Harlow Town Claim Under 13s Trophy Title
Five goals from five different players enabled Harlow Town to secure a 5-1 win over River Hawks (Ospreys) and claim the Essex Under 13s Trophy title at the home of Aveley FC in the first ever final for this newly-created competition.
Harlow’s Sydney Pope started the goalscoring with a 30-yard free kick in the 15th minute, followed by a skilful link-up between John Adesion and Lloyd Efa Marfo to make it two. In the second half, Noah Bailey scored Harlow’s third goal, and Sophie Clark provide their fourth in the 61st minute. River Hawks did get a ball in the back of the net soon after, but it wasn’t enough, and Harry Delve was able to score the fifth and final Harlow goal in added time.
The game looked promising for Harlow from the beginning, their first opportunity coming in the 9th minute by way of Kristian Manomano and Adesion. Thanks to a free kick in the 15th minute, Harlow grabbed their first goal from Pope, having scored from a powerfully-hit set piece into the top left-hand corner. By the 23rd minute, Harlow had doubled their lead. This time, Marfo knocked the ball in from close range, having received a cross from the left-wing by Adesion.
Harlow came back onto the pitch after half time with even more energy than before, and they were able to extend their lead quickly. Bailey lifted the ball into the top right-hand corner after River Hawks goalkeeper Jaimin Jeebun had, initially, cut out Adesion’s centre at the end of a jinking run.
Clark was the next Harlow player to score courtesy of a powerful header at the back post, advancing the scoreline to 4-0 in the 61st minute. Despite having a difficult game, River Hawks netted a few minutes later, Hassan Alinzi sending an excellent strike into the top corner from 30 yards. But Harlow’s four-goal lead, and title of Essex Under 13s Trophy champions, was secured in injury time, with a chip from Delve finding the back of the net from ten yards out.
Harlow Town (Eagles): Jack Pepper, Sydney Pope, Mathew King, Harrison Mills, Lloyd Efa Marfo, Harry Delve, Kristian Manomano, Dumitru Porubin, Yaw Nimako Asamoah, John Oluwasijibomi Adesina, Jackson Barker, Noah Bailey, Evan Lentz, Charlie Graves, Sophie Clark. Manager: Craig Pope.
River Hawks (Ospreys): Jaimin Jeebun, Taha Irfan, Usman Ali, Boris Badatliev, Jayden Sureshbabu, Emmanuel Zwedu, Matei Andrei, Aiden Pinto, Aaron Pinto, Ben Ofori, Alex Mosti, Papson Mbeka, Terrell-James McArthr-Channer, Lemmy Bailey, Logan Nwosu, Hassan Alinizi. Manager: Spencer Campbell.
Referee: MD Sahedul Islam (Redbridge).
Assistant Referees: Jake Osbourn (Rochford) and Oliver Chernanko (Chelmsford).
Fourth Official: Daniel Chernanko (Chelmsford).
Attendance: 196.
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