spot kick, Essex managed to seal the victory 5-3 after Merseyside blasted their third attempt over the bar, leaving Essex to convert all their remaining penalties.

Team Line Ups

Essex: Tim Pitman (Brentwood County High), Jack Shepherd (Campion), Richard Hall (Billericay), Nathan Bertram-Cooper (Barking Abbey), Tom Vickers (Havering Sixth Form College), Albert Levett (Barking Abbey) (Jamal Allen [Barking Abbey], 91), Ben Sartain (South Essex College) (Jacob Dingli [Havering Sixth Form College], 84), Tom Richardson (Palmers College) (Callum Ibe [Barking Abbey], 56), Dan Jones (Barking Abbey), Dan Walshe (Campion), Robbie Norris (Barking Abbey). Unused Substitutes: Joe Fowler (Colchester Sixth Form College), Rob Lee (Thurstable), Chris Harris (Plume), Temilolu Ajayi (Southend High School for Boys).

Merseyside: David Cowdall (St Helens College), Jack Fanning (Myerscough College) (Jamie Cairns [SFX College], 72) , Tyler Jeffreys (Rainhill High), Danny Wilson (Liverpool College), Jordan Stanley (Broadgreen), James Foley (SFX College), John McAuliffe (Alsop High), Jack Owen (Rainhill High) (Alex Ahmed [Alsop High], 61), Jonathan Cahill (Maghull High) (Kieran Troy [Knowsley College], 55), Bradley Williams (Liverpool College) (Anthony Barnes [Myerscough College], 82), Jonathan O’Reilly (Alsop High). Unused Substitutes: Joe Clemence (KGV College), James Carney (Heenan Sports College), Adam Hodgkinson (Rainhill High).

Referee: Richard Harrington (FA of Wales).
Assistant Referees: Kris Hames (FA of Wales) and Lewiss Edwards (FA of Wales).
Fourth Official: Jonathan Bryant (FA of Wales).

View ESFA Under 18 Inter County Trophy Results