2024 Under-15 Youth Cup Final

TOTAL FUTBOL WIN U15 CUP IN A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT

Jim Taylor

The Middlesex FA Jimmy Dyson Under 15 Cup final was contested on Sunday, 5th May at Rectory Park. The teams involved were Colney Heath Youth, who play in the Eastern Junior Alliance and Total Futbol from the JPL.

The Middlesex Under 15 Youth Cup was first competed for in the 1980-81 season, when it was won by Beaumont. The holders of the cup were Northwood Youth Red, who beat Ickenham Youth Red 3-0 in last season’s final at Rectory Park. 

84 teams entered the competition for the current season.  

Colney Heath reached the final by beating Hanwell Town Red 8-0 away in round 1, Chase Side Youth 29-0 (yes 29-0!) away in round 2, Omonia Youth White 3-0 at home in round 3, New Salamis Red 3-2 at home in round 4, Ruislip Rangers Reds 7-2 at home in the quarter-final and Ickenham Youth Red 3-2 away in the semi-final.

Total Futbol received a bye in round 1 and then beat Ashford Town (Middlesex) Juniors Tangerines 6-0 at home, Wealdstone Youth Red 8-0 at home, West Drayton Youth 8-1 at home, AEK Youth Black 4-0 at home and Northwood Youth in a penalty shoot-out, following a 1-1 away draw. 

Matches in this competition are played over 40 minutes in each half.

The match was largely dominated by the respective defences, playing in front of very good goalkeepers. It finished goalless and had to be settled by a penalty shoot-out. which was won by Total Futbol.

The ball remained mainly in midfield during the early play. Total Futbol’s Adam Colligan  broke into the opposing penalty box but his shot was saved by keeper, Tommy Gutteridge.

Colney Heath’s Mansoor Alhenzy shot narrowly wide.

Teddy Moulder’s long freekick into the Colney Heath box was cleared. Then Kaream Thomas’ shot on the turn was saved low down by Tommy Gutteridge.

Harry Ward hit a high ball into the box and Tommy Gutteridge punched it away.

Total keeper, Isam Masri saved low down from Daniel Thomas.

Isam Masri saves low down from Daniel Thomas

Tommy Gutteridge then stopped Harry Ward’s shot.

Tommy Gutteridge saves from Harry Ward (18)

Total captain, Charlie Side headed just wide.

Colney Heath’s Mansour Alhenzy’s run finished with a low shot, which was saved.

Tommy Gutteridge saved Anis Chaouki’s low shot.

Half-time score: Colney Heath Youth EJA 0   Total Futbol JPL 0

Kaream Thomas’ header cleared the Colney Heath bar.

Kaream Thomas (on left) heads over the Colney Health crossbar

Colney Heath’s Luke Woolls headed Karrell Baffoe’s long freekick over the bar.

Luke Woolls (12) heads over the Total Futbol bar

Total Futbol keeper, Isam Masri left his penalty area to kick clear from Andreas Erichsen. He then saved at Justin Chikontwe’s feet.

Isam saves at Justin Chikontwes' feet

Luke Woolls shot narrowly over the Total bar from 25 yards. 

Justin Chikontwe’s cross into the Total box found Karrell Baffoe, who was dispossessed.

Total’s Matteo Cedrola headed wide from Adam Colligan’s cross.

Karrell Baffoe burst through the middle and brought a good save from Isam Masri.

Isam saved high up, under pressure, from Justin Chikontwe.

Isam saves high from Justin Chikontwe

Mattteo Cedrola made a timely tackle on Total’s Justin Chikontwe.

Total Futbol Manager, Carl Oliver was dismissed from the technical area, after persisting with his vociferous dissent.

Tommy Gutteridge saved from Shaq Jones at close range.

Tommy saves at close range from Total's Shaq Jones

Total’s Charlie Side headed just wide.

Colney Heath’s Daniel Thomas was tripped just outside the Total penalty area. Mansoor Alhenzy hit the resulting freekick narrowly over the crossbar.

Score after 80 minutes: Colney Heath Youth EJA 0   Total Futbol JPL 0

Total Futbol went first in the penalty shoot-out. The first pair of penalty takers, Kaream Thomas and Luke Woolls were successful.

Jack Ruddick converted Total Futbol’s second kick. Then Isam Masri dived to his right to save from Mansoor Alhenzy.

Isam saves Mansoor Alhenzy's penalty kick

Moses Onabule was successful with Total Futbol’s third penalty. Then Isam saved again, this time diving to his left to thwart Ben Burt.

Isam saves Ben Burt's penalty

Harry Ward hit his shot home to win the Cup for Total Futbol.

Harry Ward nets the match winning penalty

Result of Penalty Shoot-out: Total Futbol 4    Colney Heath EJA 1

The game was well controlled by referee Tommy Fondie, who confronted some difficult situations calmly. He received good support from his colleagues.  

The Guest of Honour, Middlesex FA Board Member and Chair of the Competitions Committee, Barbara Bivens was introduced to the teams and match officials before kick-off and he presented the Cup and mementoes after the match. Barbara chose Total Futbol goalkeeper, Isam Masri, as Player of the Match.

The winners with the cup

TEAM LINE-UPS:

Colney Heath Youth: Tommy Gutteridge, Karrell Baffoe, Kyle Lloyd (capt), Praise Awoyemi, Freddie Day, Ben Burt, Matt Williams, Luke Woolls, Daniel Thomas, Mansoor Alhenzy and Justin Chikontwe.

Rolling substitutes: Michal Glowacki, Andreas Erichsen, Oscar Roe, Dillon Jennings and Roman Tuffnell.

Manager: Matt Day Coaches: Johnny Hyatt and Ian Gutteridge.

Total Futbol: Isam Masri, Matteo Cedrola, Tao Liverpool, Teddy Moulder, Aaron Stafasani, Charlie Side (capt), Jack Ruddick, Kaream Thomas, Adam Colligan, Harry Ward and Anis Chaouki.

Rolling substitutes: Shaq Jones, Kieran Bachu, Max Wolski, Moses Onabule and Jayden Dennison.

Manager: Carl Oliver Coaches: Nicroy Thomas, Dexter Oliver and Perry Arnett.

Referee: Tommy Fondie Assistant Referees: Olivier Fougeres and Matthew Dyachuk Fourth Official: Daniel Brown.

Report: Jim Taylor

Photography: Chris Benn

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