Published: 30 May, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

GREY skies and persistent showers couldn’t dampen the spirits or the sparkling football on Friday as scores of talented youngsters took to the pitches at Market Road in the hunt for silverware.

Players from Futebol de Salao and Regent’s Park started the ball rolling in what proved another pulsating night of cup action in the Camden and Islington Midweek Youth League.

A single strike from midfielder Troy Harris, 8, proved enough to settle the tie as Regent’s Park ran out 1-0 winners to capture the Under-9s Alan Michael Browne Challenge Cup.

It might of been a more comfortable result for Regent’s Park had it not been for the goalkeeping heroics of FDS shot-stopper Freddie Richards, who put in a player-of-the-match display.

The win wrapped up a magnificent league and cup double for Regent’s Park.

The most exciting game of the night without doubt was the Under-11s Challenge Cup final. Angel Islington took the lead through Rudi Shire, but rivals Primrose Hill battled back to turn the game around thanks to goals from Guy Lane and Finlay Bell.

In a topsy-turvy game Jordan Cole levelled up the scores, before Archie Gadsdon struck a stunning free-kick to earn Angel a 3-2 victory.
Primrose defender Charlie Reeves, 11, was voted man-of-the-match.

The closest run contest came in the Under-13s final where it took penalties to separate Isledon Wolves and Highgate Rangers.

After the game finished goalless it was left to a dreaded shoot-out to settle matters. Both sets of players gave it their all, but in the end it was the goalkeeping heroics of Danai Kapfunde and a composed penalty from Harvey Lea-Bramble that proved decisive as Wolves sealed a nerve-wracking 7-6 victory.

Left-back David Mehmeti was named man-of-the-match for Wolves.

The cup success put the finishing touches to what has been a memorable season for the all-conquering Wolves, who were also crowned Under-13s league champions at Market Road and in the Harrow Youth League.

The final game of the evening saw Futebol de Salao take on Somers Town Future in the Under-15s Challenge Cup. FDS have won either the league or the cup in every season that they’ve been in the league, so there was perhaps little surprise when they were the team celebrating after the final whistle sounded.

Goals from Harry Husseyin, man-of-the-match Andrew Areoye and Jack Hennessy made the game safe before Adel Kassouri grabbed a late consolation for Somers Town as the thrilling match ended 3-1.

Islington’s new deputy mayor Councillor Theresa Debono proudly presented the younger winners with their medals.