U18 Durham 4 Web

U18s Win AoNC Youth League Final

Lancashire FA beat Durham FA to lift cup

LANCASHIRE FA 1-0 DURHAM FA
Association of Northern Counties – Youth Final
Saturday 13th May, The County Ground
Goals: Darr (85)

Our U18 side became overall winners of the Association of Northern Counties Youth League after a hard-fought victory over Durham at the weekend.

In a battling contest which saw two top teams go head to head, it was a single goal which separated both sides, Jordan Darr netting late on to hand Lancashire victory.

After a bright start by Lancashire, in which they threatened down the flanks and guided a free-kick just over the bar, Durham began to control possession.

The visitors made threats to break the deadlock – goalkeeper Cameron Allison made a couple of smart stops, while Luke Bailey and Elliot Forbes saw shots blocked.

However, Lancashire always looked dangerous on the break, and John Woodhead came close with a low angled attempt which was saved well by Carl Robinson.

Towards the end of the first half, Tom Billington saw an opportunistic effort fall wide, before a great cross by Carnan Dawson narrowly evaded his team mates waiting in the box.

The second half continued in the same vein as Durham’s pressure was interrupted by Lancashire's swift counter-attacking charges up the pitch, led by Darr.

This almost had the desired effect much earlier as Darr played in a well-positioned Joel Drewery before a member of Durham’s back line tackled superbly to thwart his efforts.

At the other end, Ethan Harker’s low strike rolled inches wide, before Dan Gray stepped up with an important block from Ben Cains' chance, as Lancashire’s defence refused to be breached.

Allison was called into action once more with around 20 minutes to go, making a fantastic close-range stop from Gareth McMahon, while Woodhead forced Robinson into a save two minutes later in a similar scenario to his first-half effort.

As the game reached its final stages, onlookers at the County Ground knew it would be down to just one goal to decide the tie - but who would be the ones to find the net?

Durham thought they’d got it on the 78th minute, but Forbes’ effort was ruled out as offside.

Then, with five minutes remaining, it was Lancashire who rippled the back of the net with the winner.

Released by another counter-attack, Darr embarked on one of his now trademark runs and dispatched a low finish past Robinson to give his side a late lead.

And it was almost doubled with one minute remaining, as Woodhead wriggled to the byline and crossed low to substitute Connor Smith, who couldn’t hit the target under pressure from a red shirt.

The dying embers of the match saw Lancashire defend resolutely as they had done continuously throughout, and the final whistle saw scenes of jubilation as they lifted the cup to crown a fantastic season.

Lancashire: Cameron Allison, Dan Gray, Alex Richardson, Tom Billington, Joe Gregory (c), Joe Hamilton, Jordan Darr, Tommy Whitehead, John Woodhead, Joel Drewery, Carnan Dawson
Substitutes: Harry Wissett, Kyle Preece, Zack Hargreaves, Zak Ahmed, Connor Smith

Durham: Carl Robinson, Brandon Alderson, Dominic Curl, Ethan Harker (c), Ryan Kirby, Jack Vaulks, Luke Bailey, Elliot Forbes, Gareth McMahon, Dale Milburn, Ben Cains
Substitutes: Decklan Greenwood, Callum Smith, James Moore, Dan McGuire, Declan Sproston


Lancashire FA: Path to the Final

AoNC Youth Division Two
24th September 2016
Cumberland FA 0-3 Lancashire FA
Goalscorers: Preece (2), Hamilton
Read the Match Report

AoNC Youth Division Two
15th October 2016
Lancashire FA 7-0 Cheshire FA
Goalscorers: Foster, Whitehead, Woodhead (2), Drewery (2), Carruthers
Read the Match Report

AoNC Youth Division Two
17th January 2017
Liverpool FA 2-0 Lancashire FA
Read the Match Report

AoNC Youth Division Two
3rd April 2017
Lancashire FA 4-2 Westmorland FA
Goalscorers: Kaye (2), Richardson, Woodhead
Read the Match Report

AoNC Youth Semi Final
22nd April 2017
Lancashire FA 3-1 Lincolnshire FA
Goalscorers: Woodhead, Kaye, Gregory
Read the Match Report

Related News

View All