A GROUP of young Monmouth footballers took part in a thrilling game held at a Premier League club’s academy on Saturday (14th May).

Players at West Bromwich Albion’s (WBA) Player Development Centre Monmouth played against fellow NERF Junior Premier League side Purbeck under 12s, with the match being hosted at WBA’s academy.

Both teams started brightly. WBA took the lead when a Mark Derricott free kick was turned home cleverly from a run by Harvey Vaughan, but within two mins the pacey Joe Smith raced onto a through ball and calmy lobbed Mikey Nixon in the WBA goal to make it 1-1, showing that he was going to cause the WBA defence problems all afternoon.

WBA went ahead shortly after when the impressive Lewis Lloyd found Corey Ellis with a lovely through ball and Corey took it first tim,e poking it in to the far corner past the agile Purbeck GK to make it 2-1, but the first half scoring wasn’t over yet. Purbeck were correctly awarded a penalty when Mark Derricott brought down Joe Smith after Kieron Joyce failed to clear the ball. Joe Smith dispatched the penalty giving Mikey Nixon no chance to draw the teams level.

There was to be one more first half twist when a big ball down field took a big bounce off the 3G pitch and completely outwitted Mikey Nixon in the WBA goal. It bounced off the post but unfortunately for him the ball went straight to a Purbeck player who hammered it home to make it 2-3 at the break.

The second half saw both teams seemingly more relaxed, and Purbeck nearly went 4-2 when Joe Smith’s thunderous shot was tipped over by goalkeeper Luca Smith. WBA drew level when a deep cross from WBA was collected by Corey Ellis. With the sun in his eyes he failed to hold it and Chesney Somers pounced and popped it home to make 3-3.

With five minutes remaining, WBA took the lead. Isaac Phelps intercepted a through ball from Purbeck and played it forward for Jakey Bevan to head on for Finley Jones. He lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper for Harvey Vaughan to side foot home the winner in an exhilarating match, fit for a final and for the location.

WBA PDC Monmouth manager Andrew Bevan said: “What an end to a fantastic season, yes we got the result which was lovely but I loved the respectful way that Purbeck parents applauded the WBA boys.

“Thank you to Jamie and his staff and players, you’re a credit to your club and the JPL.”