Wotton Printers Devon Under 16 Boys Cup Final

Buckland Athletic Youth U16  4 - 2    Plymouth Marjon Youth U16

Played at Coach Road, Newton Abbot 27/09/2020

Two goals from Player of the Match John Agpoon plus singles from Neo James and Louis Pascoe turned this game on its head as Buckland came from twice being behind to claim the spoils in this absorbing cup final.

Marjons kicked off and were in danger of going a goal behind in the first minute as from Buckland’s first attack Charlie Holbrook drew a fine save from Harrison Quirk, the ball falling at the feet of Agpoon whose shot hit the side netting. Three minutes later Agpoon had another opportunity cutting in from the right but firing just past the near post.

From the Quirk’s kick out Marjon’s attacked for the first time and found themselves ahead, a cross from Ralphie Harrison wide on the left found Jack Smart at the far post to head home.

Buckland went straight back on the attack from the restart. First Holbrook, receiving a pass down the middle from Oliver Hardiman almost chipped it over Quirk and that was followed by James drawing a good save from Quirk who was having a busy time of it. However, there was little he could do to prevent the equaliser as James long throw from the left was headed back to him. His cross over the defence found Agpoon completely unmarked and he found the target with a bullet from outside the six yard box.

That was in the 23^rd minute and a minute later Marjons had a good chance to restore their advantage, a wayward shot finding its way to Harvey Ashton whose powerful shot hit Harrison on the line and was cleared for a corner.

In the 30^th minute Pascoe had a good chance from a long throw from James but headed into the side netting. James’s long throws were causing all sorts of problems in the Marjon’s defence, but it was Marjons who went ahead. Ralphie Harrison picked up the ball in midfield and passed into the path of Harvey Ashton who slotted across the Buckland custodian Harrison Montandon into the far corner of the net. Marjons kept up the pressure but were unable to find a third goal and so we went into the break with the score standing at Buckland 1, Marjons 2.

Both sides had made use of the repeat substitution system as the second half began and it was some tome before any advantage began to show. Buckland were fortunate not to go further behind in the 48^th minute when Ashton cut in from the left but drove his left foot shot just wide.

In the 51^st minute Pascoe was brought down in the box and James stepped up to blast his penalty high over the bar. He almost made up for the miss two minute later, but Quirk was equal to his fierce shot and Marjons still held on to their one goal lead. That was until the hour mark when James and Pascoe combined to put Agpoon in and he made no mistake from close range.

Buckland’s tails were up now, and the crowd could sense that the next goal would probably be the winner. It was Pascoe who got it, pouncing on a through ball into the Marjon’s box and placing his shot past Quirk’s right hand into the corner.

In the 75^th minute Holbrook almost made it four but was denied by Quirk saving with his feet. A minute later it was Holbrook again, racing down the right and crossing for James to slot home and make the game safe. Four-two to Buckland with four minutes left and the comeback duly completed despite Marjon’s, who in the 78^th minute had a player sent off, best efforts to get back into the game. Two minutes into added time Ashton had a shot well saved by Montandon but Buckland managed to keep them at bay for the remaining four minutes and claim the 2020 Under 16s cup.

Player of the Match - John Agboon (Buckland)