Bedfordshire 7-4 Middlesex
English Schools' FA Playstation Inter-County Trophy
Middlesex U14 went out of the English Schools’ FA Inter-County Trophy at the Quarter-Final stage, losing 7-4 away to Bedfordshire. Middlesex were 5-0 down after 39 minutes but an incredible second half fightback saw Felix Amoah score all 4 goals of his team’s goals in an amazing 18-minute period to make the score 5-4 with 7 minutes remaining.
This was certainly a game where the very strong wind was a major factor within the game. Middlesex played into the strong wind during the first half and within three minutes Bedfordshire almost took the lead but Daniel Botti in the Middlesex goal tipped the shot acrobatically over the bar. The hosts forced two early corners and Botti was once again in fine form saving further attempts on the Middlesex goal.
With the home side having the majority of the possession and all the attempts on goal it was no surprise when they opened the scoring on 9 minutes when the ball was not cleared and Bedfordshire scored from just inside the Middlesex penalty area.
Bedfordshire scored their second goal on 15 minutes, this time from just outside the penalty area before Dominic D’Souza had Middlesex’s first shot on target two minutes later. Middlesex were still struggling to cope with the conditions and conceded two free-kicks in quick succession that were headed away. With the home side having two further efforts go narrowly wide, it was perhaps inevitable that another goal would come and Bedfordshire once again increased their lead scoring their third on 35 minutes from another effort from just inside the Middlesex penalty area to take a clear half time lead.
Within 4 minutes of the restart Middlesex found themselves 5-0 down and the game was seemingly lost. But with the strong wind now behind them and nothing to lose Middlesex were enjoying far more of the ball and possession. Amoah scored his first goal of the game on 45 mins, chasing down a long ball and doing well to beat the on-rushing Beds goalkeeper and when the ball ran clear he was on hand to nick the ball before tapping home.
Just 2 minutes later, Amoah scored his second goal following a wonderful run down the left from Ronnie Heath and his fine cross across the Beds goal line was met by Amoah who reacted quickest to again force the ball over the line to make it 5-2. With Middlesex now sensing the game was not yet lost, Amoah completed his hat-trick from a Qasim Khan corner on the hour and following a quick succession of three further corners Amoah scored his fourth goal of the match with a shot from the edge of the Beds penalty box to make the score 5-4.
Just when Middlesex were dreaming of an incredible comeback and extra time Bedfordshire scored their sixth goal on the break with just 5 minutes remaining and added their seventh directly from a free kick with just 1 minute left to play to secure their place in the last four.
