Men's football news
As
far as weeks go, they don’t come much bigger than the following seven days for
the Lewes U18s.
The
reward for a tremendous season for Alex Walsh and Dale Hurley’s boys, kindly
sponsored by ICS Roofing, is two prestigious cup finals against a couple of the
strongest non-league youth sides in the South of England.
First
up is the Sussex Bluefin Dennis Probee U18s final against local rivals
Whitehawk on Thursday 12th April at Culver Road, Lancing, kick-off
7.15pm. Its Sussex’s two best U18s teams – both clubs have occupied the top two
positions both this and last season in the Bostik Youth League – going head to
head to become Sussex champions. The Hawks won the trophy last season, but the
young Rooks will be keen to capture the cup they haven’t won since a 3-1 win
over Burgess Hill Town five years ago.
The
route to the final started back with a 5-3 win at Loxwood back in October which
continued with comprehensive wins against Ringmer (6-1), AFC Uckfield (9-1),
Newhaven (5-1) and a 2-0 victory over Shoreham in the semi-final at the
Dripping Pan last month. Top scorer in
this competition has been Josh Gould, with five goals.
Throughout this
season, the goals have been spread throughout the squad with skipper George
McCarthy leading the scoring charts with 14 goals from midfield, winger
Dylan Gifford weighing in with 13, as well as impressive returns from midfielder
Ricky Aguiar (10) and centre-half Alfie Headland (9). In fact, the U18s are only three goals away from
reaching triple figures this season!
In
the two meetings between the clubs this season, it’s been honours even, with the
teams winning at their opponents ground – a 3-2 win for Lewes in August at the
Enclosed Ground was avenged by the Hawks by winning 2-0 at the Pan in October. At the top of the Bostik Youth
League, only a few points separate the squads.
It
should be a cracking showpiece final so please come along to support your
future Rooks. Kick-off is at the earlier time of 7.15pm while admission is only £3 for adults, £2 for OAPs and children under 16 are free.
And
a date for your diaries – next Thursday, 19th
April, we head to Whyteleafe FC to take on Woking U18s in the Isthmian Youth
League Cup final. Full preview to follow next week.