Dawes Accountants  Devon Under 13 Boys Cup Final

Galmpton United  1 – 6   Horrabridge Rangers

Played at Coach Road, Newton Abbot 27/06/2021

A second half hat-trick from man of the match Jock Orchard settled this tie in favour of Horrabridge who had defended well throughout the game giving little away. Galmpton were on the front foot from the kick-off and forced Rangers onto the back foot in the early stages, their long throw in tactic causing all sorts of problems.

After the early skirmishes Rangers settled well and went ahead in the 14^th minute through Sam Pearson. Galmpton had failed to clear their lines and Pearson, picking up the loose ball, drove in towards the corner of the six yard box to place his shot past the onrushing Galmpton keeper Olly Collings into the far corner of the net. A minute later they missed a good chance to go two up but Lucas Pascoe on the left sliced his shot wide from 12 yards.

Galmpton, undeterred, continued to press forward looking for a chance to come from their long throws, but Rangers had organised themselves defensively and pushed forward looking to increase their lead. They didn’t have to wait long as George Bills put them two up in the 20^th minute, Collings spilling a low cross from the right and gifting Bills a tap-in..

The game settled down and Galmpton were beginning to trouble the Rangers defence down the left side and in the 33^rd minute were rewarded a free kick some 30 yards out. Up stepped Alfie Walker to drive a looping shot into the top corner, despite the best efforts of Ryelee Deignan in the Rangers goal.

Rangers soon restored their two goal cushion as, straight from the restart, a long ball out to the right was crossed in to Bills who calmly slotted past Collings to make the score at half-time 3 – 1 to Horrabridge.

Galmpton kicked off the second half having changed their keeper, Callum Yeates replacing Collings. Within a minute they almost had a goal back, Kye Drinkwater driving a shot from the edge of the penalty area towards the far top corner which Deignan did well to keep out. Galmpton were digging in and keeping the Rangers forwards at bay until, with 15 minutes remaining, the game was taken from them completely, Orchard firing in a shot from the left corner of the box over Yeates into the top corner.

4 – 1 now and looking more and more difficult for Galmpton who, to be fair, kept going forward in numbers but the final ball just wasn’t there. In the 64^th minute Yeates did well to push away a shot from the right, but there was Orchard to prod home the rebound for his 2nd and his teams 5^th goal of the match.

Galmpton were still giving their all though and in the 69^th minute Drinkwater raced into the box to draw a brilliant save from Deignan diving to his left. From the clearance Rangers Jamie Nolan picked out Orchard with a long pass down the left and he obliged by rounding Yeates to complete his hat-trick to ensure the trophy went to Horrabridge..

Star Player – Jock Orchard (Horrabridge Rangers)

Dennis Smith

Devon FA