National ESFA Cup Quarter-Final: Winterbourne International Academy 2 Lyndon Comprehensive 1 (after extra-time) (From Gazette Series)

National ESFA Cup Quarter-Final: Winterbourne International Academy 2 Lyndon Comprehensive 1 (after extra-time)

12:30pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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WINTERBOURNE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY’S Year 11 team have reached the semi-finals of the National English Schools Football Association Cup.

They beat Lyndon Comprehensive School, from Solihull, to book their place in the last four. An uncharacteristically nervous start from Winterbourne allowed Lyndon to dominate the opening exchanges.

After 20 minutes a Lyndon free kick wide eluded but was squared back across the box for a simple tap-in. However, the goal seemed to spur the home team into life. After good play in the middle of the pitch from Sam Bracey and Jon Barlow, Jack James and Miles Hatfield went close.

Five minutes after half-time, Jack James, hat-trick scorer in the last round, found himself in acres of space after a free kick from Miles Hatfield and lashed home to deservedly equalise. Winterbourne were now in the ascendancy, but had to be wary of the pacey counter attacks of Lyndon resulting in several good saves from keeper Kane Mannings. The final whistle went with the scores deadlocked at 1-1.

In extra-time, Winterbourne went ahead with a stunning individual goal from super-sub Kieran Clark, who drilled home from 20 yards out following a jinking run. Lyndon threw everything into attack and the defence of Callum Brown, Harry Selman, Ryan Serjent and George Ford had to be at its best to thwart the attacks. As the final whistle went the Winterbourne players were elated as they realised what they had achieved.