JIM TAYLOR U12 TROPHY KICKS OFF
The first round of the Middlesex FA’s most junior competition, The Jim Taylor U12 Trophy was contested on Sunday last, 17th October and County Photographer, Chris Benn was there to record it.
This competition was inaugurated last season but it had only progressed as far as the first round, when the pandemic halted it. 50 teams have entered this season and 7 games were played in this round.
Matches in this competition are 9-a-side and comprise of 2 halves of 30 minutes each. If the scores are level at the end of the 60 minutes, kicks are taken from the penalty spot to decide the winners. Up to 5 substitutes are permitted for each side and they can be used on a roll on/roll off basis.
Chris chose to feature the game between Ruislip Rangers U12 Whites and Lpossa Youth U12 White, which was played at Kings College Playing Fields, Ruislip.
Lpossa dominated the early play and opened the scoring in the 6th minute, through Isaiah Janus-Mitchell, who converted Harry Pleasant’s cross, from close range.
Isaiah scored a second goal 6 minutes later, following good approach work by Maxim Bushko.
Ruislip Rangers now came into the match and had the better scoring chances for the remainder of the half. Ben Waller fired just wide, following a penetrating run. Linkin Cross tested keeper, Freddie Pleasant with a long range, awkwardly bouncing shot. Then Ben was foiled by Freddie’s outstretched foot.
Half time score: Ruislip Rangers Whites 0 Lpossa White 2
Lpossa regained the initiative from the restart and home keeper, Cameron Jarvie-Smith was immediately in action with a good save, tipping Mazem Salam’s long shot over his cross bar.
In the 35th minute, Isaiah Janus-Mitchell collected the ball in his own half of the field and ran unchallenged up the middle to slot home Lpossa’s 3rd goal and register his hattrick.
Then Ruislip Rangers’ Joseph Dieme had a good scoring opportunity, after the Lpossa keeper had parried Tiago Quarrie’s shot. Unfortunately, he fired the wrong side of the post.
Isaiah scored his and his team’s 4th goal, in the 47th minute with a low shot from Harry Pleasant’s pass.
Joseph Dieme broke clear of the Lpossa defence but the keeper palmed his shot away. However, Linkin Cross scored a deserved goal for Rangers in the 57th minute, when he finished a concerted attack by netting from close range.
Lpossa’s Milan Pethurupillai squared the ball for Maxim Buchko to complete the scoring in the last minute.
Final Score: Ruislip Rangers Whites 1 Lpossa White 5
Despite the heavy score, this was an enjoyable match, containing plenty of entertaining and skilful football from both teams. The game was played in a very good spirit and all of the players and coaches involved were a credit to their clubs.
Teams:
RUISLIP RANGERS WHITES: Cameron Jarvie-Smith, Harrison Cook, Oscar Crawford, Elliott Wilson, Milan Mistry, Ethan Petrinuv, Linkin Cross, Samuel Cerftci, Seth Miller, Ben Waller, Rio Knight,Tiago Quarrie and Joseph Diame.
LPOSSA WHITE: Freddie Pleasant, Harry Pleasant, Ryan Griffiths, Ben Smith, Julian Ciotrowoski, Mazen Salam, Archie Lawrence, Isaiah Janus-Mitchell, Maxim Buchko, Mesrop Arakellan, Kai Stockman and Milan Pethurupillai.
REFEREE: George Blincko.
OTHER ROUND 1 MATCHES:
The results of the other Jim Taylor U12 Trophy Round 1 games, played that morning were:
| AFC Southgate (Youth) Dragons | (3) 2 | v | 2 (2) | Hendon Youth White |
| Norsemen Youth | (7) 0 | v | 0 (8) | Ruislip Rangers Blues |
| Magix Youth White | 3 | v | 1 | Hendon Youth Blue |
| Wealdstone Youth Blue | (0) 1 | v | 1 (2) | Kensington Dragons Red |
| Larkspur Rovers Youth Red | 4 | v | 8 | Borehamwood 2000 Blues |
| Pro FA Borehamwood | (2) 0 | v | 0 (1) | London Eagles Youth Red |
*Scores in brackets indicate Penalty Shoot-Outs.
The Second Round of this competition is scheduled for Sundays, 31st Oct and 7th Nov.
Thanks to Chris Benn for catching all of the key moments at the match.
