Youth football: Predators and Midhurst back with a bang

UNDER-15

Predators Youth 3 Midhurst & E’bourne 3

Having had the past two games cancelled, Predators faced Midhurst for the second time in a month.

The game started with gusto and it wasn’t long before Midhurst opened the scoring through Jake Burtoo.

This was soon followed by another from Karol Papaj and Predators realised they had to step up their game.

A shot across goal by Josling found Farndell, who netted Predators’ first goal.

This revved up the lads and Predators nabbed a second from Hillier.

Predators took control and Rodway put them 3-2 up at half-time.

In the second half the referee had to show yellow cards to players from both sides, with Midhurst having a man sent off.

Predators didn’t take advantage of the extra man and Midhurst levelled at 3-3 thanks to a strike by Aaron Wakeham.

Predators keeper Williams pulled off some fantastic saves to keep them in the game. The draw saw Predators drop to fourth in the table. Man of the match was Williams.

PREDATORS: Josling, Bosco-Brown, Furlong, Williams, Blackman, Hillier, Irish, Rodway, Jukes, Farndell, Birch, Davies, Cook.

MIDHURST: Collins-Powell, Wakeham, Wysocki, Largan, Thompson, Murphy, S Cain, Warren, Papaj, C Cain, Burtoo, Field-Millard.

Rustington Otters 1 Pagham Youth 5

Pagham found it difficult to break down Rustington, who defended in numbers, but the breakthrough came on 35 minutes when Bradley Arnell finished well from a pass from Standen.

Pagham woke up in the second half and went further ahead with two goals in six minutes through Paul and Arnell.

Standen scored twice on 51 and 64 minutes to make it 5-0, with Rustington scoring a consolation with the last kick of the match.

Oliver had two assists and there was one each for Standen, Mulcahy and Urbanczyk. Pagham’s man of the match was Arnell.

PAGHAM: Hambidge, Mulcahy, Oliver, Paul, Cleall, Misselbrook, Knight, Smith, Standen, Arnell, Lane, Urbanczyk, Ackers.

UNDER-NINE

Felpham Colts 8 Highdown Saints 1

Despite Felpham having most of the possession in the first few minutes, Highdown Saints took the lead. A high ball played into the Felpham area saw Luke Dent parry the ball clear, only for a Saints player to convert the rebound.

Felpham responded with Harry Geall making a few runs and he was finally rewarded with a goal.

A second goal followed from Josh Mines and the Colts started to impose themselves, with Geall scoring the third before half-time.

Cian Markie and Daniel Kearns battled well in midfield, with Max Searle solid in defence.

After further goals from Mines and Geall, man of the match Rhys Nicholas scored two well-taken goals with his left foot to put the game out of reach.

In the closing seconds, Oliver Payne wrapped up the scoring to put the Colts back to the top. Credit to the Saints for their spirited performance.

FELPHAM: Dent, Searle, Kearns, Markie, Nicholas, Mines, Geall, Payne.