Crown & Manor U-12s

Published: 23 March, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

AN epic penalty shoot-out brought a fantastic evening of football to a close on Friday as teams went head-to-head in a series of scintillating cup finals in the Camden & Islington Midweek Youth League at Market Road.

Supporters were treated to a rare feat in the Under-14s clash between Somers Town and Crown and Manor with all the players on the pitch being able to say they scored in a cup final.

Having gone a goal down Somers Town equalised courtesy of a clinical finish from Sandy Owuadey. Jendrik Loeschner then capped a man-of-the-match display with the goal of the game as he cut in from the left, leaving a string of defenders trailing in his wake, before curling the ball past the keeper to give Town the lead.

Crown and Manor made it 2-2 late on to force penalties, and that’s when the drama really started.

The initial five takers on both sides all scored, as did the remaining three players that made up the starting line-up in the seven-a-side contest.

Loeschner, Eliezer Kafuti and Jason Rice all scored their second penalty in the shoot-out for Somers Town before Sang-Pierre Gomez grabbed the winner to seal an unbelievable 12-11 victory.

In the Under-10s Challenge Cup Pro Touch Soccer Academy beat Futebol de Salao 2-0 thanks to goals from Cian Moises and Tiago Santos. Futebol de Salao midfielder Joe Day, 9, was named player-of-the-match.

St John’s Wood beat Crown and Manor to capture one of the most important trophies in the league.

The Liboria Risveglia Cup is named after a young referee who passed away in her sleep in 2009 aged just 19.

In a fitting tribute both teams played out a thrilling contest with Crown and Manor taking the lead through 12-year-old striker Jason Zapata.

St John’s turned the game around, however, with goals from player-of-the-match Jack Lass, Demetris Christodoulou and Zane Matthew.

The new Islington mayor, councillor Barry Edwards, showed his support to all the teams as he turned up to hand out the trophies, including to players from Under-8s sides The Fonthill and Chapel Youth who played out an entertaining exhibition match.