Abbey Youth 3 - 4 (AET) Rippleway AFC
Our U15’s reached the league cup final on Sunday following a 4-3 victory against Abbey Youth.
Rippleway started the game strongly and took the lead within the first minute of the game with a goal from our top goal scorer Omari Turner-Mills. The goal came from a lofted pass over the top of the defenders from Reece Hicks, putting Omari through on goal who slotted the ball past the on rushing keeper.
The boys continued to dominate in the first half and soon found themselves with a two goal advantage, this time Reece popped up with the second goal having picked the ball up outside the box and with a 30 yard strike on his right foot sent the ball over the top of the keeper and in to the back of the net.
The first half ended 2-0 to Rippleway, the boys had 40 minutes of normal time to hold on to their advantage which would see them through to the final.
The referee got the second half underway and it was clear to see that Abbey Youth were not going to make this easy for us, their continued pressure soon paid off, a loose ball found its way creeping through the goal keepers legs and the Abbey Yough striker made no mistake with putting the ball in to the net..........1-2, game on.
Abbey Youth continued to battle and the pressure was mounting for Rippleway with the visitors struggling to keep hold of the ball. Eventually that pressure took its toll and Abbey youth got the equaliser they deserved, they hit Rippleway on the counter and it was another loose ball that found its way to their striker who ran through on goal and slotted the ball away.......2-2.
As the game started to reach it’s final stages Rippleway soon found themselves behind following a strike from around 25 yards out, the ball went high up in to the air but began to dip towards the goal, with everyone looking on it seemed to take for ever for the ball to drop but when it did, it went over the goal keeper Jayden and in to the goal........3-2 to the home side with very little time left.
Were Rippleway about to be knocked out of the cup?
Time was running out with around 3 minutes to go, now it was Rippleway who were putting the pressure on, the ball was worked up the field and deep in to the opponents half, the ball was played through to Omari who beat the defender for pace and was through on goal, the keeper came rushing out but with a left footed shot Omari put the ball across the face of the goal in to the bottom corner bringing the game level..........3-3, the final whistle soon sounded and that was the end of normal time.
The game was now going in to extra time with 10 minutes to be played each half. Rippleway was given the responsibility of getting the game back underway and it was clear that the boys were not going to let this go to penalties, with around 4 minutes gone on the clock, the ball was picked up by Reece who was about 30 yards out, he took the ball down with his left, laid it off with his right back on to his left foot and shot the ball in to the top corner, hitting the underside of the bar and in..........3-4 (cue wild celebrations both on and off the pitch).
The boys had the lead once again and now all they need to do was hold on to the lead which they did, each and everyone one of the players throwing their bodies on the line and defending solidly for the remainder of the game. The final whistle went and Rippleway were through to the final.
Goal scorers:
Omari Turner-Mills x2 and Reece Hicks x 2
MOTM: Justin Correa
