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Youth team lifts another trophy after tight final

16/ 5/2008

MANCHESTER Youth and Stockport Junior Blues served up one of the best matches of the season when they met in the under 17s Challenge Cup final on Ashton United’s Hurst Cross ground.

The first half was nip and tuck, with defences solid, and despite some food football the first half remained goal-less.

The deadlock was broken only seconds into the second half when John Buckley deflected a cross into his own net while trying to clear the danger.

Manchester hit back strongly and equalised with the kind of goal that has been a feature of their season.

Curtis Williams took a long throw-in, Jack Lyons flicked on, and Sam Freakes ghosted in at the far post to head home.

With 10 minutes left Freakes delivered a good freekick into the box and Jack Lyons nipped in front of the keeper to head home.

Stockport then drove forward, throwing caution to the wind, but leaving spaces at the back.

Freakes picked up a loose ball and slipped Mack in one on one with the keeper who saved the shot and punted the ball as far downfield as he could. The ball found Mike Wilde who bent his shot round two defenders but saw it clip the outside of a post.

Manchester were under severe pressure, and Nathan Myerscough broke their defensive line to round keeper Froggatt and shoot for goal. Thankfully for Manchester John Buckley scrambled the ball away.

The whistle went and Manchester had claimed another trophy which was collected by striker Jamie Mack, pictured right.