Graddon Vending Devon U14 Boys Cup Final

Stoke Gabriel Youth 2 - 3 Alphington Youth

18/05/2018

Both teams have had a good season, both are top of their individual leagues which indicated that we would have a close match on a pitch in a good condition and with perfect conditions and a good crowd. 

The match started, and the first five minutes were frantic but not able to produce a clear scoring opportunity for either team.

It took until the tenth minute before we had a real chance and it was more than a chance following a great passing move by Alphington and when Charlie Way hit a shot the Stoke keeper Josh Choat made a good save but couldn’t keep hold of the ball and the lively Liam Saunders nipped in to finish the move and put Alphington one up. 

Stoke attacked down their left wing but it came to nothing, but they showed the confidence to get themselves back level. 

The match was now living up to spectator’s expectations and the very nippy Alphington winger Dan Otieno was looking to use his pace to increase their lead his attacking partnership with Charlie Way and Liam Saunders they looked extremely dangerous. 

Stoke got their deserved equaliser when Alphington unfortunately scored an own goal following a big scramble in the penalty box to make it one all. 

In the twenty-fifth minute Alphington thought they had retaken the lead when Charlie Way hit a great shot for it to be brilliantly saved by Josh Choat keeping the score level. 

The fourth official indicated that there would be a minute of added time, but the whistle went for half time with score all square. 

The second half began, and the game immediately sparked into life when Stoke took the lead through a great shot by Charlie Rowe looked to have been well saved by Matt Kropkraski but unluckily for him he couldn’t keep it out and the ball crossed the line to put Stoke two one up. 

Alphington go on the attack but Stoke’s defence are standing strong but they are breached by Otieno when he applied a good finish to another strong move by Alphington after on fifty minutes. 

Seven minutes later Alphington looked to have sealed victory when they scored again when Way followed up another spilled save to go three two up. Stoke are looking to strike back playing on the break but it was Alphington who came close when they forced substitute keeper Cody Ironside into making an outstanding save from Saunders. 

The fourth official showed there would be three minutes of added time Stoke had one final chance when they won a free kick twenty yards out but they put the ball high over the wall and out of play at which the referee blew for full time making Alphington the 2018 Graddon Vending Devon U14 Boys Cup Winners. 

Man of the Match: Charlie Way. 

The next match at Coach Road, Newton Abbot, will be the Graddon Vending Devon Women's Supplementary County Cup Final between Buckland Athletic Ladies Reserves and Budleigh Salterton Ladies - KO 7:15pm - Gates open at 6pm.

To see a full match gallery from the U14 Boys County Cup please click the link below:

 stoke gabriel youth 2 - 3 alphington youth - match gallery

All photos are courtesy of miracle pr & photography