Needham Market boys win the cup
Needham Market FC U13s enjoyed an emphatic victory in the Patrons Cup Final. Here’s Alan Garnham with the report
By Alan Garnham
The Needham Market FC U13 squad didn’t have far to travel for their Patrons Cup Final match. They were up against Greater London side Barkingside, and scored an emphatic 5-3 victory to bring home the silverware.
It was a chilly start to the day, and the boys took a while to get going. A few stray passes during the warm-up didn’t bode well. It seemed as if the players were struggling to get to grips with the hard, bobbly surface.
Things got worse when the whistle blew, with Barkingside drawing first blood. A corner clearance dropped at the feet of an opposition player who passed into the box and enabled a clear header to put the home side 1-0 up.
It wasn’t long before Needham Market clawed their way back into the match, though. A brilliant run and cross from Aaron O. was well finished by Alex to bring the score level.
| Their performance bodes well for the future, showing the team’s resilience, work rate and hunger for success. |
With honours even Needham found their rhythm and soon went a goal up. Alex was the supplier this time, sending the ball through the middle for Alfie to run onto and slip coolly beneath the advancing goalkeeper.
Needham’s 2-1 halftime lead felt slender, and the match was delicately poised. But the boys came out for the second half with all guns blazing, Alfie and Alex once again linking up beautifully to give the team a two-goal advantage.
A quickfire follow-up goal (another Alfie-Alex special, giving Alex his hat trick) put Needham 4-1 up, and Barkingside were beginning to look desperate. Ed took advantage of the big holes opening up among their back players to slot in a fifth Needham goal, putting the game well and truly to bed.
At 5-1, the boys sat back, allowing Barkingside to score two late consolations that brought the final score line to 5-3 in Needham’s favour. It was a truly memorable, and well-deserved, cup win for the Needham Market boys and a great occasion for them to play in a cup final. Their performance bodes well for the future, showing the team’s resilience, work rate and hunger for success.
Just Recruitment Group Ltd is proud to sponsor Needham Market FC U13s.
Published: 17 April 2019
© 2019 Just Recruitment Group Ltd
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