Folkstone U14 boys 5 v 1 Winchester U14 boys

A long trip to Folkestone meant an early start for the Winchester U14 boys’ team for their semi-final match in the EH cup, not helped by the M25 road closure.

Spirits were high and some nervous energy was showing for the warm-up in the rain, but with a strong away presence from travelling supporters and around 100 spectators, the atmosphere was buzzing and the game was sure to be a good one.

The match started really strongly for Winchester with some early pressure in Folkestone's D and around the final quarter of the pitch however it was Folkestone who scored first from a break away knocking the wind a bit from Winchester team’s sails. This loss of confidence resulted in sustained pressure and goal number 2 from Folkestone from a short corner.

Winchester’s heads refused to go down and they were rewarded with a penalty flick from a foot on the line which Will Vincent dispatched with a calm captain's head. That led to a 2-1 score to the hosts going into half time and it was then still anyone's game to win.

The second half was more of a challenge for Winchester as Folkestone started to close down the middle of the pitch and Winchester couldn't break out of a strong press nor capitalise on their wingers.

This resulted in numerous turnovers and easy interceptions for Folkestone who took advantage with pressure, short corners and over the course of the second half 3 goals with no reply from Winchester who, whilst playing their hearts out, couldn't find the space or connection with their attackers.

A 5-1 final scoreline was obviously disappointing to lose, the boys can, however, be proud to have come in the top 4 of a national competition and can now start to work towards the National U16 competition in a couple of seasons time and hopefully go a step further.