LEWES 0 WOKING REDS 2

LEWES 0 WOKING REDS 2
28 April 2008
U18 Southern Youth League Champions Play-Off Semi-Final.

Having respectively won their individual divisions, the four SYL title winners progress into a Champions League play-off.

Having won the West Division title, Woking Reds (a team consisting mainly of 1st year boys) were drawn away to Lewes (South Division Champions): a team they had been beaten by twice this season, once in a friendly and once in the League Cup. However, a powerful and determined performance put the Woking youngsters into the Final.

This was a vibrant and pulsating game that Lewes clearly felt confident they would win. However, they came up against a group of Woking lads who showed real grit and determination to keep them at bay. Lewes had the better of the early exchanges but as the game progressed Woking began to increasingly make forays of their own and a fabulous strike by Josh Coke on 35 minutes deserved better as it crashed off the underside of the crossbar and away to safety.

The match was very evenly balanced and very keenly contested as yellow cards were shown to both sides.

However, it was Woking who broke the deadlock when, 20 minutes into the second period, Brad Cann unleashed a ferocious 25 yard strike that the keeper could only parry as it flew into the net.

As the minutes passed, Lewes became increasingly frustrated and another yellow card made it two for one of the Lewes players, who was despatched from the field.

Woking piled on the pressure and, with some five minutes remaining, a brilliantly-delivered free-kick by Ade Adetunji found Gavin Miller at the far post of the Lewes goal. Gavin did not need to be asked twice as he powered a bullet header into the roof of the net.

Full Time: Lewes 0 Woking Reds 2

Congratulations must be given to these Woking youngsters. They put themselves on the line, took risks and came away with a deserved victory.
They now play Ashford Town (Middx) in the SYL Champions Final on Monday 12th May.

The Man of the Match Award goes today to..............the entire squad.

Squad: Nick Taylor, Ade Adetunji, Sean Gadsby, Ashley Lloyd, Gavin Miller, Martin O'Halloran, Josh Coke, Brad Cann, Matt Ferdinando, Louie Howell, Curtis Wayne.

Subs used: Stuart Souter, Jodi Sayers, Ashley Groombridge.

Subs not used: Michael Dunnet, James Snishko.