Defeat extra hard to take for Durham

DURHAM County Schools Under18s went agonisingly close to being crowned champions of England - only to be beaten in extra time in their final game of their season.

They lost 2-1 to Essex in the final of the English Schools Football Association’s InterCounty Trophy at Coventry City’s Rich Arena.

Durham fell behind in the opening minutes when they were hit on the counter-attack Solomon Ogunwomoju’s shot deflecting off a defender’s foot and over the despairing dive of Durham goalkeeper Kieran Stoker.

The pace of Ogunwomoju and ESFA under-18 international Max Watters tested Durham’s rearguard of Fraser Colling, Tom Joyce, Nathan Kett and Callum Webster throughout.

Durham, meanwhile, had the engine room of Billy Hall, Dan Mitchell and Adam Little and the creativity of Jay Redman providing the opportunities for Andrei Ardelean and Dan Maddison as they gradually played their way back into the game.

They had to wait, though, until the 85th minute to draw level.

Substitute Jak Hanson’s tireless running and good combination play created extra problems for the Essex defence.

Durham finally made the breakthrough when Redman won the ball in his own half and Colling’s cross was partially cleared to Aaron Duell.

His delicate chip over the Essex defence allowed the composed Redman to guide the ball home.

That sent the game into extra time and the momentum was with Durham.

However, their hopes were dashed when they were hit on the counter-attack again, this time Godfrey Kambaza nipping inside a defender to finish low into Stoker’s far corner.

Despite a massive effort from Durham in the dying minutes they could not find the killer touch to bring the scores level and Essex held on for victory.

Durham manager Rob Hope said: “The lads can be proud of their efforts and can consider themselves unlucky not to have their hands on the trophy.

“Their application and commitment were superb but those are the fine margins of success and failure in football. “