Liverpool 3 - 5 Kent (after extra time)
By Ken Brooke. Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Cliff hat trick secures Kent place in the Final for second successive season.
A fantastic Kent comeback on Sunday saw the County through to its second FA County Youth Cup Final in a row, after firstly squandering a 2 goal lead, and then coming back to take the tie in extra time.
Having previously visited Durham in the quarter final, the players knew that once again they were entering a real hotbed of English football. Liverpool, would always be a great challenge and like Durham is steeped in history at this level. The players have been determined all season to put right last season's Final defeat, and deserve great credit for being able to give themselves that opportunity.
With most of Kent underwater on Sunday, we arrived to find no rain, and a pitch that have been very well prepared for the game. We started brightly, and were rewarded with a bizarre own goal on 7 minutes. A clearance by a Liverpool defender struck the back of the head of a team mate and looped backed into the top corner of the goal. A bizarre own goal.
A mistake by the Liverpool centre back allowed Sam Cliff to nick the ball from him and race on to goal, cooly finishing past the Liverpool keeper on 25 minutes for a 2 -0 lead.
This team never keeps it simple! Having given away a number of free kicks around the box the team did not learn from not diving in, and with probably less than 30 seconds gave away a penalty which was harsh, but failure to clear the ball resulted in a last ditch tackle being penalised. The Liverpool centre back made up for his error by slamming the ball past keeper Rankin.
At half time some choice words were spoken in the dressing room. There was no doubt that Liverpool would throw everything at us second half, and they did not disappoint!
A great near post leap and header from the same centre back brought it back to 2-2 and the ability to launch 60 - 70 yard passes and free kicks into our penalty area, saw us concede an unfortunate own goal to go 3-2 down.
A magnificent left handed save from keeper Rankin kept us in the game, and then the decision to take off a defender, put on a striker and go for it playing 3-5-2 paid huge dividends. Suddenly, we kept the ball, passed it well and created numerous chances. Charlie Sweetman was quite superb pulling all the strings in the middle, but it was left to skipper Cliff to score the all important equaliser with a left foot shot past the keeper.
We could have won it in normal time. Flish was unlucky to see his shot go agonisingly past the post, but the full time score of 3-3 was about right.
The introduction of Scott Heard had caused Liverpool a number of problems. His pace and speed around the field was just what we needed, and we felt that extra time would favour us.
On 95 minutes a header from Tom Phipp saw the Liverpool keeper miss the ball and it ended up in the net. 5 minutes from the end a superb right wing cross from Adam Woollcott saw Cliff complete his hat trick with a header at the back post.
Cue mass celebrations from the Kent Supporters, players and Chief Exec who enjoyed that winning feeling once again!
My personal thanks to the parents, and committee members who made the trip, the County for organising another wonderful hotel, my wife for putting up with my football 24/7 and to my coaching staff Gary, Simon and Gary for their hard work in helping us reach the Final again. To the players...........you are a fantastic credit to the strength of football in Kent, your behaviour on and off the field is a credit to your family and your clubs, and it really couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of young men. You have given yourselves an opportunity to put right last year. It is up to you now!
Kent will play Sheffield & Hallamshire in the Final. My congratulations to all at Sheffield and we look forward to playing you at Gillingham on 24th April 2010.
Team: Jack Rankin, Harry Morgan, Sam Noller (Eddie Sharman), Charlie Sweetman, George Mitchell, Pat Taylor, Steve Brading (Adam Woollcott), Tom Phipp, Sam Cliff, Andrew Miller (Scott Heard), Alex Flisher. Subs not used: Luke Prentice and Louis Rankin.
Scorers: Own Goal, Tom Phipp and Sammy Cliff (3).
Ken - Very Proud to Manage this group of players!
