WINGATE U18’s TRIUMPH IN FINAL

 

Middlesex County Cup Final U18s

Thursday 17th March 2011

 

Wingate And Finchley 4   Forest Utd 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Greenford Utd Stadium was the venue for an exhilirating County Cup Final, in front of a partisan Forest dominated crowd.

Uncharacteristically for Wingate it couldn't have started better.

Within five minutes Wingate went ahead, when a great ball in from David Smouha was neatly headed over the progressing Forest Keeper by Seb Garber.

A few minutes later and Charlie Nelson slotted home Wingate's second (with a very slight suspicion of hand ball).

Before 20 minutes were up Seb Garber had grabbed his second and Wingate's third, when he squeezed the ball into the Forest net.

But credit to Forest, and when they won the ball on the right side of midfield, they scored a wonderful goal from all of 20 yards.

The crowd then got fully behind them, and before half time Forest headed in, from a Rory Delap-like long throw, to go into the break 3-2 down.

The second half started evenly, until Liron Mannie went on one of his runs, and at the second attempt tapped in a superb individual goal.

But again Forest were not finished and closed the gap to 4-3 with a goal from a corner.

Charlie Ball worked tirelessly in midfield and some of the displays from Wingate players was exceptional, Mehmet Kurucolak the pick of the bunch.

Being drafted into the line up at short notice due to an injury to Jack Cook, he saved his best performance of the season for the final, and along with Brad Robinson and Andy War, they shut out Forest's attacks.

Kurucolak did have to make an amazing clearance off of the line, and Forest must have had at least 10 corners in the second half, but Wingate's superior ball control and passing game won through against Forest's direct approach.

A fantastic night for Wingate, the club's first County Cup win in the youth section, surely to be followed by the U15s in the next few.weeks!

Although the official man of the match went to Forest's 6ft 5inch forward there was no doubt in the Wingate camp that Mehmet Kurucolak deserved it!

Final Squad: Charlie Gould, Brad Robinson, Conor Staples, Mehmet Kurucolak, Andy Ward, David Smouha, Charlie Ball, Liron Mannie,Seb Garber,Calvin Dickson, Charlie Nelson, Ben Brown, Sabri Bokciu,Danny Hancock, Giorgio Torre, Jack Cook

 

Manager Keith Garber was ecstatic:  

"Considering this team has been together for barely one season, last night's achievement was outstanding. I am so proud of all the players, they worked tirelessly, created many chances throughout the game, and when necessary defended superbly against a very strong and direct team. Their own self belief helped them through this tournament and they all deserve the accolades that come with winning such a prestigious competition, absolutely delighted!!".