Saturday Junior Trophy Glory for Flitch United

Flitch United 1-0 Ryan Under 21s, Wednesday 6th April 2016, Mill Field, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Essex Saturday Junior Trophy Final.

A second-half goal from Paul Layzell sealed a first ever Essex Saturday Junior Trophy win for Flitch United as Ryan Under 21s were beaten in a tight affair at Aveley FC’s Mill Field home.

Layzell tapped in a loose ball from close range on 70 minutes to seal victory for Stebbing-based Flitch, who hail from Division One of the Mid Essex League. “I’m over the moon!” declared Flitch Player-Manager Pete Monk after the game.

The full-back was quick to praise the spirit of his squad afterwards, and saved some praise for his captain, too: “It’s a trophy we’ve been trying to win for a few years. We expected a tough game tonight. We played an Under 21s side from the same league as Ryan earlier in the season and they were a good side. It was a tight game tonight, but we’ve got the goal.”

“It was a real team effort. We have a really good team spirit. I must mention our Captain, Billy Sykes, who suffered a stroke a month ago, but managed to play the last eight minutes tonight. I’m not sure how he managed to do that, but thankfully he’s on the road to recovery.”

Match preparation hadn’t been ideal for Monk either, having only returned to the country from a holiday in Abu Dhabi earlier that day. He explained: “I landed at 7:30am this morning, with just twelve hours until kick-off! I managed to grab five hours of sleep on the flight. I guess that’s not ideal preparation, but when you’re in a cup final adrenaline kicks-in.”

In truth, this was a game of few chances. ProKit UK Essex Olympian Under 21s League side Ryan created the first after just 5 minutes as Robert Mensah’s curling, 20-yard effort zipped just over the top. Mensah then brought a good save from Flitch goalkeeper Andy Taylor while, before half time, Flitch’s Shane Pyne fired just over from the edge of the area.

The decisive goal arrived with 70 minutes played. A corner by Mark O’Brien found its way, via a post, into the path of Layzell who coolly finished from close range. Ryan nearly responded swiftly as Mahdi Khan’s left-flank run brought a neat cut-back before Macaulay White’s low shot deflected inches wide of the near post.

In the dying stages, another chance for Ryan saw Michael Colgan head Claudio Jose’s cross just wide. It wasn’t quite enough for the young side, however, and Flitch were able to celebrate a first county title.

Flitch United: Andy Taylor, Ollie Coopersmith, Daniel O’Brien, Daniel Patching, Sean Thorogood, Pete Monk, Matt Coopersmith, Paul Layzell, Mike Morgan, Shane Pyne, Daryl Savage. Substitutes (repeated): Jack Welton, Ryan Hillier, Neil Rivett, Billy Sykes, Chris Rees.

Ryan Under 21s: Elliot Dieu De Bellefontaine, Curney Hassan, Jake Evans, Claudio Jose, Eren Mehmet, Malakai McGregor, Bryan Bonyamba, Max Marshall, Robert Mensah, Mahdi Khan, Charlie Gardner. Substitutes: Nasir Ibrahim, Aaron Blake, Benjamin Boredom, Michael Colgan, Macaulay White.

Bookings: Flitch: O’Brien (11, foul), Morgan (56, delaying the restart of play), Savage (77, foul), Layzell (90+2, unsporting behaviour). Ryan: Jose (90+2, unsporting behaviour).

Referee: Endrit Malacevi (Barking).

Assistant Referees: Phil Molloy (Stanway) and James Garwood (Witham).

Fourth Official: Mark Rule (Theydon Bois).

Attendance: 118.


Read more at http://www.essexfa.com/news/2016/apr/flitch-united-1-0-ryan-under-21s#kRh9kZwvLLiEdriK.99