iSPORTS FC MANCHESTER TEAM ONE 4 FC UNITED of MANCHESTER ACADEMY 'A' TEAM 4
The FC United of Manchester Academy team celebrate winning the AoC Sport Summer Series trophy
A remarkable second half comeback and a 97th minute equaliser was enough for the FC United of Manchester Academy 'A' team to snatch the point they needed to lift the AoC Sport Summer Series - North West Men's Football Championship Group 1 mini league title in Wednesday afternoon's match against iSports FC Manchester Team One at Crossford Bridge, Sale.
But only just!
Tom Conroy's young charges had started off quite positively but had failed to take their chances, a Sheriff Kabba effort hitting the post on 16 minutes, shortly before iSports FC's DYLAN WALKER put the home side ahead with a close range header on 18 minutes.
Worse was to follow when ALEX FINNEY got on to the end of a long free kick on 34 minutes to make it 2-0.
And things didn't get any better in the early second half when LOGAN WARBURTON beat the offside trap on 52 minutes to put iSports FC 3-0 up before the same player, LOGAN WARBURTON rounded FC United substitute keeper Josh Brooks, to add a fourth on 56 minutes.
At this point, the FC United of Manchester Academy team looked to be completely out of sorts, so when FAVOUR BOLAJI pulled one back on 68 minutes, it looked like it might just be a mere consolation.
However, when KELVIN AMADO rounded the home keeper to add a second on 70 minutes, it was suddenly "game on".
The same player, KELVIN AMADO, further reduced the arrears on 87 minutes from the penalty spot after having himself been upended on a run into the iSports FC 18 yard box.
And a sensational comeback was concluded in the seventh minute of time added on when FAVOUR BOLAJI netted at the far post to make the final score 4-4.
Fifteen seconds later and the full time whistle sounded to conclude what has been the most unusual of seasons in a most amazing manner.
FC UNITED of MANCHESTER ACADEMY 'A' TEAM:-
1) Lenny FIELDHOUSE (GK)
2) Yusuf QUDUS
3) Israel AGHAHOWA
4) Silas ITOTAYAGBON
5) James HICKEY (Captain) (Cautioned - 58 mins)
6) Alfie CLARKE
7) Kevin ZOKOU (Cautioned - 65 mins)
8) Jack WARD
10) Sheriff KABBA
12) Kelvin AMADO
14) Christian EDOKPAYI
SUBSTITUTES:-
13) Josh BROOKS (GK) (For No. 1 - Half-time)
15) Connor McANDREW (Not used)
16) Favour BOLAJI (For No. 14 - 30 mins) (Cautioned - 61 mins)
17) Jack BENNETT (For No. 10 - 52 mins)
18) Terence LUNT (For No. 2 - 30 mins)
ROLLING SUBSTITUTIONS:-
10) Sheriff KABBA (Back on for No..12 - 90 + 1 mins)
14) Christian EDOKPAYI (Back on for No. 5 - 63 mins).
iSPORTS FC MANCHESTER TEAM ONE 4 FC UNITED of MANCHESTER ACADEMY 'A' TEAM 4
The FC United of Manchester Academy team celebrate winning the AoC Sport Summer Series trophy
A remarkable second half comeback and a 97th minute equaliser was enough for the FC United of Manchester Academy 'A' team to snatch the point they needed to lift the AoC Sport Summer Series - North West Men's Football Championship Group 1 mini league title in Wednesday afternoon's match against iSports FC Manchester Team One at Crossford Bridge, Sale.
But only just!
Tom Conroy's young charges had started off quite positively but had failed to take their chances, a Sheriff Kabba effort hitting the post on 16 minutes, shortly before iSports FC's DYLAN WALKER put the home side ahead with a close range header on 18 minutes.
Worse was to follow when ALEX FINNEY got on to the end of a long free kick on 34 minutes to make it 2-0.
And things didn't get any better in the early second half when LOGAN WARBURTON beat the offside trap on 52 minutes to put iSports FC 3-0 up before the same player, LOGAN WARBURTON rounded FC United substitute keeper Josh Brooks, to add a fourth on 56 minutes.
At this point, the FC United of Manchester Academy team looked to be completely out of sorts, so when FAVOUR BOLAJI pulled one back on 68 minutes, it looked like it might just be a mere consolation.
However, when KELVIN AMADO rounded the home keeper to add a second on 70 minutes, it was suddenly "game on".
The same player, KELVIN AMADO, further reduced the arrears on 87 minutes from the penalty spot after having himself been upended on a run into the iSports FC 18 yard box.
And a sensational comeback was concluded in the seventh minute of time added on when FAVOUR BOLAJI netted at the far post to make the final score 4-4.
Fifteen seconds later and the full time whistle sounded to conclude what has been the most unusual of seasons in a most amazing manner.
FC UNITED of MANCHESTER ACADEMY 'A' TEAM:-
1) Lenny FIELDHOUSE (GK)
2) Yusuf QUDUS
3) Israel AGHAHOWA
4) Silas ITOTAYAGBON
5) James HICKEY (Captain) (Cautioned - 58 mins)
6) Alfie CLARKE
7) Kevin ZOKOU (Cautioned - 65 mins)
8) Jack WARD
10) Sheriff KABBA
12) Kelvin AMADO
14) Christian EDOKPAYI
SUBSTITUTES:-
13) Josh BROOKS (GK) (For No. 1 - Half-time)
15) Connor McANDREW (Not used)
16) Favour BOLAJI (For No. 14 - 30 mins) (Cautioned - 61 mins)
17) Jack BENNETT (For No. 10 - 52 mins)
18) Terence LUNT (For No. 2 - 30 mins)
ROLLING SUBSTITUTIONS:-
10) Sheriff KABBA (Back on for No..12 - 90 + 1 mins)
14) Christian EDOKPAYI (Back on for No. 5 - 63 mins).
