East Cornwall Schools FA Under 15's lose final on penalties

For the second successive year, the East Cornwall Schools FA Under 15's representative side, which are based at East Cornwall Football Development Centre, lose to Yeovil Schools in the South West Counties Final.

On a glorious May evening, at Newquay Football Club, East Cornwall Schools U'15's took to the field to compete in their second South West Counties final in two years. Once again the opposition was Yeovil Schools FA. The home side started brightly and were unlucky not to have taken an early lead, when young striker Tom Ellacott, who had been promoted from the Under 14's, hit the crossbar.

Cornwall went one nil ahead after captain Jack Stephens picked the ball up and travelled forward and hit a screamer from 30 yards. The game was even throughout with no really chances being created. The second half begun slowly for Cornwall and after ten minutes, the away team equalised after poor defending allowed a Yeovil player to run the length of the pitch and score with a neat finish.

This goal seemed to spark Cornwall back into life and they dominated the remainder of the game and created several clear cut chances, but unfortunately Cornwall players seemed to have left their shooting boots at home. The game entered extra time and once again it was the same old story, as Cornwall wasted chance after chance to win the game.

The dreaded penalty shootout was going to decide the outcome of this game. On this occasion, Cornwall didn't manage to hold their nerve and lost the game 3-1 on penalties.

Although bitterly disappointed to have lost a final two years in a row, the squad that represented East Cornwall Schools has been outstanding. They have consistently performed and applied themselves throughout. The squad possesses some very talented young players, with five of them being involved with professional clubs.

The management team of Lee Hazeldine and Alan Yendell would like to thank all the boys and their parents for the past two seasons, the East Cornwall Schools committee and all the clubs that hosted fixtures.