WOKING 4 STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 1

2nd May 2007, Kingfield Stadium
U19 FOOTBALL CONFERENCE YOUTH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

The Woking youngsters have proven themselves to be the best in the Country at this level.

Not too many teams or players ever get credited with such an accolade.

The young Cards survived an early scare with a goal line clearance in the first minute of the game following a long Stalybridge throw from wide right.

However from that moment on Woking went on to completely dominate the first half both in terms of possession and territorial advantage.

The first goal came on twenty-five minutes when Jide Ogunbote floated in a cross from the left, David Shin rose to challenge and the ball fell into the path of Saeed Sankoh whose thunderous first time strike from 25 yards left the Stalybridge keeper with no chance.

Woking 1 Stalybridge 0.

Woking continued to dominate the play during the first period but were unable to further capitalise on their play. It was predictably ironic that with just 30 seconds remaining of the first half Stalybridge crossed a ball from the left wing, Joe Mcnerny challenged the Stalybridge striker and the ball bounced up to hit his arm, he had no time to react, either to move his arm away or towards the ball but somehow the referee saw it as deliberate and a penalty awarded.

Ben Zatwardnicki did well to get a hand to the ball but was unable to prevent the goal.

Half time: Woking 1 Stalybridge 1

The second half started much like the first, Stalybridge were a big strong physical side and it was evident that much of their success was down to set pieces; with just one minute gone another throw in this time from the right and the 6?6? Stalybridge centre half caused chaos in the Woking six yard box and the ball fell to a ?Staly? striker who fired off a shot destined for the Woking goal, how Kevin Maclaren managed to head the ball over the crossbar only he knows.

After this early skirmish Woking took back the initiative and the remainder of the second half saw the Cards continued domination as they stamped their authority on the game.

Seventeen minutes gone and a Woking break led to the powerful Saeed Sankoh picking up the ball in midfield and surging towards the ?Staly? goal; as a defender approached Saeed spread the ball to his right into the path of David Shin, David looked up and from fully 25 yards out struck a fabulous right footed effort high into the top left hand corner of the ?Staly? goal.

Woking 2 Stalybridge 1

Substitutions followed as Jonny Targett came on for Jide Ogunbote and a few minutes later Delano Sam-Yorke came on for Ross White.

On thirty-three minutes Kevin Maclaren knocked the ball long, Joe Mcnerny flicked it on and as Delano Sam-Yorke challenged the ?Staly? keeper the ball rolled into the net, it is not clear who got the final touch but Delano is claiming the goal.

Woking 3 Stalybridge 1

Then on forty minutes a beautifully flighted corner from David Shin from the left found the marauding Joe Mcnerny stealing in on goal, he had to twist and stretch but still had the athleticism to powerfully head the ball home.

Woking 4 Stalybridge 1

The final whistle came and the celebrations began.

Woking have proved themselves to be the best Conference level u19 team in the Country an accolade that is even more impressive when you consider that the majority of the starting line were u17 and u18 players.

Squad: Ben Zatwardnicki, Carlos Talbot, Ashley Quashie-Pownall, Jerome Maledon, Kevin Maclaren, Joe Mcnerny, David Shin, Billy Hussey, Saeed Sankoh, Ross White, Jide Ogunbote.

Subs used: Delano Sam-Yorke, Pekan Samsdeen, Jonny Targett.

Subs not used: Craig Ross, Steve Casey.