NORTHWOOD RETURN TO WIN U15 CUP FINAL
The Middlesex FA Jimmy Dyson Under 15 Cup final was contested on Sunday, 30th April at Rectory Park. The teams involved were Northwood Youth Red, who play in the Eastern Junior Alliance and Ickenham Youth Red, from the Harrow Youth League Premier Division. The Northwood team reached the Under 15 Cup final last season, as Northwood Youth Elite. 10 members of that team reappeared in this final.
The Under 15 Youth Cup was first competed for in the 1980-81 season, when it was won by Beaumont.
91 teams entered the competition for the current season. Northwood Youth Red and Ickenham Youth Red both received byes in the first round.
Northwood reached the final with a succession of convincing victories. They beat Hadley Rangers 11-0 (away) in round 2, Norsemen Youth Blues 4-0 (away) in round 4, Southall Athletic Red 5-1 (at home) in the quarter-final and Isleworthians Youth Reds 3-0 (at home) in the semi-finals. They received a walk-over in round 3 against Omonia Youth White.
Ickenham Youth Red had to fight harder in some of their games and achieved some impressive wins. They overcame Eagles United 4-0 (at home) in round 2, Hanwell Town Red 5-4 (at home) in round 3, Pinnstars Red 5-4 (away) in round 4, Enfield Borough (Youth) 5-1 (at home) in the quarter-final and Elite London JPL 4-1 (at home) in the semi-final.
This match, which took place on a pleasant sunny afternoon, was a pleasure to watch. It was a high quality, competitive game played in a sporting spirit. An evenly contested first half produced just one goal, scored by Northwood in the 19th minute. They added another goal, midway through the second period and clinched victory with a third with 2 minutes of normal time remaining. Northwood were worthy winners but the three-goal margin did not accurately reflect Ickenham’s contribution to a very good final.
Matches in this competition are played over 40 minutes in each half.
Northwood made the early running. Matthew Pinching hit a long pass up the middle for Joseph Boyaram but Ickenham keeper Stanley Parker got to the ball first. Joseph chased another long ball but was forced wide and eventually dispossessed by weight of numbers. Cameron Barber headed wide from Freddie Ford’s corner.
At the other end, Northwood keeper, Rishy Morjaria gathered a through ball intended for Josh Havard.
Matthew Pinching’s high cross was safely taken by Stanley Parker.
A freekick by Ickenham’s Henry Atkinson, from a central position around 30 yards out, cleared the Northwood crossbar.
Northwood’s Chase Matthews made a good run up the left wing and was brought down in the corner of the pitch by Malcolm Hall.
Matthew Pinching’s freekick found Aidan Tarrant’s head but was then saved by the goalkeeper.
Josh Havard tried a lob, which was easily taken by Rishy Morjaria.
Matthew Pinching released Freddie Ford, whose cross failed to find a Northwood colleague.
Rishy left his penalty area to kick clear and then beat Henry Atkinson to a ball through the middle.
Northwood went ahead, as the result of a good move, in the 19th minute. Oliver Bishop and Freddie Ford combined to enable Joseph Boyaram to head the ball home.
Ickenham’s Henry Atkinson, who was the instigator of most of Ickenham’s attacks, hit a freekick just wide of the post, from around 35 yards.
Aidan Tarrant, who was prominent in the Northwood defence, headed out a dangerous cross by Ronnie Hinchliffe. Henry Atkinson made a run from halfway before being tackled at the expense of a corner. Josh Havard robbed a defender and tried a lob, which Rishy Morjaria turned behind. Rishy caught Henry Atkinson’s corner kick. Henry’s long freekick just cleared the crossbar.
Joseph Doctors made a good run for Northwood but the ball was cleared away.
Rishy took Liam O’Shea’s free kick, from the right, high up.
Half-time score: Northwood Youth Red 1 Ickenham Youth Red 0
Northwood went onto the offensive. Joshua Doctors cut into the middle from the right but ran into heavy traffic. Aidan Tarrant’s header from Freddie Ford’s corner was blocked. Chase Matthews worked into a good position but his cross was diverted for a corner by Malcolm Hall.
Malcolm then thwarted Joshua Doctors’, who had made a dangerous run through the middle. Stanley Parker then saved low down from Joshua.
Freddie Ford’s in-swinging corner rebounded from the face of the Ickenham crossbar and away to safety.
John Havard crossed for Henry Sorrell, whose header was saved by Rishy Morjaria.
Matthew Pinching crossed for Freddie Ford to double Northwood’s lead, from close range in the 57th minute.
A pass from Ashton Rainbird released Henry Atkinson, who was dispossessed after being outnumbered by the opposition defenders.
Matthew Pinching, who was playing a fine captain’s role, released Tobi Faleye. Tobi was intercepted by Malcolm Hall. Joseph Boyaram, who was alternating up front with Joshua Doctors, sent Tobi on a run, which ended with Stanley Parker pushing Tobi’s shot over the crossbar.
Ickenham skipper, Henry Sorrell put over a couple of high crosses, both of which were safely taken by Rishy.
A spell of Ickenham pressure saw Josh Havard head over from a corner, Henry Atkinson the recipient of a timely tackle by Aidan Tarrant and a freekick by Rohan Ladwa well saved by the keeper. Then Henry Atkinson again found his way through the middle barred, after being released by Josh Havard.
Northwood scored their 3rd goal in the 78th minute. Joseph Boyaram broke up the left and crossed for Tobi Faleye to net.
Northwood had two more scoring attempts in the closing moments. A low shot by Menelaos Telemachou was saved. Finally, Tobi just failed to reach Joshua Doctors’ low ball across the goalmouth.
Final score: Northwood Youth Red 3 Ickenham Youth Red 0
The game was well controlled by referee Mike Berchie. He received very good support from his colleagues.
The Guest of Honour, Middlesex FA President, John Davies was introduced to the teams and match officials before kick-off and he presented the Cup and mementoes after the match. John selected Ickenham’s Josh Havard as Player of the Match
Our thanks are due to all 3 teams on the pitch for a very enjoyable afternoon. Congratulations are given to Northwood on their victory, in their second appearance in this final and also condolences to Ickenham, who performed admirably. The expertise of the Association’s organising team and the splendid efforts of the Rectory Park staff also contributed to the success of the event.
TEAM LINE-UPS:
Northwood Youth Red: Rishy Morjaria, Cameron Barber, Adam Tarrant, Oliver Bishop, Chase Matthews, Matthew Pinching (capt), Sean Reade, Zachary Bayfield, Joseph Boyaram, Tobi Faleye and Freddie Ford.
Rolling substitutes: Kingston Hall, Antonio Subandrio, Menelaos Telemachou, Joshua Doctors and Ethan Gold.
Manager: James Hall Coaches: Tony Gold and Sham Ahmed.
Ickenham Youth Red: Stanley Parker, Isaac Sheehan, Ashton Rainbird, Malcolm Hall, Henry Sorrell (capt), Josh Havard, Oliver Ashby, Ben Lemming, Ronnie Hinchliffe, Henry Atkinson and Liam O’Shea.
Rolling substitutes: Jack Heggie, Freddie Austin and Rohan Ladwa.
Manager: Dean Atkinson Coach: Darren Havard
Referee: Mike Berchie Assistant Referees: AJ Vaiciunas and Paul Mitchell Fourth Official : Kyle Lake-Bryan
Attendance: 271
We thank Chris & Jim for covering this game, as ever they have selected their favourite shots from the match. Chris has also very kindly provided a full album of match imagery.
Full album courtesy of Chris Benn
Photography - Chris Benn