Youth match of the week: Spirit of Youth Under-15s v Foxhall

Spirit started strongly at Common Edge as two Paul Currie goals soon put them in the driving seat.

For the opener, he was rewarded for a determined chase which pressurised the keeper into a mistake, enabling Currie to win possession and slide the ball home.

He then doubled the lead from a through ball, beating the last defender and the keeper in style.

Luigi Chiappe launched the fightback when his shot from 25 yards dipped under the crossbar.

The visitors continued to create chances and when Matty Quinn powered forward from centre-half, the move was finished by Adam Urquhart for the equaliser.

The winner arrived midway through the second half, when Jack Dunning burst down the left and lifted the ball over the defence for Urquhart to take a touch before slotting home his second goal at the far corner.

With 20 minutes remaining it was still anyone’s game and there were chances at either end. Both keepers made saves and Spirit were denied an equaliser when Dylan Donoghue’s effort was tipped on to the bar by keeper Scott Harris, who also saved well from Jack Gray.

At the opposite end, magnificent keeper Marcus Eeley made several top stops to keep his side in contention.

Besides two-goal Urquhart, midfielder Chiappe and defender Quinn were also outstanding for Foxhall, while Harry Rushton caught the eye in the heart of Spirit’s defence.

Foxhall have now won two of their three matches going into this weekend’s final group game against Fleetwood.

And manager Andy Dunning is pleased with their progress, saying: “We can play some great football but now it’s all about consistency.

“It was an excellent fightback and the players linked up really well going forward. We scored some great goals.”

Spirit are still seeking their first win in the competition and it gets no easier against Clifton Rangers this weekend.

But they continue to approach these challenges in the best of spirits and manager Steve Gray said: “The players all said the game against Foxhall was one of the best they have played in.”

“We were a few players down and one or two lapses cost us, but we kept going and everyone gave 100 per cent effort.

Keeper Eeley was the Spirit man of the match after a string of fine saves kept his side in the contest until the bitter end.

Outstanding for Foxhal ws two-goal Urquhard, who made it five in two matches since his return from injury.