FAST STUDENT START EARNS HUGE PAY-OFF

UCL PREMIER NORTH LOUGHBORO’ STU 7 SKEGNESS TOWN 0

LOUGHBOROUGH Students, after scoring four times in the opening 16 minutes, strolled to an emphatic victory over Skegness Town in a one-sided United Counties Premier Division North Play-off Final.

Both teams looked to attack from the start and after they had seen corners cleared, the Scholars took the lead through Dylan Edwards, the striker being given the chance on a plate from great approach work.

Four minutes later, Edwards turned provider with a neat pass which Alex Spiteri slipped past Caleb Pipes-Goulsbro, once a student at William Penn University in the USA.

Ethan O’Toole was next on the scoresheet, profiting from a blocked cross after 14 minutes and, two minutes later, Felipe Morales kept his feet well and invited Josh Wicks to make it 4–0.

Skegness tried to respond, with Ben Davis firing over, Conor Marshall having a shot blocked before Aran Jones crossed for Kieran Wressel, who headed wide.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Halim Bangura’s long range shot nestled just inside the post to make it 5–0.

Early in the second half, Marshall and Wressel again went close for Skegness, but Loughborough were content to wait for chances to come and they certainly did.

Ollie Parsons came close following a corner, then Morales’ skillful run didn’t have the finish the groundwork deserved and after Wicks found Edwards, the latter couldn’t get off a shot.

Wicks was proving particularly hard to stop and, with ten minutes remaining, his beautiful pass was met by Morales, who didn’t spurn the chance for number six.

Connor Keene gave James Thew, a late substitute, a shooting chance but Pipes-Goulsbra denied him with a fine save.

In stoppage time, however, there was no stopping Thew, whose pile-driver crashed in to book a place in Step 4.

STAR MAN: Dylan Edwards (Loughborough) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★✩✩