District FA Youth Cup Final
At Macclesfield Town FC
Macc Youth 0 Wirral Youth 1
Macc Youth put on a battling display against Wirral and having matched them in every department over 90 minutes lost to a spectacular goal by Jonathan Clampett in stoppage time when extra time seemed certain. It was harsh on Macc who, already without inspirational skipper Max Williamson lost stand in captain and hero of their previous encounter with Wirral, Matt Nee through injury at half time. Despite being on the backfoot in the opening minutes it was Macc who had the best opportunity as James Annetts cleared off the line for the visitors.
Domonic Hughes worked tirelessly in midfield breaking up play and providing his team with a platform on which to build , but Macc were guilty of not making the most of their possession as three times they gave the ball away cheaply from set plays. Julian Wetherall kept the Wirral defence occupied but keeper Paul Davies was rarely troubled and when he was called upon, he proved more than capable. There was plenty of endeavour from both sides and no quarter given as there were two lengthy stoppages , as first Dan Quinn for Macc and then Gary Knight required treatment but chances were few and far between .
With no score in the first half and a trophy at stake Wirral came out the stronger in the second half led by captain Luke Hughes , Macc seemed strangely subdued without a target man upfront and relied on Weatherall’s pace down the middle . Dan Povell and Tom Rudnick at the heart of Wirral’s defence were rarely troubled . Josh Sneddon , handed the captain’s armband for the second half tried to re-ignite his troups and they might have rallied in extra time but they weren’t given the opportunity as Clampett smashed in an unstoppable winner with seconds remaining to send Wirral absolutely delirious as they celebrated in a huge pile.
