The West Bromwich Albion (WBA) FC Academy played host to the Junior Premier League (JPL) Shield Final between WBA pdc Hereford and Monmouth under 12s and top-of-the-league Purbeck under 12s, a Dorset-based team.

Both teams were in their debut seasons in the JPL. Several boys who played for the WBA side come from Ross-on-Wye and they have either played for, or still play with, the Ross Juniors Football Club.

WBA and Purbeck started brightly and after four minutes the score could have been 2-2, however it was still 0-0. WBA took the lead when a Mark Derricott free-kick was turned home cleverly from an outside to inside run by Harvey Vaughan.

Within two minutes, Purbeck’s Joe Smith, an extremely pacey player, raced onto a through ball and calmly lobbed Mikey Nixon in the WBA goal to make it 1-1; a great finish from a lad who was going to cause the WBA defence problems all afternoon.

WBA went ahead shortly after when the impressive Lewis Lloyd found Corey Ellis with a lovely through ball and Corey took it first time, poking it in to the far corner past the agile Purbeck goalkeeper, to make it 2-1, but the first half scoring wasn’t over yet.

Purbeck were awarded a penalty, rightly so, from a very impressive young referee, when Mark Derricott brought down Joe Smith after Kieron Joyce failed to clear the ball. Joe Smith dispatched the penalty, giving Mikey Nixon no chance to draw the teams level.

There was to be one more first half twist, when a big ball down field took a big bounce off the 3G pitch and completely outwitted Mikey Nixon in WBA goal, but fortunately for him it bounced off the post. However, the ball went straight to a Purbeck player, Christie Ward, who hammered it home to make the score 2-3 at the break to Purbeck.

The second half of the game had a rather different feel. Andy Bevan, coach of the WBA commented:?“It was, in my opinion, better football as both teams seemed more relaxed.”

Purbeck nearly took a 4-2 lead, thanks to the dynamic Joe Smith. He hit a thunderous shot, only for the WBA goalkeeper, Luca Smith to react superbly and tip it over. “I only wish I had a camera to have captured it,” Andy said. “It was great shot, and great action save from Luca.”

WBA took the lead when a deep-cross from WBA Corey Ellis on the Purbeck goalkeeer’s line and, with the sun in his eyes, he failed to hold it. Chesney Somers quickly pounced and popped it home to make the score 3-3.

The referee looked across at the linesman to see if he had seen anything as an infringement on the Purbeck goalkeeper, but he kept his flag down and shook his head, to signal all was ok. Andy said:?“I think it was just the sun and the height of the ball that had made it difficult for the goalkeeper.”

With five minutes remaining, Issac Phelps intercepted a through ball from Purbeck and played it forward for Jakey Bevan to head on for Finley Jones, who lobbed the ball over the Purbeck goalkeeper for Harvey Vaughan to side foot home the winning goal in an exhilarating match, fit for a final and the setting.

The final whistle went shortly after the goal was scored and all players and coaches shook hands. Andy told the Ross Gazette:?“One thing that stood out for me, and I didn’t actually see it but was made aware of it, was that the Purbeck goalkeeper, Lucas, was obviously upset and Luka Smith, the WBA goalkeeper went over and gave him a hug and a chat.

“What an end to a fantastic season, yes, we got the result, which was lovely, but I loved the respectful way that Purbeck parents applauded the WBA boys when they went on their cool down and to clap their own parents.

“Thank you to Jamie Smith, manager of the Purbeck under 12s, and to his staff and players. They are a credit to their club and the JPL.”

The Junior Premier League is the highest rated league outside of professional academies, with over 6000 children, 400 teams and over 90 clubs involved in it.