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NCFL Youth Cup Finals April 19

Goals rain in at Norfolk Christian youth cup finals 

It was a day of goals and celebrations at the Norfolk Christian Football League Youth Cup Finals day on Saturday (April 27) at Sprowston, Norwich. Keith Morris reports.

Four finals were decided under leaden skies at Sprowston Recreation Ground but 19 goals rained in as Brooke Adventurers (U10), Hillside Rovers Panthers (U12), Old Catton Soul (U14) and Brooke Adventurers (U16) ran out as winners.
 
The U10 final between Brooke Adventurers and Loddon United was a close affair with Malcolm Jere opening the scoring for Brooke with a looping shot from outside the area after 20 minutes. Lewis Hankinson doubled the lead with just two minutes to go with a side foot from close in to seal the cup for Brooke.
 
In the U12 final, a goalless first half between Old Catton Soul and Hillside Rovers Panthers saw the deadlock broken after 30 minutes when Noah Moore put Catton ahead. Hillside replied soon after through Archie Roy from close range to take the game into extra time. Matthew Zimmerman won the cup for Hillside with a goal two minutes from the end.
 
The U14 final was an eight-goal thriller between Old Catton Soul and Lowestoft United.

Luke Thorne put Catton ahead after just five minutes and Tyler Hall replied for Lowestoft after 10. Lowestoft then seemed to take a firm grip on the final with goals from Harrison Hall and a second from Tyler Hall. Isaac Mallett pulled one back for Catton with an individual goal on the stroke of half time to leave them 3-2 down.
 
Catton came out all guns blazing in the second period with a goal from Will Cooper followed by two from captain Jack Dickerson to take the trophy 5-3.
 
The U16 final started with a bang when Cameron Amis put Brooke Adventurers ahead after just five minutes and Cristian Walker doubled the lead after eight with a crisp finish. Max Bailey pulled one back for St John’s with a shot after 12 minutes but Noah Muntendam restored Brooke’s two-goal lead after 15 with a low shot. That was how it stayed until 30 minutes when Cameron Amis put Brooke comfortably in control with a fourth from close range. Emile Tighe wrapped things up after 40 minutes to give Brooke a 5-1 win.
 
Youth league secretary Alan Barnes, said: “Cup finals day is the culmination of an exciting season and probably one of the most satisfying facts it that on most Saturdays throughout the football season around 300 children have the chance to play competitive friendly football across Norfolk. It was good to see a high level of commitment and skill across four different age groups. Despite the weather, it was a great sporting occasion for supporters and players of all the teams.
 
“We are always on the lookout for more teams, particularly at U10 and U16 level and we aim to be a positive influence on the lives of the children and young people who play in our league.”
 
 See all the pictures from the finals, which are free to download and use, in the gallery above or by clicking here.
 
NCFLYouthFinalsU14CattonSoul75

 
 

 


Published: 27/04/2019


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