Soccer students bring down Eagles for cup glory
FOOTBALLERS from Whitworth Community High School won the Lancashire Cup with their team Pennine Juniors Black U13s.
They are now a-third of the way to doing the treble – winning the league and premiership titles too.
At the County Ground in Leyland, the team that plays in the North Bury League Under 13 Premiership, defeated last year’s cup winners Blackburn Eagles Red 3-2.
Centre back Harrison Wright, 13, said: “When we got there, our coach suggested we have a look at the pitch so we could get a feel for it as we had never played there.
“We then had a warm up for 15-20 minutes and I could feel the nerves in the changing room; everyone was silent apart from the music coming through the speaker.”
Whitworth players Harrison, Adam Jones, Alfie Simcock, and Charlie Platt were all on the pitch from the start and Alfie scored the first goal after 19 minutes. A midfielder squared the ball towards the box and Alfie planted it in the left side.
Pennine was awarded a penalty, but failed to score and the Eagles levelled the score before half-time.
In the changing rooms, Harrison’s uncle Pete Drugan, who founded the team, and his step-dad Daniel Bourdon, who is coach, gave the team a good boost with the team talk.
Harrison said: “They said it was our first time getting into the County Cup final, but because our opponents won it last year, the cup was theirs to lose.”
Alfie was subbed out at half-time and his replacement Zach Carroll scored just after the match resumed and Pennine dominated the action in the second half. Whitworth student William Lloyd was then subbed on and he was one of three in the box when Bobbie Spencer scored making it 3-1.
William also made a goal-line clearance, but with just five minutes to go, the Eagles went on the offensive and scored from a free kick.
Harrison said: “We knew they were good at penalties. It came down to the last kick and they kicked a good ball into the box, a player got his head to it, but he missed and the referee blew the whistle.”
In the North Bury League, the team are currently third with four games in hand over the first and second placed teams. They are playing midweek and weekends and hope to win the League.
On May 4, Pennine will compete in the Premiership Cup. It is the team’s dream to do the treble and secure all three titles.