by Jeff King (With A Huge Nod To El Supremo Colin Wotherspoon)
ECFA National Premier Cup Champions Quarter Final - Wednesday 19/3/2025
Fox Academy Leicester 1 v 2 Park View Academy
As many people know the Chester-le-Street United Reserve side that plays in the Wearside League First Division and the Chester-le-Street United First Team that play in the Ebac Northern League Second Division are largely made up of players that also represent Park View Academy in the English Colleges FA competitions.
On Wednesday after finishing top of their group in the league campaign with an impressive record of played 10 won 9 lost 1 scoring 32 and only conceding 7 they were given a tough away draw against Fox Academy from Leicester.
This was in the last 8 of the Champions Premier Cup. There were 60 Academy teams from all areas of the country that started in this competition and Park View after a brilliant win we are now into the last 4.
The team/squad Park View put out for this tie under the stewardship of Head Coach Colin Wotherspoon with one exception as well as playing for PV have all represented Chester-le-Street United in senior men's football this season.
The exception being Harry Marr who although still a member of the PV Academy plies his trade on a Saturday in the Ebac Northern League for Prudhoe Youth Club Seniors.
PV had a brilliant start to the game when Brandon Young pressed the Fox centre half really well high up winning the ball just outside the box before squaring a pass into Nathan Conroy.
Conroy from just outside the six-yard was perfectly placed to to stroke home an easy finish to put the travelling PV 1 - 0 in front. The rest of the half was a close encounter with both teams having good chances to score.
James Hughes was outstanding in goal for PV making a couple of vital saves including a trademark 1-on-1 block to help PV keep their one goal advantage.
Kymani Severin was particularly unlucky with a couple of headers that went close, one of which hit the crossbar. PV though went into the break with Conroy’s goal the only difference between the sides.
In the second half Fox Academy came out with more purpose and although against the run of play the scored a very good goal midway through the half.
Centre Back Dan Walton who overall had a great game misplaced his clearance and despite what looked like a clear foul on Keane Mitchell the referee allowed the game to continue.
The ball breaking to a Fox midfield player who advanced and from just outside the box bent a fantastic right-foot effort round the diving Hughes and found the corner of the net. Now it was game on.
Both teams had half chances to win it before a long throw from Dylan Robson saw Jamie Frizzel flick a header into the six-yard box and there was Conroy on the turn to smash an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net right on 90 minutes.
A great moment and one that gave Fox no time to recover and sent the PV lads into wild celebrations as they realised the long drive and effort they had put into the game had paid off with the final whistle going shortly afterwards.
Park View Academy are now into the semi finals of the National Champions Premier Academy Cup which is a fantastic achievement and they await details of their opponents and venue for that forthcoming fixture.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Keane Mitchell 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Dylan Robson 5. Dan Walton 6. Riley Everett (c) 7. Kymani Severin 8. Michael Mallaburn 9. Nathan Conroy 10. Brandon Young 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : Olly Dixon, Evan Cubby, Harvey Lawrence, Ben Gallagher, Harry Marr SCORERS : Nathan Conroy 2
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