All up for the Development Cup: Star players from Alpha Football Intelligence (in acid green strip), Regent’s Park Raiders (dark green strip), Westway (red strip) and West End FC (blue and yellow strip) with Islington Development Officer Michael MacNeill 

Published: 21 January, 2016
by STEVE BARNETT

STRIKER Ronan Gautier certainly had a hand – or more precisely, two – in helping his team grab the glory on Saturday, but there wasn’t a last-gasp winner or a golden goal anywhere in sight. 

That’s because the versatile 11-year-old swapped his shooting boots for goalie gloves to put in a starring role for top youth club Alpha Football Intelligence. His goal-line acrobatics helped Alpha snatch the Camden and Islington Midweek Youth League Development Cup in a thrilling penalty shoot-out. 

Mesdar Woldesus, 10, gave the Holloway-based side the lead in a gripping Under-11s final at Market Road. But cup final opponents Regent’s Park Raiders battled back through Joe Teague, 11, to level the scores and send the game into a penalty shoot-out. 

Regent’s Park Raiders Joe Teague (left) and Jacob Lara

And that’s when Ronan starred between the sticks to become the hero, saving two penalties to guide Alpha to a nail-biting 2-1 victory. 

In a best-of-three shoot-out, Jacob Lara, 11, struck first for Regent’s Park. Then Ronan stole the show with two spectacular saves, while team-mates Mesdar and Jordan McNally, 11, played their part by coolly slotting away their spot-kicks. 

League general secretary Karen Greene said: “It was a fantastic day. We sought some great cups and medals from London Trophy Company, so all the players went home with something.”

Shoot-out heroics … spectacular saves by Ronan Gautier saves the day for Alpha