Rushden & Diamonds Youth 4 Corby Town 1
Northants FA Boys Under 18 Final
Diamonds Youth team beat Corby Town 4-1 to win the Northants FA Boys Under 18 County Cup Final.
Paul Driver kept the same eleven which had won at Rothwell Town in the semi-final tie, comprising of a mixture of first years and some of the under-16's.
It was the visitors who took an early lead after just 7 minutes. With Corby defender Aiden Ashton lying injured in the middle of the field. A long ball from Corby keeper Jack Drury appeared to catch out the back line as the ball was allowed to bounce for Ryan Gormley to run onto and beat Kyle Swailes.
Diamonds came back strongly however, and on 16 minutes drew level. A Callum Earls free kick just outside the right side of the penalty area found Charlie Desmond at the far post. His delicate chip back into the danger area found Jake Gillingwater, who headed home from close range.
Just three minutes later, Diamonds went in front as Desmond again supplied Gillingwater. His chip from the edge of the area went over the keeper and struck the crossbar, but Liam Read followed up to stab the ball home.
Diamonds nearly increased their lead on 33 minutes, as the Corby keeper did well to save a powerful shot from Desmond
Diamonds continued to have the better chances in the second half, as both Desmond and Gillingwater went close with long range efforts in the first ten minutes.
On 72 minutes, Diamonds added a third as Desmond's cross from the left found the head of Jake Gillingwater, and he coolly nodded past Jack Drury.
Desmond came close again moments later - striking the crossbar, while Gillingwater had another shot saved.
The game was made safe on 84 minutes after Liam Read's shot from a tight angle was brilliantly blocked by keeper. The ball was won back by Femi Solesi (who had just replaced Connor Montone), who turned and fired in to the corner of the net.
After last winning the County Cup in 2008, it was a fitting end to the season which saw Diamonds win the Conference Youth Alliance title, and reach the semi-finals of the both the League Cup and Championship Play-Off's.
Team:
Rushden & Diamonds: Kyle Swailes; Connor Montone (Femi Solesi 81); Callum Earls; Jerry Nash; Max Harradine; Morgan Phillips (c); Lewis Wilson (Jake Woolley 65); Elliot Dent; Jake Gillingwater; Liam Read; Charlie Desmond (Joe Hopewell 79).
Subs not used: James Broadbent; Dominic Brennan.
Corby Town: Jack Drury (c); Matty Gallagher; Ross Hay; Aiden Ashton (Murco Bilic 8); Andy Mullen; Paul Martin; Jordan Drury; Lewis Goode (Lewis Addy 58 (Lee McEwan 72)); Victor Kemjikal; Ryan Gormley; David Keefe.
Subs not used: Jack Clements; Alan McShannon.
Goals: Ryan Gormley 7 (0-1), Jake Gillingwater 16 (1-1), Liam Read 19 (2-1), Jake Gillingwater 72 (3-1); Femi Solesi 84 (4-1).
Attendance: 217.
