Full match report from Hartpury's ECFA play-off victory

Video now available at http://tinyurl.com/cykjhva

30.05.12 – Hartpury Junior Football Academy win ECFA National Championship Final for the Third Year Running

The Hartpury Junior Football Academy beat Monkseaton High School by 5-0 in the ECFA National Championship Final, played at Boreham Wood FC. The weather was hot and the pitch was immaculate having been awarded pitch of the year in non-league for a number of years.

Hartpury had beaten Lancaster & Morecambe in the quarter finals and Myerscough in the semi-finals. Both games had provided tough tests for the team but had also given them confidence going into the final. The team were on top form and were gathering momentum week by week through April and May. Monkseaton were unbeaten in 2012 and had come from 2-0 behind to beat Leeds City College 3-2 in the semi-finals. They are strong force in the north east and would provide a stiff challenge to the Hartpury team if they were to win three titles in three years, and four in five.

The game started at a slow pace with both teams fighting for a strangle hold in the match. The play was centred within the mid third of the pitch with both teams gaining and giving away possession. After the first 15 minutes it was Hartpury that started to dictate proceedings and gain territory into the Monkseaton half.

Hartpury, through Lewis Hilton and Matt Liddiard, started to regain possession and link with wide players Harry Osbourne and Dan Thomson to carve out opportunities for both Lamin Sankoh and Jordan Turner. Turner was causing problems for the Monkseaton back line with his pace and direct running. Turner had a couple of block shots before firing low from the edge of the box only to see his left footed shot tipped onto the bar by Harley in the opposition goal on 25 minutes.

Monkseaton were defending deep and looked to play forward quickly to their lone striker Coppen but were struggling to create any meaningful opportunities on goal. Hartpury then saw Mitchal Gough fire over from a free kick set by Hilton, Liddiard had a shot blocked in the penalty area after good work by Osbourne and Osbourne then looked to curl a right footed shot into the top corner when free just inside the box. The half ended with Hartpury on the ascendency and a number of phases of play ending without an output on goal.

Half-time: Hartpury 0-0 Monkseaton High School

Manager Paul Tassell was disappointed that the team had not settled into the game in the first half and wanted them to play with more purpose in the second. They needed to play with more intent and put pressure on a fragile Monkseaton side. He believed that one goal would create more and ultimately win Hartpury the National Title.

The first goal arrived on 46 minutes when Hilton played Turner through on goal. The diminutive striker rounded the keeper but was pushed wide. He played the ball back for the onrushing Sankoh to fire home. Sankoh then doubled Hartpury’s lead on 48 minutes when he received the ball 25 yards from goal; he ran with the ball then fired low to the keeper’s right and into the corner of the net.

The third goal arrived on 58 minutes; Hilton’s corner was met by Liddiard at the far post with the goalkeeper hopelessly out of position. Liddiard used strength to out muscle his marker to head downwards and into the roof of the net.

The game was all but over on 76 minutes when Turner was rewarded for his tireless running throughout the afternoon when he was forced into the left corner of the penalty box before working a shooting opportunity. His shot was too powerful for the Monkseaton stopper and Hartpury were 4-0 up. Turner and the rest of the team celebrated with their supporters behind the goal.

Monkseaton started to create a few half chances in the final 15 minutes of the game without harming Sam Filkins and the Hartpury goal. The last shot on goal belonged to Hartpury and substitute Rob Panting; his faded shot beat the diving keeper to his left and nestled into the bottom corner of the net to score Hartpury’s fifth.

Full-time: Hartpury 5-0 Monkseaton High School

Hartpury’s Matt Liddiard was awarded man of the match and Lewis Hilton collected the trophy to make it three National Final wins in three years (and four in five years) to firmly reinforce Hartpury’s domination of College football.

HARTPURY: Filkins, Gough, Pearson, Poole, Thwaite, Thomson, Hilton ©, Liddiard, Osbourne, Sankoh, Turner. Subs: Hicks, Hopwood, Panting, Mace, Parsonage.

Additional Downloads:
Treble glory for Hartpury
Gloucestershire Media match coverage