Scott Richards Solicitors Devon Under 14 Boys Cup Final

Marine Academy Plymouth Juniors   1 - 2    Plymouth Parkway Youth

Played at Coach Road, Newton Abbot 13/09/2020

Plymouth Parkway Youth claimed victory in this excellent match but, few who had watched the first half would have believed the final outcome. Parkway kicked off and drove forward into opposition territory, but it was not long before Marine Academy got on top, with Sonny Cooper and Xavi Marks linking up well down the right and causing havoc within the Parkway defence.

In the 9^th minute Marks collected from Cooper and crossed to an unmarked Oliver Goodwin who, instead of shooting first time, took an extra touch and lost out to Parkway’s Archie Wall at the expense of a corner, the resultant flag kick being headed over by Perran Kinsman.

Encouraged by this, Marine pushed forward again, and in the 11^th minute Travis Newton raced into the box but placed his shot just wide of the far post. That was followed two minutes later by Goodwin crossing from the left straight on to the right foot of Kaiden Elwood who, 10 yards out, inexplicably took a second touch and the chance was lost.

It was all Marine now, Goodwin got on the end of a free kick from T-Jay Marshall but Finley Conway, in the Conway goal, was able to smother easily. Conway was really tested in the 15^th minute when Marks fired in a shot from distance that he was able to push onto his crossbar and away.

A minute later Marine were almost caught out by Parkways’ Rhys McShane who raced down the right and just missed the target, his shot passing the far post with keeper Tom Bennett beaten. Not to be put off by that scare Marine continued to attack but Parkway’s defence, well marshalled by their captain Hall, defended well and Conway was not really tested as the Marine finishing was mostly off target.

In the last minute of the half Matthew Lawton, on for Elwood, raced clear onto a through ball only to be denied by Wall covering across from the right and so the first half ends with scores level at nil-nil.

Within a minute of the restart Parkway somewhat surprisingly went ahead, Wall getting on the end of a free kick floated in from the left touchline to head past Bennett at the near post. The goal lifted Parkway and they started to get on top. Marine seemed to have gone into their shell such that they were unable to find the rhythm they had in the first half.

They must have been regretting not taking their first half chances six minutes later as they found themselves with a mountain to climb, J-Jay Honeywell getting on the end of a through ball to fire in a thunderous shot that left Bennett clutching at fresh air. Two-nil to Parkway now and as the game opened up Parkway had two chances to go further ahead, but Casey Moss and McShane were both denied by Bennett with a double save at the edge of the box. In the 52^nd minute Moss had another opportunity to make the game safe but was again denied by Bennett with a superb save.

Marine looked a beaten side however, with some astute changes using the repeat substitution system, they started to get back into the game. In the 55^th minute they were unlucky not to get a goal back when, from only their second corner of the match, Sol Wilson’s powerful header rattled the angle of post a bar.

Marine began to get more into the game and in the 66^th minute they got a goal back. Elwood swung in a corner from the left, which was cleared but, having been first to latch on to the clearance, he floated an angled cross into the box for Kinsman to head home. In the 69^th minute Wilson almost levelled the score as he broke clear to lob Conway, but the ball landed on the roof of the net. A minute later the keeper was called upon again, a free kick from Marshall being flicked on by Goodwin, Conway diving to gather.

With Marine pushing up gaps were opening up at the back. Parkway’s Marley Baverstock was put clear only to blast his shot wide and in the 3^rd minute of added time Moss was denied by a tremendous tackle from Cowen Newitt as he closed in at the near post. And so, at the final whistle, Parkway win the cup by two goal to one.

Player of the Match -  Archie Wall (Plymouth Parkway Youth)