28 April 2007
VIDEO: West Riding v Suffolk, FA County Youth Cup Final

West Riding overcame Suffolk on penalties to lift The FA County Youth Cup at Bradford City FC.


West Riding 1-1 Suffolk
(West Riding won 4-3 on penalties)

The FA County Youth Cup
The Final
3pm, Saturday 28 April 2007
Bradford City FC

West Riding held their nerve to win the FA County Youth Cup in a thrilling penalty shoot-out at Bradford City’s Intersonic Stadium.

With the teams locked at 1-1 at the end of extra time thanks to second half goals from Matthew Oxer and Scott Chaplin the tie was settled on penalties.

Suffolk skipper Sam Nunn was the unfortunate player to miss the vital spot kick as West Riding ran out 4-3 winners.

The game started brightly as West Riding settled the quickest with midfielder Paddy Miller at the heart of all of their best moves.

The Farsley Celtic midfielder had the first real attempt at goal when he shot just wide in the opening minutes.

Millar set up a couple of chances for the lively Matthew Oxer in the opening fifteen minutes, but the striker was unable to make West Ridings’ early domination count.

Suffolk clawed their way back into the game as Bury Town’s midfield playmaker Ryan Foster started to influence the game.

The battle between the two impressive central midfielders was one of the features of this closely contested game.

Suffolk’s best chance of the first half came when winger Scott Chaplin picked out his Bury Town team mate Shaun Bammant with an excellent cross.

But Bammant’s powerful header from six yards sailed just inches over the bar.

Oxey continued to cause problem at the other end and could scored a couple before the break, but for a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping.

West Riding’s Joe Gindall almost found the breakthrough midway through the half when Millar flicked on a long throw from Jonathan Downey.

Gindall’s excellent volley on the turn was matched by an equally impressive save from Carl Goody in the Suffolk goal.

The first half ended in drama when Chaplin tangled with Downey in the box, but the referee Stuart Attwell was well positioned and waved away his penalty claims.

Five minutes after the break Attwell did give a penalty following a clumsy challenge on Oxey from Goody.

The forward chased down a long clearance from West Riding keeper Jonathan Gardiner only to be brought down by Goody inside the area, which Oxey duly converted.

Suffolk were stung into action and got a deserved equaliser fifteen minutes from the end when Foster found Chaplin on the wing.

The former Ipswich town player tricked his way into a yard of space before curling the ball into the top corner from the outside of the box, despite the best efforts of Chris Wdowczyk on the line Suffolk finished the game the stronger of the two sides.

Suffolk almost snatched a late equaliser when substitute Luke Read forced a superb save from Gardiner with a shot from close range that the West Riding keeper managed to tip over the bar in the fourth minute off added time.

The game was finally settled on penalties and with a miss a piece it was Nunn who hit the post to hand the win to West Riding.

West Riding Goals: Oxey 50

Suffolk Goals: Chaplin 75