St Albans City Youth's U12 East good fortune in the County Cup came to an end when faced with a strong Harvesters team in the final at Letchworth.

The Saints had the best of the opening encounters with good pressure down the right wing forcing a series of throw-ins deep into Harvesters half. The first chance in the match fell to Goro Nishioka whose shot from the edge of the just went past the post, but with 15 minutes gone City made the breakthrough following a deep lob from James Lowthian into the box. With Goro bearing down on the keeper, he was forced to punch the ball which was collected by Lee Close who was then tripped from behind by ex-Saint George Gordon. The ref pointed to the spot and Charlie Hunter struck the penalty to the keeper's right, and despite getting a hand to the ball it crept over the line for a deserved lead. At this point St Albans were on top with Kieran Donovan competing well in midfield whilst the defence of Louis McNamara, Jacob Wroe, Charlie Hunter and Eddie Gray, had Harvesters' strikers under wraps. More pressure saw the lads create another good chance when Lee Close broke through the back four, only for his pass to Goro to be judged offside, but from this point Harvesters got stronger. Just before half-time they upped their game and Saints were indebted to Louis who intercepted the ball off Harley Stairmand's foot when a goal looked certain and keeper Tom Coulton pulled off a breathtaking diving save to push the ball onto and over the bar.

So at half-time we were one-up, but it was backs to the wall after the restart and Harvesters got even within five minutes after a deep delivery into the box from the left wasn't picked up. After this Harvesters saw their chance and with Saints midfield tiring and a lack of support for the strikers most of the play was in the City half, where their irresistible striking force came up against the immovable object, namely Saints defence. With several attacking waves breaking on the City walls it looked as though the stalemate would continue to full-time, but in the 59th minute Harvesters capitalised on a poor header and Tom Coulton could only parry the shot to the right and the rebound was stuck away. From the kick-off Saints piled forward but the ball was lost and a deep cross from the right was neatly headed home past the defenceless Coulton in goal to rub salt into the youngsters wounds.

Overall we didn't play our best football, but the lads can be proud with their achievement of reaching their first major final which they led for 20 minutes compared to Harvesters 3! Saints men of the match were Louis playing his first match at right back for 3 years and Tom in goal who had knocked his head on the post and injured his arm whilst in the line of fire.

U12 East: Coulton; McNamara, Wroe, Hunter, Gray; Lowthian (Fortune), Donovan, Kemp, O'Shea; Nishioka, Close. Other used subs: Northage, Maher, Bullock, Wilson.