UNDER 16's CUP FINAL SPECIAL: LEFC 1 - 2 West Hallam

On Saturday the sun shone on Moorways Stadium in Derby as captain Tom Arme led out Emmanuel, second in Division Two, to take on West Hallam, first in Division One, in the Derby City League Challenge Cup Final. For the West Hallam players it was their fifth successive cup final, for the Emmanuel lads it was their very first, and this lack of experience perhaps showed in the first 15 minutes as West Hallam looked the more composed outfit and took a two goal-lead - the first a nicely-worked goal, the second a bizarre freak of a goal. Two goals down so early on and Emmanuel might have been forgiven for caving in, but they regrouped, dug in, and started to produce some excellent passing football. Walker was particularly influential at this stage, as was the tireless Pownall on the right and the giant Aning up front. Gradually the game began to change and Emmanuel created a string of half-chances, the best of which fell to the pacey Allard who's fine shot hit the side-netting. Then came the goal that the church club were looking for as Smithson cleverly dispossessed a West Hallam defender to go one-on-one with the keeper whom he coolly beat with a fine finish. The roar from Emmanuel's wonderful following in the grandstand was deafening and suddenly it was game-on as Emmanuel went on to dominate the rest of the half.

The half-time talk back in the changing room focused on reproducing the energy and quality of the second twenty minutes of the match.  West Hallam, however, also returned to the pitch in determined mood as they went on to produce a spell of football that was of the highest quality.  Indeed, for much of the second half Emmanuel were on the back foot and had to defend really well; but this they did comfortably enough, and with Riman commanding at centre-half and Large busy in the holding role, Emmanuel restricted West Hallam to just one real strike on goal which Day did well to save.  Things, though, did not get easier as the game wore on and first Smithson and then the excellent Schad had to hobble off with injuries.  However, their replacements, Cole and Taylor, gave fresh impetus to Emmanuel as they went to three at the back, sent Sharp forward, and made a final push for the equalizer.   And that's exactly what they looked like they would get as, with a minute or two to go, Sweet made space on the edge of the box before producing a spectacular 25- yard strike which was flying into the top right-hand corner of the goal only to be palmed away at the last moment as the West Hallam keeper pulled off a stunning save.  Soon after that the whistle went and Emmanuel had to be content, for the while, with runners-up medals.

Day; Sharp, Riman, Arme (c), Schad (Cole); Pownall, Large (Aning), Sweet, Smithson (Taylor); Walker, Allard.  Eccleston, Lewis.