HAREFIELD ACADEMY 2 CARDINAL HEENAN 1

[Olzy]

HAREFIELD ACADEMY 2 CARDINAL HEENAN 1
Tue 20 May 2008

WATFORD'S youngsters at The Harefield Academy today (Tuesday) won the English Schools' Football Association under 15 Schools' Cup for Boys.

With the game seemingly heading for extra time, the young Hornets drew final blood to clinch the all-important victory with substitute Ryan Ware scoring the winning goal.

The Harefield Academy faced Cardinal Heenan Sports College, who grace from Liverpool, in the prestigious final at Vicarage Road. The Mersyside College featured youngsters who are on the books of Everton, Liverpool and Bolton.

It was the local side who started well and they scored the opening goal with less than 15 minutes on the clock.

This was after a strong run from Jake Rosier who looked more than comfortable on the ball for Harefield. His weaving run was brought to an abrupt end at the edge of the penalty box after he coasted round Cardinal's midfield. Then shortly after Charlie Kasler drilled a shot wide of Cardinal Heenan's post.

The first goal came courtesy of Harefield left back Oli Archer, who finished from inside the penalty area after a sweet free-flowing passing move which included the impressive Chez Isaac and striker Gavin Massey.

It was a deserved lead and Massey could have doubled it when he put a shot from a similar distance wide of the post after midfielder Jack Warburton started a move with a searching ball down the Harefield left flank.

With 26 minutes on the clock, the visitors made no mistake and clawed their way back into the final, thanks to some wayward defensive passes from Harefield. Conor Roberts took advantage and after a shot was blocked his slid a low effort past Jamie Irving from inside the penalty area.

Then before the break, Massey had another tremendous opportunity but he floated his shot wide of the woodwork. Shortly after the referee blew time at the end of the 40 minute half.

Almost immediately after the re-start, Harefield's number seven Joe Bennett had two chances, but the visitors stepped up a gear and they then looked the more likely to score.

However, soon both teams started to tire on the hard Vicarage Road pitch with players frequently pulling up with cramp.

The Harefield defence was well marshaled by centre half Faisal Hemati who was commanding throughout the game.

Soon the rolling substitutions started as both teams tried to freshen things up

Then with just a few minutes of time added on to play, Harefield found the energy and composure to win the trophy.

Rosier made headway down the right flank and put in a superb delivery for super-sub Ware to dance between two defenders and glance a header past the goalkeeper to win the clash in emphatic fashion.

Cardinal Heenan threw their striker back on, but it was too late as referee Paul Watts blew time on an enthralling final at Vicarage Road.

HAREFIELD ACADEMY (4-5-1): Irving; Thompson, Hemati, Fenwick, Archer; Bennett, Warburton, Isaac, Kasler, Rosier; Massey. Subs (rolling): Ware, Deer, Stephens, Robinson.

SCORERS: Archer (13), Ware (80+2).

CARDINAL HEENAN SPORTS COLLEGE (4-4-2): Nicholls; Prince, Burns, McGuinness, Smart; Rice, Charlesworth, Donegan, Cahill; McGowan, Roberts. Subs (rolling): Donnelly, Roberts, Hargreaves, Farrelly, Stulberg.

SCORER: Roberts (26).

REFEREE: Mr P Watts