U18 Development Champions

U18 were crowned champions of the Portsmouth Youth Football league after a dramatic final match against Locksheath. Anything less than a win would see the silverware go to Locksheath who sat top before the game.

Gosport started the first half slow and couldn’t get into any rhythm and found themselves 0-2 at the break.

They say football is a game of two halves and this certainly lived up to that. Gosport had given themselves a mountain to climb and had to score a minimum of 3 goals to win the title.

They came out with a point to prove and it didn’t take them long to get a goal back after a trip in the box a penalty was awarded, Up step Max Bowden who calmly slotted the pen in. 1-2

Gosport didn’t give Locksheath a moment to recover and nearly scored straight from their kick off with energy and high intensity to win the ball back seeing top goal scorer Allan Richards effort go narrowly wide.

Locksheath were finding it hard to get out their half and Gosport were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, Max Bowden who has been deadly from this range all season didn’t disappoint and placed the free kick top corner giving the goalkeeper little chance. 2-2

After the frantic opening 20 mins the game seemed to settle and and it felt as if Locksheath would hold on and keep Gosport at bay, however Gosport had other ideas and only one player could fittingly score what would end up being the winner. Some neat one touch football found long serving player Jimmy Walters on his unfavored left foot who put the ball past the keeper. His 12 season with the club and what a goal to sign off with. 3-2

The person who wrote the script for this game had a sense of humour and chucked in one more twist for good measure, with a few minutes to play the ref awarded a penalty to Locksheath after a player was deemed to have handled in the box. The locks player placed his penalty to the bottom corner but Harry Greenfield was more than a match and a strong left hand saw the pen saved.

Fulltime 3-2

“Games don’t get any more dramatic than that it really had it all, half time myself and James were just honest with them. They knew exactly what had to be done and how to do it we just had to make them believe they could. We said you have 45 minutes, get the next goal you have the quality to turn this game on its head.

We’re very proud of what the team have achieved this season, they were put together in the summer with players from u16 and u17 squads so it took time but they’ve worked really hard in that 10 months and got their reward. They scored 95 goals and only conceded 19 which in itself is impressive.

The full time whistle was a mix of jubilation and emotion, some of these lads have been with us for 12 years and it was their final game so it was fitting that they won the league but at the same time bitter sweet knowing they won’t be with us next season.”

Aaron Haggard-Manager

Squad:

Harry Greenfield
Alfie Greenfield
Dan Haynes
Josh Murphy
Iain Turner
Jimmy Walters x1
Max Bowden x2
Ollie Kitby
Harry Lemmon
Matt Lewis
Allan Richards
Mitch Allen
Harry Davis
Tom Diaper
Ed Hawxwell
Harvey Woodford