The stage is set for a perfect ending to junior football for Brixington Blues Under-16s after they booked a place in the Devon Cup Final with a 2-1 victory over Alphington.
These two sides have played each other many times over the years, and this final edition was full of tension and drama.
Following a positive start from the Blues, Alphington found some rhythm and created a couple of promising positions but were thwarted by strong defending from Jake Haggerty and Haydon Simpson.
The Alphas continued their early momentum, with Lewis Ayley providing the next Brixington intervention. When Alphington did breach the Blues, goalkeeper Russ Bracey was in the right place to make a fine save.
Luke Paramore had the best attacking moment for the Blues in a difficult first half but was denied by alert defending, and Brixington went into the interval feeling grateful the scores were still level.
Zac Tilley and Jack Drew-Cull combined nicely for Makan Coulibaly to deliver a dangerous cross, well cleared by the Alphas. Ethan Hawes then supplied the pass for Oliver Bradley to try a shot that was bravely blocked by an Alphington defender.
On the hour, Alphington scored the opening goal and a fabulous strike on such a big occasion.
The Brixington response was swift and emphatic, as Hawes won a free-kick and Simpson delivered a stunning equaliser. The ball seemed to travel in slow motion, drifting beyond the despairing dive of the Alphington ‘keeper before nestling into the top corner.
A dramatic finale was in place, with both sides throwing players forward in the desperate search for a winner. Coulibaly went close for Brixington and Bracey then produced a match-winning save for his side.
The dreaded penalty shoot-out was creeping ever closer when Haggerty and Drew-Cull won the ball in midfield. Tilley threaded a pass to Hawes, who bustled his way forward and found a low cross for Paramore, via a clever Coulibaly dummy, and the Blues’ forward struck a fabulous first-time finish beyond the Alphington custodian.
Brixington will play Plymstock United in the final and coach David Haggerty thanked chairman Richard Hughes and club secretary Emma McBryan for their wonderful support behind the scenes.