Staines Town Juniors Win the JN Smith U14 Cup Final
STAINES TOWN JUNIORS WIN JN SMITH UNDER 14 CUP
The JN Smith Under 14 Cup final was played at Middlesex FA’s Rectory Park Headquarters last Sunday afternoon, 31st March. The finalists, from the original entry of 67 teams, were Staines Town Juniors and Omonia Youth Green. Both sides contributed to an entertaining match, which was won convincingly by Staines Town. The final score was 6-1. However, Omonia competed well through to the end of the 70 minutes and were unfortunate not to add to the goal that they scored.
Staines Town attacked from the start and after 3 off-target shots, forced a corner which led to them going ahead in the 4th minute. Charlie George took the kick, which was headed back across the goal-mouth by Charlie Weller to Alfie Essex, who scored with a bullet header.
Alfie added to his goal tally 4 minutes later with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Staines keeper, Regan Forbes dived full length to save Jack Anastasi’s glancing header.
Fine approach work by Charlie George and Bailey Jefferies enabled Harry Joslin to add Staines Town’s 3rd goal.
There were further chances before the interval but none of them were taken. Charlie Weller lofted a long free kick into the Omonia penalty box, where Freddie Solly’s header was parried by Joe Smith, before the ball was scrambled away. Joe had to deal with several dangerous crosses and then smartly gathered the ball ahead of Bailey Jefferies, who had been released by Alfie Essex.
Erin Magashi had a scoring opportunity for Omonia, after collecting a pass from Leon Thompson but was thwarted by the diving Regan Forbes.
Bailey Jefferies performed a mazy dribble before being fouled on the edge of the Omonia area. The resulting free kick from George Wallace was palmed away by keeper Joe Smith.
Half time score: Staines Town Juniors 3 Omonia Youth Green 0
Freddie Solly scored with a cross shot in the 42nd minute to make the score 4-0 to Staines Town.
Omonia went close when Joe Katsiaounis headed a centre from Georgious Christoforou against the Staines Town cross bar.
However, a spell of pressure was rewarded in the 55th minute when Brendan Leahy slipped in to reduce the arrears.
Alfie Essex completed his hat trick and restored his team’s four goal margin less than 2 minutes afterwards, with a low drive.
Alfie scored his fourth goal and his team’s sixth, in the 62nd minute, when he collected a loose ball and hooked it home from close range.
Omonia kept fighting and with successive efforts, Joe Katsiaounis skimmed the Staines cross-bar and then shot just past the post. Joe was then even more unfortunate, when he hit a post, following good approach work by Nathan Legunsen and Georgios Christoforou. He then drove a free kick low but narrowly wide.
The last scoring opportunity of the match went to Charlie George, whose shot on the turn was parried for a corner by Joe Sm
Referee Michael Partridge enjoyed a good game, well supported by his assistant referees, Daniel Negraru and Anthony Headlam and fourth official Mark Sennett, who appeared to have done that particular job previously.
Final Score: Staines Town Juniors 6 Omonia Youth Green 1
Guest of Honour, Middlesex FA Finance Director, Steve Grover, presented the Cup and the players’ mementoes, at the conclusion of the match. He also presented the match ball to Alfie Essex, the scorer of 4 goals. It was not too much of a surprise that Steve named Alfie as Player of the Match.
Our thanks are again due to the dedicated members of the Middlesex FA Youth Cups Sub-committee and to the Rectory Park Centre team for their contribution to the success yet another event.
The attendance was 155.
STAINES TOWN JUNIORS
Regan Forbes, Tomiwa Abiola, Charlie Weller, Butrint Kciku, Harry Joslin (capt), George Smith, George Wallace, Alfie Essex, Freddie Solly, Charlie George and Bailey Jefferies.
Substitutes: (repeat substitutions are used in this competition): Finn Hamsher, Harrison Marquez, Arthur Starr and James Brooker.
Manager: Phil George
Assistant Manager: Justin Wallace
Coach: Shaun Joslin
OMONIA YOUTH GREEN
Joe Smith, Erin Magashi, Leon Thompson, Amaan Salim, Raul Amin, Pedros, Othona (capt), Joe Katsiaounis, Georgios Christoforou, George Androutsos, Brendan Leahy and Nathan Legunsen.
Substitutes: Mahan Rafiantasia, Jack Anastasi, Adam Bourahla, Troy Whyte and Nick Papasavva.
Manager: Nick Lingis
Assistant Manager: Mario Christoforou
Coaches: Pedros Othona and Georgios Christoforou
Referee: Michael Partridge
Assistant Referees: Daniel Negraru and Anthony Headlam
Fourth Official: Mark Sennett
Please click here for a full selection of images, courtesy of chris benn