LONDON APSA BEAT MANOR FC ON PENALTIES TO LIFT FOOTBALL FOR CHANGE CUP

14/05/2016

MANOR PARK YOUNGSTERS BEAT LOCALS MANOR FC IN PENALTY SHOOTOUT

London APSA Under 13s lifted the London & Middlesex Football For Change Cup on Saturday 14^th 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 52^nd 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 21^st May 2016 at Redbridge FC’s Oakside Stadium, If you are free get down to support the Newham youngsters.