FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON
Season 2006-07
Second Round Qualifying
Ties to be played in week commencing Monday 9 October 2006








Someone’s undefeated record had to go as Oakwood – current leaders in the Southern Youth League South Division – came up against Epsom & Ewell – the current leaders of the Southern Youth League East Division.

It was the visitors that dominated in the first half forcing numerous corners and chances, the best two both falling to Ruben Lavrado who managed to put a shot from a narrow angle just wide of the far post with a delicate chip and he also struck the post minutes later.

The hosts began to come back into the match in the second half as the Surrey side’s legs began to tire, but it was the visitors that took a deserved lead on 70 minutes as their pressure paid off.

Alfred Akiotou still up from a half cleared corner twisting on the right hand side of the box forcing a number of Oakwood players towards him, the Epsom defender managing to gain enough space to float the ball into the back post for an unmarked Yousef Conteh to score with a downward header from 6 yards out.

Ruben Lavrado sealed the tie on 82 minutes when he picked the ball up 20 yards out from goal, managing to get past two challenges he slotted the ball wide of Whitmarsh into the net from 12 yards out.

Oakwood managed to score a consolation goal in the fourth minute of injury time when a free-kick saw Robert Gardiner’s effort catch out Epsom keeper Alex Sale. Epsom now face an away trip to Ramsgate in the next round who beat Whyteleafe 6-1 on Wednesday night.

Canvey Island Youth Team produced a confident display defeating Clacton Town 9-1 at Park Lane. Canvey took the lead through Nick Reynolds but were pegged back after 34 minutes, though this lasted just 60 seconds as impressive winger Jayson McLeod restored the lead from close range.

Midfielder Billy Bignall then completed an eleven minute hat trick to make the score 5-1 after 50 minutes, before Nick Reynolds added a further four goals to his and Canvey's tally to finish of the match in style.

Canvey will play either Welwyn Garden City or Hemel Hempstead Town away in the next round for the right to enter the First Round Proper, where teams such as Nottingham Forest, Swansea City, and Millwall all enter the competition.

Here is the Canvey team from that game: G Doyle, C Young, M Sallis, S Naylor, A Aslani, M Adams, B Lowes (c), B Bignall (Off 75), N Reynolds, L Fitzgerald (Off 60), J McLeod (Off 71) Subs: J Connor-Burton (On 75), T Solomon (On 71), D Jeffries, K English, J Petty (On 60)

East Grinstead Town enjoyed success again this week, as until this season they had never won a match in the FA Youth Cup. So far they have beaten Horsham YMCA away in the Preliminary round 4-2, then a  3-1 win at Margate in the 1st qualid=fying round. On Thursday in the Second Qualifying Round they defeated Chipstead 2-0 with goals from Marc Pelling and Jez Tobin.

With thanks to Robert Oakes, Phil Major and Glen Eckett for their fantastic contributions. If any players, fans or club officials have any stories, reports, pictures or even videos from their team’s FA Youth Cup exploits, please send them into us at editor@TheFA.com, we’d love to hear from you and we’ll try to get as many of them on TheFA.com as possible.