MANOR PARK YOUNGSTERS BEAT LOCALS MANOR FC IN PENALTY
SHOOTOUT
London APSA Under 13s lifted the London & Middlesex
Football For Change Cup on Saturday 14th May as they beat local
rivals Manor FC 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the thrilling game in Wanstead
Flats ended 4-4, and was watched on by almost 100 spectators as players
parents, and many manor park locals gathered together on the sidelines to watch
this entertaining game.
APSA who were playing a year above in the U14s final,
started the game well as they attacked quick and created the first 2 early
chances of the game as Captain Akram Miah’s Shot went wide and Vice-captain Taher
Mahmood’s header was saved by the Manor FC keeper.
However after the first 5 minutes of APSA’s brilliant start
Manor FC got the lead through their captain Zain Khan as London APSA were
caught on the break it was 1-0 to Manor FC, however that lead didn’t last long
as soon as APSA re started play, Manor FC got carried away and APSA youngster
Osman Rahman tapped in Akram Miah’s cross to level the game.
As more and more spectators came in to cheer APSA on, Akram
Miah’s pace was too much for these Manor FC players as he cut inside to take a
shot and give APSA a worthy 2-1 lead, but this wasn’t it as Manor FC kicked off
again APSA pressed well and centre midfielder Radwan Karim picked up the ball
and gave a long pass into his captain Akram Miah who was in space and 1 on 1
with the keeper and made it 3-1 grabbing his brace and his 52nd goal
of the season. Manor FC managed to pull a goal back before the break but APSA
went into half time leading 3-2.
The second half saw both teams playing with passion and the
working hard to win every ball, however it was APSA’s technical ability and
ball control that got them through their opposition and got them their fourth
goal, this time their whole team was involved and play begun from keeper Shafiiq
Shipkoylee as he rolled the ball out and the entire APSA team from defence to
attack played quick 2 touch passes to each other before Taher Mahmood scored
the team goal.
As it was 4-2 now APSA were settled for the next 20 minutes
of the game as the game was reaching its closing stages Manor FC managed to pull
a goal back through Zain Khan as APSA were tiring down from a long and physical
game, they were switched off when Manor FC got forward and got their equaliser.
It was 4-4 and the game went straight to penalties.
Penalties:
The shootout begun and first up was Zain Khan for Manor and
he fired away his penalty on the top right corner, Taher Mahmood was first for
APSA and he scored, Manor FC scored their second penalty and so did APSA with
Akram Miah firing his spot kick away, Manor FC missed their third and fourth
penalty with APSA keeper Shafiiq Shipkoylee saving both spot kicks and Mahathir
Mohammed scored the third and Faez Kashem got the winning spot kick and London APSA
were crowned champions.
Manager Hafiz Ahmed said after the thrilling game ‘Even if
we lost on penalties it would not have mattered to us because what a lot of
people forget in this competition is that we are the youngest team, we are an
under 13 team taking part in an under 14 competition but we still showed our
true potential throughout it, I’m so proud of my players, they represented the
club and their town well, I want to thank everyone from Manor Park who came
down, it was great to see all the locals, shop owners, barbers and takeaway
guys come down and support us’.
London APSA captain Akram Miah who had a brilliant game said
‘I said last time we are going to go out there and put up a big fight for this
trophy, we travelled around the whole of London playing games and raising
money, I said to the boys before the game we have to make all that hard work
worth it now and it happened, bring on the next one!’
London APSA still have the East London and Essex Junior
League cup to play for on Saturday 21st May 2016 at Redbridge FC’s Oakside
Stadium, If you are free get down to support the Newham youngsters.
