Bet365 Stadium – Stoke - 14.04.18 KO 2:00pm

Final Score: Staffordshire U18’s 0 – 2 Norfolk U18’s

Norfolk win this year’s FA County Youth Cup by beating Staffordshire after scoring two second half goals.

Norfolk started brightly with plenty of movement from their front men. A passage of good play down the left from Jimmy Morrissey earned Norfolk a corner which they fired into the box. Norfolk was unable to capitalise from this set piece as Staffordshire cleared the danger. However this early period of play showed Norfolk’s attacking intent.

A poor clearance from Pardington in the Staffordshire goal handed the ball to Ryan Miles 30 yards out. However his forward pass was intercepted by Lewis Riley-Stewart meaning that this glorious chance was wasted.

Staffordshire came into the game more as the half progressed and began to threaten the Norfolk goal.  Kieran Cook earned a free kick just inside the Norfolk half which was then launched into the Norfolk box. A pop shot was fired in at Billy Johnson by Staffordshire, but he was easily capable of dealing with the effort.

Norfolk was glad to hear the half time whistle after fending off numerous Staffordshire attacks towards the end of the half.

Half Time – Staffordshire U18’s 0-0 Norfolk U18’s

The second half started very differently to how the first ended, Norfolk came out of the dressing room showing more passion and desire.

Norfolk became imaginative with their set plays and a well-executed short corner caught Staffordshire out. This creative corner routine from Norfolk allowed Archie Galley to get the ball in space at the back post where he fired his shot just wide of the right post.

Norfolk got their throw-in specialist Josh Ford to launch long throws into the box to apply further pressure on the Staffordshire defense. This created multiple chances for Norfolk but they were unable to capitalise unfortunately.

With less than 20 minutes to play Ryan Miles decided to re-ignite Norfolk’s attack. He picked up the ball 10 yards inside his own half and waltzed around two Staffordshire defenders to give him room to shoot from the edge of the opponent’s box. However, his effort sailed inches over the bar which was unfortunate as it would have been a goal of great quality.

With 77 minutes played another corner was whipped into the box with great speed. Lewis Johnson beat his man to the ball at the front post and headed it home past the motionless goalkeeper. Norfolk took the lead!

As we entered added time Ryan Miles showed great pace to beat his man in the opposition’s box but was then brought down leaving the referee no option but to point to the spot. He then stepped up and blasted the ball into the net securing the victory for Norfolk.

Final Score: Staffordshire U18’s 0-2 Norfolk U18’s

Line ups:

Staffordshire U18’s: Jamie Pardington, Jamie Weldon, Ravel Wallace, Levi Andoh, Lewis Riley-Stewart, Devid Neligna, Brad Sharman, Jordan Dodd, Joseph Shirley, Kieran Cook, Jamie Elkes

Subs: Jakob Burroughs, Luke Mills-Fleming, Liam Riley-Stewart, Hamza Namuq, Jack Weldon

Norfolk U18’s: Billy Johnson ©, Charlie Hitch, Joshua Ford, Daniel Pinheiro, Ray Urry, Lewis Johnson, Miles Palmer, Archie Galley, Ryan Miles, Sam Dodden, Jimmy Morrissey

Subs: James Bemrose, Isaac Burrage, Ismael Fatadjo, Liam Kindred, Patrick Pye

Referee: Neil Hair (Huntingdon FA)

Assistants: Ollie Williams (Worcestershire FA) and Daniel Simpson (Middlesex FA)

Fourth Official: Tom Reeves (Birmingham FA)

Player of the Match: Lewis Johnson – Norfolk U18’s

Norfolk FA would like to thank Portable Toilet Hire Specialists, Toilets+ for being the Official Squad Sponsor of the Under 18’s for the FA County Youth Cup Final.