Sussex County FA, Lancing - 6.1.19 KO 2:00pm

Final Score: Sussex U18’s 0-1 Norfolk U18’s

In the opening 15 minutes both teams were unable to stamp early authority on the game with few chances being created. The Sussex goalkeeper, Bromage, was forced to make a good save when James Bemrose was played through on goal and fired on target from a tight angle.

After 15 minutes Norfolk goalkeeper, Connor Milligan, made a great save from a Sussex effort from distance, holding the ball firmly and stopping the attack. With Norfolk looking very solid defensively, they pushed forward in search of the opening goal and had three really good chances. Two powerful efforts from Bemrose forced Bromage into good saves and Forbes hit the side netting from an angle.

Norfolk got their goal in the 21st Minute when Deagan Watts was played through on the left by Lewis Johnson; he ran the ball into the penalty area before slotting the ball past the keeper.

Norfolk came very close to doubling their lead on the half hour mark when Cameron Wing hit the post from the right side of the Sussex penalty area after a driving run past the full back.

Half Time: Sussex U18’s 0-1 Norfolk U18’s

The opening 20 minutes of the second half saw not many chances created with both teams not wanting to concede as they both knew a place in the Semi-Finals awaited the winners.

Sussex came very close to equalising after 67 minutes when a free kick from the right on the edge of the Norfolk box whistled past the post.

With 10 minutes left to play, Milligan in the Norfolk goal made a vital save down low to his right tipping the ball around the post for a Sussex corner. 

Half time substitute, Karol Wengrzik, had a chance to put the game to bed after Max lane put the ball in from the right, but the resulting shot was saved well by Bromage in the Sussex goal.

As the game entered 4 minutes of added time, Norfolk were absorbing pressure well and managed to create a chance for Harrison Guilding-Hewitt. However, he was tackled before he could get his shot away by the Sussex last man.

Final Score: Sussex U18’s 0-1 Norfolk U18’s

Line ups:

Sussex U18’s: Bromage, Harper, Beresford, Mthunzi, Jelly, Blackmore (c), Gifford, Goldsmith, Waters, Pattenden, Pittock. 

Subs: Gould, Brady, Rawlingson, Seymour.

Norfolk U18’s: Milligan, Tinkler, Philpott, Johnson (c), Ford, Rich, Wing, Murphy, Bemrose, Forbes, Watts.

Subs: Lane, Upston, Lane, Gilding-Hewitt, Wengrzik.

Referee: Shelby Elson 

Assistants: Luke Pullen and Garry Hodgkinson

Player of the Match: Connor Milligan – Norfolk U18’s

Norfolk FA would like to thank Portable Toilet Hire Specialists, Toilets+ for being the Official Squad Sponsor of the Norfolk under 18 Representative Squad.