Our Under-18s Representative Squad battled Storm Ciara as well as a strong Devon County FA team to reach the Final of The FA County Youth Cup for the second time in four years!

The match started in stormy conditions, which were to have a massive effect on the match. The first 10 minutes passed without much incident, as both teams tried to master the difficult circumstances.

Sussex were playing against the wind in the first-half but created the first chance when Tom Chalaye had a shot blocked on 11 minutes. 

Soon after, Demas Ramsis had a shot well saved on the bounce by the Devon goalkeeper, Josh Nicol. The hosts created their first chance after 15 minutes, when they clipped the outside of the post following a scramble from a corner. 

On 34 minutes, the wind really took ahold. Ramsis hit a shot from distance which flew in the wind and completely deceived the Nicol before landing wide of the target. 

Sussex were now building some pressure leading up to half-time. Brad Santos had a shot fly just over the bar before Chalaye cut in and powered a shot straight at Nicol. 

The deadlock, however, was finally broken on the stroke of half-time when Ramsis flicked the ball on nicely for Olly Munt to control in the box and smash a volley in from eight yards out to put Sussex in front going into the break. 

The poor weather conditions persisted in the second-half, but Sussex were now attacking with the wind. 

Santos started the half well, and fired a wind assisted free-kick just wide. Soon after, Nic Darienzo whipped in a corner which was headed wide by Max Blencowe, as Sussex continued to create good openings but failing to capitalise. 

Chalaye, a constant threat throughout, bought a high ball down well but shot straight at the Devon stopper. On the hour mark, Devon created a great opportunity which was well saved by the diligent Taylor Seymour in goal for Sussex. 

Into the final third of the game and Sussex were still creating chances but couldn’t kill the game off. Chalaye had a chipped shot tipped over the bar and another chance saved when through one-on-one with Nicol. 

Mitch Hewens came on as sub and had an immediate impact as he created a chance for himself which was saved. Into the final 5 minutes, the game was still in the balance, and Devon looked to pounce on some Sussex nerves.

The home side created two chances. A shot went just wide on 85 minutes, and a massive opportunity was missed when Devon striker Ollie Holman went through one-on-one in the 86 minute, but he blazed his shot over the bar. 

Sussex held on for the final few minutes to secure their place in The FA County Youth Cup Final against Norfolk FA. 

Stats: (Devon-Sussex)
Goals: 0-1; Shots: 6-17; Shots-on-target: 2-8; Corners: 4-5; Fouls: 11-5; Offside: 0-0; Yellows: 0-0; Reds: 0-0

Devon: Nicol, Miller, Parry, Harford, Wood, Baxter, Wylie, Raven, Skitt, Holman, Roberts.
Subs: Slater, Passmore, Evans, Fuller, Zarzycki, Weeks.

Sussex: Seymour, Ferreira, Darienzo, Honore, Blencowe, Blackmore, Santos, Freeman, Chalaye, Munt, Ramsis.
Subs: Ward, Earl, Wright, Hewens, Popham, Mthunzi, Whitmore.

Match Report by Ollie Powell