Match Report - England National Finals

A three way penalty shoot out saw Staffordshire FA representatives Harpfield win the England Tesco U13 Cup final at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke on Saturday.  They now join Scotland’s Hutchison Vale, Welsh champions West End and Celtic Boys from Northern Ireland in the Home Nationals final this Sunday at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Earlier, a closely fought round robin tournament between the Northern, Central and Southern England regional champions saw all three matches finish 1-1 which meant that the teams couldn’t be separated on points or goal difference.

Middlesex side Belmont United, representing Southern England, were grateful to keeper Jamie Owen in their draw with Leicestershire & Rutland’s Enderby Juniors, the Central England Champions,  while Enderby Town Juniors midfielder Nathan Dale showed the silky skills that ultimately saw him selected as best midfielder by West Bromwich Albion captain Curtis Davies.  Belmont United defended an early goal by the tournament’s best forward Pelly Mpanzu, who’s neat turn and shot put the reds ahead, but they were undone with four minutes to go when Dom Brennan crashed home a deserved equaliser.

In the tournament’s second match Enderby Town Junior’s Matt Baker, the defender of the tournament, netted on the stroke of half time only for Harpfield’s Nathan Mason to pull his team level in the second half.

The final match, between Belmont and Harpfield, almost inevitably, also finished all square.  Nathan Mason put the Northern champions in front with a spectacular drive but midfield dynamo Ryan Egan, who later received the Player of the Tournament Trophy, equalised with a neat volley from the edge of the box.  Despite furious goalmouth scrambles at both ends the teams could not be separated and the crowd were treated to the unusual sight of a three way penalty shoot out.  An early miss saw Belmont United head out of the sudden death shoot out before Harpfield held their nerve against Enderby Town Juniors to book their place in the Manchester Home nations final.