U16 County Cup victory : Cleveland Hall 4-1 Whitburn and Cleadon

On Tuesday 19 March Washington Nissan FC played host to the Durham County U16 Cup final between Cleveland Hall and Whitburn and Cleadon. It was the first time that the club had been represented in the U16 final and despite a number of appearances in the U18 final no club side had ever recorded a victory.

In front of a crowd of around 300 Cleveland got off to the best possible start when Ian Glazinski rifled home a right footed half volley from a half cleared corner. Cleveland`s front two of Laws and Richardson were giving the Whitburn defence no respite and it came as no surprise when Chris Laws scored an impressive solo goal just before half time to make it 2-0.

The Cleveland back four had been hardly troubled in the first half and the game was wrapped up in the first few minutes of the second when a wicked inswinging corner from John Morton was fumbled into his net by the Whitburn goalkeeper.

Perhaps believing victory was assured Cleveland eased up and Whitburn to their credit persevered in trying to recover the game. They scored with around 20 minutes to go to make the game closerbut shortly afterwards the goal of the game settled the issue. A long kick from keeper Connell was flicked on by Richardson to Laws who struck a fierce 25 yard volley which was in the back of the net before even the keeper could move. Even Whitburn fans applauded the quality of the goal which secured the win. There was still time for Mark Heron to plant a header inches over the bar as Cleveland sought to underline their dominance, but overall it was a magnificient achievement by the team, 10 of whom had been playing for the club since the U12 season or before. 

Team : Liam Connell, Terry Boyes, John Stacey(capt), Michael Maughan, Lee Farrell, John Morton (sub Andy Jeffery), Ian Glazinski, Dean Bramwell, Mark Heron, Steven Richardson (sub Peter Fairless), Chris Laws