THE FIRST MIDDLESEX FA YOUTH TROPHY FINALS ARE PLAYED
The first ever finals of our new competitions for the boys’ teams of Middlesex affiliated clubs, playing in the lower divisions of their leagues, were played at Rectory Park on Sunday, 15th May. These competitions were introduced to provide an extra level, with an increased chance of cup success for these teams. They were planned to commence last season and a round was actually played before the arrival of the pandemic. There are 3 trophies, at U12, U13 and U14 level.
Our first match was the final of the Jim Taylor U12 Trophy between Bedfont Eagles Raiders and Harefield United Youth Whites.
41 teams entered this season’s competition.
Bedfont Eagles Raiders received a bye in the first round and then progressed to the final by defeating Old Actonians Youth Red 6-0 at home in the second round, Edmonton Rangers Falcons 7-1 away in the third round, Limitless Football Club 4-3 away in the quarter-final and Hampton & Richmond Borough Youth Colts 5-2 away in the semi-final.
Harefield United Youth Whites had a walkover against Harrow Club W12 in the first round. They beat Pinner United White 9-0 away in the second round, Kensington Dragons Youth Red 5-0 at home in the third round, Enfield Town Youth Blue 2-1 away in the quarter-final and Brook House Youth Red 2-0 away in the semi-final.
Bedfont Eagles Raiders play in the Surrey Primary League Championship and have won the title this season. Harefield United Youth Whites play in the Wycombe and South Bucks Youth League.
Matches in this competition are 9 a side and played over 30 minutes each half.
This match was contested on a very dull morning. The threatened rain just held off until its completion. However, the football was far from dull. The contestants produced a scintillating performance, which thoroughly entertained the vociferous audience. Bedfont Eagles led 4-3 at half time. Harefield United levelled in the second half and took the game to a penalty shoot-out, which was eventually won by Harefield United.
Harefield United went ahead within the first minute, through their top scorer Musa Waseem, who converted David Gavril’s pass from close range.
Bedfont Eagles equalised in the 5th minute, through their top scorer, Oscar Lucas, who broke through the Harefield defence to hit the ball home.
The play continued to flow quickly from end to end. Musa Waseem’s long shot was saved by Bedfont keeper, Cole Osborne. Eagles Bobby Frazer also tried a long shot, which Harefield keeper, Yannis Garbovan parried and just managed to prevent from crossing his goal line. Then Musa Waseem drove just wide.
Oscar Lucas worked his way through the Harefield defence and slipped the ball home to put Bedfont 2-1 ahead in the 12th minute.
Another long shot by Bobby Frazer was saved by Yannis Garbovan.
Bobby Frazer then fed Oscar Lucas, who was dispossessed by a good tackle by Michael Durkan.
Musa Waseem’s long shot went in off of the post, in the 21st minute, to level the scores at 2-2.
Less than a minute later, Sam Clarke restored Harefield’s lead from the penalty spot, following a foul by Bedfont’s Daniel Henry.
Almost immediately, Bedfont’s Oscar Lucas completed his hattrick, after being put through by Malachi Stapleton-Mai.
A long-range effort from Harefield’s David Gavril was parried and then caught by Cole Osborne.
Oscar Lucas’s lob over the goalkeeper was cleared from the Harefield goal area by Michael Durkan. Michael was hurt in the process.
Oscar Lucas netted his fourth goal, assisted by Bobby Frazer, to put Eagles 4-3 ahead. Bobby was having a very good game in midfield, orchestrating most of his side’s moves.
Score at half time: Bedfont Eagles Raiders 4 Harefield United Youth Whites 3
Cole Osborne saved Aston Emmanuel’s long shot. Then, in the 35th minute, Vihaan Patel levelled the scores with a lob over the crowded penalty area and the keeper.
Amazingly, there were no further goals. However, the action did not abate.
In a spell of Eagles’ pressure, Bobby Frazer’s long-range shot hit the Harefield upright. Oscar Lucas won possession and tested the keeper from close range. Bobby shot narrowly wide.
Bedfont’s Joshua Hooper was fouled wide on the right. Malachi Stapleton-Mai’s resulting free kick found Alfie Coyte but Yannis Garbovan saved his shot. Yannis then saved a drive from Bobby Frazer.
Musa Waseem skimmed the Bedfont crossbar with a drive and Cole Osborne saved with his feet from Aston Emmanuel. A slick Harefield passing move, involving Aston and twins David and Samuel Gavril, ended with David hitting an upright. Cole Osborne then made good saves to keep out shots from Musa Waseem and Aardam Dewji (twice).
Yannis saved with his feet from Bobby Frazer, at the cost of a corner, after Bobby had been released by Oscar Lucas.
Bobby Frazer netted a pass from Oscar but was adjudged to be offside.
Score at fulltime: Bedfont Eagles Raiders 4 Harefield United Youth Whites 4
Harefield United went first in the penalty shoot-out.
The first 5 penalty takers from both sides were successful. They were Sam Clarke, Aadam Dewji, Matthew Flack, Aston Emmanuel and Musa Waseem for Harefield United and Marwan Sarroukh, Malachi Stapleton-Mai, Alfie Coyte, Oscar Lucas and Bobby Frazer for Bedfont Eagles.
Then Cole Osborne saved from Harefield’s Archie Butterfield and Georgie Collacott of Eagles fired wide.
Vihaan Patel converted Harefield’s 7th penalty and Eagles’ Jenson Bamford hit Bedfont’s kick wide.
Penalty shoot-out score: Harefield United Youth Whites 6 Bedfont Eagles Raiders 5
Referee Mike Partridge had an excellent match. He dealt with all of the situations, which arose, in an impressive manner.
I was honoured when it was decided that the U12 Trophy would bear my name. Also, I was pleased to be Guest of Honour for the final. After very careful consideration, I chose Bedfont Eagles striker, Oscar Lucas, who shaded it from some other outstanding contenders, as Player of the Match. I hope that you enjoyed my comedy act of trying to present the trophies in the wrong order.
The attendance was 279.
Bedfont Eagles Raiders: Cole Osborne, Lagan Gomez-Moore, Daniel Henry, Marwan Sarroukh (capt), Alfie Coyte, Joshua Hooper, Malachi Stapleton-Mal, Oscar Lucas and Bobby Frazer.
Rolling substitutes: Ewan Walters, Jenson Bamford, Georgie Collacott, David Smart and Kayden Rosenberg.
Coach: Gavin Bamford
Harefield United Youth Whites: Yannis Garbovan, Michael Durkan, Vihaan Patel (capt), Matthew Flack, Musa Waseem, Aston Emmanuel, David Gavril, Sam Clarke and Aadam Dewji.
Rolling substitutes: Daniel Shirvell, Samuel Gavril and Archie Butterfield.
Manager: Sunny Tailor Coaches: Billy Brooks and Rio Clarke.
Referee: Mike Partridge Assistant Referees: George Finch and Frankie Major Fourth Official: Matthew Dyachuk.
We thank Chris and of course Jim who had many roles in this Final, as the very person this competition is named after, he was also our guest of honour alongside his usual reporting duties. Chris & Jim have also picked out some key shots from the game and Chris has kindly provided a full album of imagery from the game.
