Futures Cup 2021 Victors Decided

It was a closely fought battle throughout as Wessex Leopards took fifth place with a 1-0 win over Celtic Jaguars.

Lana Brewer’s goal in the tenth minute of the match would prove to be the difference between the sides in a game where defences looked dominant.

Though chances were being created by both teams, well-timed tackles and solid defensive work would be a feature of the game.

That early goal would prove to be the difference maker as Wessex Leopards took fifth place in the U15 Girls competition.

Mercia Lynx claimed a fifth at Futures Cup 2021 with a 3-0 victory over Celtic Jaguars.

The hard work was done early on for the side who found themselves three goals to the good at the end of the first quarter.

Captain Rohit Jakhu had put the Lynx’s ahead after just three minutes from a well taken penalty corner routine. That lead was quickly extended as Casper Lea fired home from a penalty stroke and Charlie Darbyshire’s powerful drive from the edge of the circle came within a minute of each other to put Mercia Lynx 3-0 up.

It was a real tussle for the remainder of the game as seven cards were dished out to either side as the teams battled to try and find the next goal.

However, there would be no further mark on the scoreboard as that early blitz from the Lynx’s would prove to be enough to earn them a 3-0 win and secure fifth.

Saxon Tigers secured fifth place with a 2-0 victory over Mercia Lynx.

There was nothing to separate the sides for much of the first half as both teams looked an even match.

However, a productive final five minutes of the half saw the Tigers march into the lead. Issy Baileff swept her drag flick into the corner of the goal to open the scoring before Olivia Martin doubled the advantage a minute before the break when she pinched the ball high up the field and finished an impressive solo move.

The second-half continued in the same fashion as the first as both sides struggled to really test the opposition goalkeeper with the defences coming out on top.

Chances were coming at a premium as the game petered out without any further mark on the scoreboard as Saxon Tigers earned fifth place with a 2-0 win.

Caledonian Cougars claimed fifth place with a 4-1 triumph over Celtic Jaguars in their U17 Boys match.

The team surged ahead with Xavax Cordero and Pete Caughey registering goals just one minute apart as the Cougars stormed to a 2-0 lead with just five minutes on the clock.

That attacking impetus continued and was rewarded with a third goal just two minutes into the second quarter as Louis Roddy’s effort reinforced the team’s lead.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic though, Michael Hodges goal on the brink of half-time pulled one back for Celtic Jaguars and gave the team hope of a comeback.

Any hopes of a comeback were diminished when Cordero hit his second goal of the match to restore the Cougars’ three goal cushion and put the game out of reach.

The victory was assured when Jamie Croll added a fifth just three minutes from time as the Cougars took a 5-1 win.

Pennine Pumas took the first medal of the day as they claimed bronze following a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mercia Lynx.

It was a thrilling start to the match as Pennine Pumas raced to the lead, Martha Bainbridge doing well to drive into the circle and beat the goalkeeper.

Mercia Lynx wouldn’t be behind for long, Leila Scott thundering the ball in with a crisp finish just two minutes after conceding the opener.

Though it was an end-to-end first-half, the next goal wouldn’t come until the third quarter as Scott struck again to give Mercia Lynx the lead.

The match took a quick turn come the final quarter though, Charlotte Graham and Lexie Haig scoring within a minute of each other to give the Pumas a late advantage and all the momentum.

Try as they might, the Lynx’s couldn’t convert from a series of late chances as the Pumas stood firm to take the bronze medal with a 3-2 victory.

Caledonian Cougars bagged bronze with a 3-2 victory over Pennine Pumas in a match that went down to the wire.

Jack Adams had given the Cougars the advantage only to see Will Ferguson respond for the Pumas to restore parity.

The Cougars were straight back on the offense and restored their lead just two minutes after conceding, Sam Hunt nabbing an important goal only one minute before half-time.

Rory Driscoll’s equaliser six minutes from full-time looked to have been enough to secure the Pumas at least a draw with the momentum firmly in their favour.

But it wasn’t to be as Murray Griffiths finished with aplomb in the final minute of the game to ensure the Cougars would take bronze in the most dramatic fashion with a 3-2 win.

Saxon Tigers left it late as they topped Caledonian Cougars 2-0 in the U15 Girls final.

The teams looked an even match throughout as both limited the other from creating too many clear-cut chances.

Saxon Tigers may have enjoyed the bulk of the possession count, but Caledonian Cougars were looking dangerous on the break and enjoyed several opportunities of their own.

With the scores level heading into the final quarter, the game was set for a grandstand finish. With just over ten minutes remaining, the tie would take a turn as the Tigers made their claim on the title.

Katy Furber reacted brilliantly to take control of the ball in the box and find the backboard to take the lead. Furber would have a second just one minute later, Monika Watkins rifled the ball at goal where Furber found a subtle deflection to take it past the ‘keeper.

Despite pushing back in the final ten minutes, that double blow would prove to be too much for the Cougars to overcome as the Tigers claimed the first title of the day with a 2-0 victory.

Wessex Leopards took a dramatic penalty shootout win over Saxon Tigers to take the title in the U15 Boys final.

A terrific solo effort would see the game come to life. Charlie Cook took matters into his own hands, surging into the circle before unleashing a sublime effort into the roof of the net less than five minutes before half-time.

The Leopards responded superbly as Cameron Wallace prodded home at the back post to put the scores back at 1-1.

It was a high intensity battle where nothing could separate the sides in regular time, leaving the match to be decided by a penalty shootout.

The shootout would prove to be a nervy conclusion to the match, Ed Wheeler producing a composed finish with the decisive strike to secure the trophy for the Leopards.

Caledonian Cougars emerged with the bronze medal after a tense 1-0 victory over Pennine Pumas.

There was little between the teams throughout with just the one goal proving the difference in a well battled encounter.

After the first-half had drawn to a close without any impact on the scoreboard, it wouldn’t take long for things to change after the interval.

Olivia Henderson bagged the crucial goal of the game just two minutes after the break to ensure the Cougars would take home the bronze with a narrow 1-0 win.

Wessex Leopards put in a five-star display as they triumphed 5-0 over Pennine Pumas to clinch bronze.

The Leopards were in the ascendancy right from the outset as Daman Bansal found the target with just five minutes on the clock in what was the perfect start for the side.

That wouldn’t be the last goal of the opening quarter as Euan Jones doubled the lead after just over ten minutes of play.

The second quarter would prove to be decisive for the Leopards who hit a quick double through Ben Taylor and Edward Stevens to establish a 4-0 lead and really take the driver’s seat.

With the hard work done in the first-half, one further goal would be enough to assure the team of a comfortable victory, Ollie Mallett’s strike the icing on the cake as the Leopards took bronze with a 5-0 win over Pennine Pumas.

Wessex Leopards were crowned champions after defeating Celtic Jaguars in a penalty shootout.

It was an even match throughout as both teams showed quality at both ends of the pitch.

Wessex Leopards were the first to make an impact on the scoresheet, Star Horlock making the breakthrough with twenty minutes on the clock to ramp up the intensity of the game.

The lead would last just four minutes, Ava Dempsey smacking the backboard with her powerful slap from a penalty corner to level things up.

Both teams won numerous penalty corners through the remainder of the match but couldn’t find a way through as defences dominated and the clock wore down to see the game go to a penalty shootout.

It was here that the Leopards would prevail, triumphing 3-1 in the shootout with Saskia Lawrence scoring the all important third to take the title.

Mercia Lynx claimed the U17 Boys title with a narrow 2-1 win over Saxon Tigers in a gripping final.

The Lynx’s looked electric straight out of the blocks and immediately put the Tigers under pressure. That build up would prove telling as Henry Jones found himself in the right place at the right time to put Mercia Lynx ahead with little over five minutes on the clock.

The lead was doubled shortly after as Charles Villanueva rifled home with a searing drag flick to gift the team a two-goal advantage going into the final quarter.

It wasn’t all over though, Saxon Tigers responded well to the adversity and continued to grow into the game as they tested the Lynx’s defence. They would find a breakthrough when Casper Beyer’s wondergoal sparked hopes of a comeback heading into the final quarter.

Try as they might, it would prove to be too little too late as Mercia Lynx came out on top and lifted the trophy with a hard-fought 2-1 win.