Staplegrove U18s 3-3 (5-6) Backwell Athletic U18s

Clevedon Town hosted the Somerset Under 18 Youth League Cup Final on Sunday when Backwell Athletic Junior U18s beat Staplegrove Youth U18 Saints 6-5 on penalties.

In an entertaining competitive game Backwell took the lead in the 21st minute when Mikey Vaughan was brought down in the area and Backwell skipper Sol Kent tucked away the spot kick despite Staplegrove keeper Thomas Hyam going the right way and getting a slight touch.

Staplegrove equalized in the 38th minute with a clever chip over Backwell keeper Logan McKenzie by Edward Melbourne.

Two further goals followed just before half time when Blackwell retook the lead on 43 minutes after a free kick bounced over the Staplegrove defense and Kent reacted first to head into the roof of the net.

However, the lead only lasted 2 minutes when a cross shot from Blake Kearley went in off the far post, the two teams unable to separate themselves from each other going in at half time at an even 2-2.

The second half was an end to end battle, but Staplegrove finished strongly and two great saves by McKenzie and a shot just wide by Lachlan Ford ensured the scores remained level.

So, it was straight to penalties and the tie remained deadlocked at 3-3 after the first ten kicks but when Max Taffinder scored Backwell’s sixth, man of the match Tatenda Gumbo had to score for Staplegrove but missed and Backwell lifted the Cup.