U16 South win in Challenge Cup

Harvesters U16 South were in Challenge Cup third round action away at Highgate and Muswell Hill Raiders on a heavy pitch. The opening exchanges were fairly even although HMH had the advantage of a downhill slope and a gusty wind behind them.

Harvesters had chances but in the 17th minutes failed to close down an HMH player and they forced a corner from which they scored to make it 1-0. Harvesters continued to press and it wasn’t long before Nathan Thornton put in a cross/shot from the left which hit the crossbar.

Ryan Mason was called upon to make some crucial saves to keep the score at 1-0. Moving into first half stoppage time Connor Blight went on a run up the right wing and found Lucas King to equalise.

Harvesters played most of the second half in the HMH half now with the slope and wind to assist but despite all the pressure could not score.

Into extra time and five minutes in a surging run by Lucas King resulted in him being brought down just outside the penalty area. Lucas got up, dusted himself down and struck the free kick home to put the boys 2-1 up. A quick teamtalk at the interval and change of formation to protect the lead and the boys were back out.

In the 93rd minute persistent closing down from Joseph Curran forced a mix up in the HMH penalty area and he put Harvesters 3-1 up. There was still time for one more when a clinical pass from Stanley Maisey in the 97th minute split the HMH defence and Lucas King was there to score his hat trick goal and finish with a 4-1 win.