ESFA Under-16 Inter County Trophy

Greater Manchester 5 Suffolk 1

Suffolk County Schools’ FA were blown away by Greater Manchester in yesterday’s final at Hillsborough when they lost 5-1.

Suffolk started well and were the better side for the opening 20 minutes until their opponents got into their stride.

Two goals in the space of three minutes on the half hour followed by two more in a minute early in the second period settled the outcome.

Alex Greggor shot straight at the keeper and Ryan Crisp forced Callum Tongue into a good save down by his post as Suffolk made a positive start as the sun shone down on this famous stadium in the steel city of Sheffield.

Jack Edwards hooked his effort on to the roof of the net after Tongue had dropped Eliott McCall’s free kick in the 16th minute before Crisp left the field with stomach cramps four minutes later and did not return, even though rolling substitutions were permitted.

Suffolk surrendered their early ascendency and after Godwin Abadaki had hit the side-netting and been denied by Suffolk keeper Charlie Delarabell, who left his line well to block, the holders struck a double blow.

Sam Fitzgerald set the powerful Emmanuel Omoboye free on the left wing and his perfectly-weighted cross saw Jay Mehmet rise unchallenged to guide his header back across goal and inside the near post.

Three minutes later Abadaki reacted quickest to stab home via the inside of the post after Mehmet found space inside the box and Delarabell did well to parry his shot.

Suffolk badly needed some inspiration to get back into the contest and Eddie Wilding almost supplied it, but Thorpe tipped his 30-yard free kick over the bar.

Eight minutes after the interval the outcome was put beyond doubt thanks to two goals in a minute. Substitute Adam Horn put in a timely tackle to concede a corner, and when this led to another flag kick Mehmet volleyed high into the roof of the net at the far post.

Worse was to follow when straight from the kick off Horn was caught in possession and Kyle Riley strode forward unopposed to lift his shot beyond Delarabell.

Mehmet passed up a good chance before he duly completed his hat-trick, tucking home past substitute keeper Ben Lancaster after Travis Gray had cut the ball back.

Charlie King scored a well-taken consolation goal ten minutes from time, lifting the ball over the advancing Nick Howard from the edge of the area, but it was too little, too late for Suffolk.

There was still time for Gray to be denied at one end and Jordan Egerton at the other before the final whistle blew to confirm Greater Manchester as worthy winners.

Teams

Greater Manchester: Tongue, Gray, Chesters, Fagbola, McKernon, Abadaki, Sunderland, Fitzgerald, Omoboye, Riley, Mehmet. Used subs: Lawton, Hopper, Smith, Jones, Howard (gk).

Suffolk: Delarabell, Cartey, Hitter, McCall, Cullivan, Edwards, Duzgan, Greggor, Wilding, King, Crisp. Used subs: Egerton, Pugh, Horn, Lancaster. Unused sub: Winters.

Referee: D Coulson.