Football: Under-18 sides play last games together

It was the end of an era for both Barnham and Bosham Colts' under-18 sides after they played their last games together following many years as a squad.

Barnham Youth 0 Chichester Youth 5

Unbeaten for the second season in succession and certain favourites for another county title, Chichester had been held to a draw by Barnham earlier in the season and clearly wanted to avenge their only points dropped to date.

Barnham, for first 15 minutes, more than matched their opponents before the breakthrough for the visitors came with a superb run on goal, with the ball laid off well enabling a tap-in.

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A Chichester striker dribbled through the Barnham defence to slot in the second.

Barnham keeper Joe Dubben sliced the ball while trying to clear his lines and committed a professional foul which resulted in a Chichester penalty and a third goal.

The second half saw Barnham more than hold their own, with the likes of Aydan Richards frustrating the visitors with fine tackling.

The final two goals saw Chichester players successful in one-on-ones with the Barnham keeper.

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Barnham made substitutions and this stifled Chichester for the final 20 minutes.

This was the final game together for this Barnham team, and finishing sixth at county level meant each player could look back with a real sense of pride on what they had achieved.

BARNHAM: Dubben, Perkins, Richards, Roberts, Davidson, Menzies, Temple, Taylor, Gilbert, James, Dearden. Subs: Walsh, Wagstaff.

Bosham Colts 3 Worthing Minors Ath 0

This was a must-win game for Bosham in their effort to take the league title.

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After a nervous start and chances at either end the Colts were the more dangerous side with Ryan Grace, Charles Wade Palmer and Jordan Evans causing problems for the Worthing defence.

Things settled on 16 minutes when Ryan Lovett’s free-kick from outside the penalty area curled into the roof of the net.

Worthing rattled the bar but the Bosham defence stood firm with keeper Tom Cowell making a couple of great saves.

The second half saw a more confident home side passing well and in control.

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The large crowd who had come to watch the Colts play their last game together were right behind them.

Tim Barton and Joe Scott were solid in midfield with Lovatt and causing problems and a great through ball on 70 minutes saw Jordan Evans oblige with a superb goal bringing his season tally to 30.

Minors continued to press but the Bosham back four were equal to them. Captain Jack Randall, Jack Hardman, Jordan Windsor Marvell and Matt Moore have been the backbone of the side.

On 83 minutes the win was capped with another well-taken goal by Lovatt.

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In the last quarter, all three subs were used to relieve tired legs and James Cox, Jack Patrick and Mitchell Jones all played their part in this superb final game for Bosham, seeing them take the Arun & Chichester U18 A division title.

BOSHAM: Cowell, Windsor-Marvell, Randall, Hardman, Moore, Lovatt, Scott, Barton, Evans, Grace, Wade-Palmer. Subs, Cox, Patrick, Jones.

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