English Schools' Football Association

U16 Inter County Trophy for Boys; Greater Manchester SFA v Lancashire SFA

This game took place in the wonderful surroundings of the Ricoh Arena, and the ESFA couldn’t have asked for more as the facilities were magnificent and the spectators were treated to a game to match.

There was early excitement for the Lancashire supporters as Lyle Magolis had the ball in the back of the net after five minutes, only to have the goal rightly struck out for an offside decision.

Lancashire took hold of the game and a strong attacking spell ensued, with the front trio of Telford, Magolis and Cameron attacking with pace and precision at every opportunity. The creative supply was provided by the Lancashire captain Bradley Wicks who himself had a long range effort that worried Dylan Furth in the Manchester Goal.

The deadlock was broken on the fifteen minute mark as Magolis was again involved, crossing for Luke Higham to lash in off the high bounce on the edge of the box past Furth’s left hand in the Manchester goal.

1-0 Lancashire and they look good value for the lead.

The goal continued to stoke the fire for Lancashire and the next ten minutes saw an all red flow of attacking football with the attacking trio again looking menacing.

The constant pressure mounted and peaked as Cameron broke into the box, took the ball around the keeper and was dragged down by Furth, leaving the referee only one option – to award the penalty to Lancashire.

Dominic Telford stepped up and dispatched the penalty into the bottom right of the goal to give the boys from Lancashire a two goal advantage with 25 minutes played.

As we moved into the final ten minutes of the half Greater Manchester mounted an attack, with full back Sean Tighe driving forward with a mazy run and beating three players, before the Lancashire centre backs crowded him out.

Devante Jacobs had Manchester’s only other effort of note, shooting high and wide from a long way out.

As the referee blew for half time Lancashire would go in the much happier of the two sides, seemingly more solid in defence and more lively going forward.

The second half kicked off and both teams came out wanting to control the ball, trying to move it quickly around the pitch.

Greater Manchester didn’t have to wait long for their first opportunity on goal, after five minutes the chance fell to striker Devante Jacobs who, again, shot wide.

The next attack for Manchester yielded results as Jordane Walters lobbed a through ball to Anthony Dudley who took a touch into the box and slid under oncoming Goalkeeper for 2-1.

Game on!

Manchester rose to the occasion and Walters was again involved as captain Ben Grant broke into the box and beat one defender but couldn’t evade the covering defender.

Two minutes later Walters was again the danger man as he finished smartly inside the box with a one touch finish past the keeper after a delightful full length cross field ball.

Two each and plenty of time still left to play.

Manchester continued to pile on the pressure, looking like a completely different team in this second half as lively substitute Emile Tasinda had the chance to put them ahead but couldn’t connect fully with his header as it flew over the goal.

The sun was back out at the Ricoh and clearly shining on Manchester!

Liam Bleaker in the Lancashire goal made a great reaction save as the ball was redirected on its way through after a good effort from Walters again.

Dudley, Tasinda and Walters were the dangerous trio for Manchester throughout the entire second half and drove their team on time and time again. As the minutes ticked down Anthony Dudley had a half chance to seal the victory, but couldn’t find the target with his head from an acute angle.

The referee blew for full time confirming that both sides would have to go to extra time to find a winner, with the threat of a penalty shoot out looming. A true tale of two halves here today in this County Final.

Extra time saw the heavens open and rain begin to pour down onto the pitch as both sides had one single chance to edge ahead. The two sides looked tired as they had fought hard to get this far.

The referee called time and we were set for a penalty shoot out. The results are as follows;

Lancashire: Wicks; Scored, Telford; Scored, Cameron; Scored, Magolis; Scored, Lavelle; Scored.

Greater Manchester: Grant; Missed, Dudley; Scored, Hulme; Scored, Jacobs; Scored.

This confirmed Lancashire as U16 Inter County Champions after a great game of football from both sides. Fine margins were the difference today.

Squads:

Lancashire: Bleaker, Quigley, Higham, Lavelle, Sampson, Brown, Cameron, Wicks, Higham, Telford, Magolis, Roscoe, Armstrong, Hartley, Keighley, Fishwick, Nightingale.

Greater Manchester: Furth, Calderwood, Thomas, Bakinama, Tighe, Grant, Williams, Tuohy, Dudley, Jacobs, Walters, Pirkins, Hulme, McKee, Byrnes, Tasinda.

Officials:

Daniel Hayes (Referee), Tom Reeves and Joe Clarke (Assistant Referees), Jamie Tiff (Fourth Official).

Photos and a match DVD can be purchased via RWT PHOTOGRAPHY.