topsham winners

Topsham Town Youth 2 - 1 Keyham Kolts Youth - Devon U18 Boys Cup Final 2018

Wotton Printers Devon Under 18 Boys Cup Final

Topsham Town Youth 2 - 1 Keyham Kolts Youth

pre match

On Tuesday 24th April, Topsham Town Youth took on Keyham Kolts Youth to see who’ll lift the Wotton Printers Devon U18 Boys County Cup.

A highly anticipated match between two teams, looking to lift silverware this season.

On paper both teams seemed to be on a similar level, footballing wise, so it was set up to be an equal and close match. 

After last week’s so-called ‘heat wave’, we were back to the miserable wet and cold weather at Coach Road.

After the coin-toss in the middle between both captains and officials it was down to Keyham Kolts to kick-off.

Keyham started the game by pumping the ball forward, but it is collected by the Topsham defence who calmly played the ball forward down the left with George Coombes, breaking forward Keyham’s defensive midfielder Fabian Ewers came in with a hefty tackle flooring Coombes. 

Referee Walker, immediately blew for a free kick, calling Ewers to him. 

A sign of things to come.

Seventy seconds into the match, Walker, Issues Ewers with a yellow card Ewers will now have to be extremely careful and has to play the remainder of the game with the threat of a red card hanging over his head. 

From the free kick the ball is played into the Keyham where their keeper Alex Cooper advances and confidently punches the ball away. 

The first quarter of an hour had been fairly scrappy with Topsham having more of the possession without being able to breach the Keyham defence. 

In the nineteenth minute Keyham had their first good chance, playing a ball through the Topsam defence to Lee Carter who bared down on goal where the Topsham keeper Brandon Milford bravely saves at Carters feet. 

Topsham were winning a lot of free kicks, but they all come to no fruition.

tackle

Keyham were looking to play on the break and win them a free kick about twenty-five yards out which Jack Dixon takes, and it is just inches past the Topsham upright. 

As half time approached Topsham striker Morgan Cullen hit a crisp shot which was just over. 

The fourth official shows that there will be one minute of added time but there were no chances, so the half finishes all square at 0-0. 

The second half began with Keyham looking to have made a change to their formation and it seemed to be working as were having more possession, creating the better chances. 

Both sides have had chances but to no avail there had been a series of yellow cards given mainly for mistimed tackles with Keyham getting the majority of them the latest one seems to have upset Keyham’s manager who was remonstrating very vocally at the ref who is dealing with the situation but his resolve has been pushed to its limit and he dismisses the manager from the field. 

Topsham were looking to take the game by the scruff of the neck and this payed off when they take the lead through the excellent Morgan Cullen. 

The game restarts and Keyham attack down the right with Lee Robinson who crosses the ball where Topsham’s keeper Miford spills the ball and it falls to Jack Langford who equalises the score. 

From the restart Topsham break down the right where a cross by Vaughan-Ryall is superbly met by Jordan Ford who powers his header home giving Cooper little chance. 

winning header

Keyham must now keep the discipline and play to their strengths John Balo is leading by example with his determination and strength but unfortunately to no avail. 

The fourth official shows there will be five added minutes with two minutes of the added time left Topsham break with Jack Smith but he is hacked down by substitute Matthew Warman who gets a yellow card. 

Into the last minute Topsham win a corner and play it short to use up the time which they do successfully and the final whistle goes with Topsham winning 2-1.

The presentations begin with Topsham Dan Cullen being named man of the match.

topsham winners

The next match at Coach Road is tomorrow’s Throgmorton Devon U18 Girls County Cup Final between Bideford AFC Youth and Dawlish United Youth.

To view a full gallery of images from the game please click the link below:

topsham town youth v keyham kolts - match gallery

*All photos are courtesy of Miracle PR & Photography