 Jarryd Richardson and his Ardingly College Under 15 teammates finished off a fantastic season by winning the Elgin Under 15 League defeating Brentwood 6 - 3 in the Final at Bromley FC.
After the disappointment of being knocked out of the ISFA National Semi-Finals Richardson and his teammates were keen to make amends.
Brentwood started the better of the two teams going one nil up early into the game. A fantastic response from Ardingly saw them go into half time 3-2 up.
In the second half Ardingly dominated the game and ran out worthy winners. Timi Esan scored a hat trick and also took home the man of the match prize. A well-deserved result and a fantastic season.
The two sides met in the Quarter-Final of the ISFA Cup when, having trailed 0-1 for most of the match, Ardingly scored twice in the last 4 minutes to win.
Brentwood would no doubt be seeking revenge and sure enough they started very strongly, dominating the early phases of the game with the Ardingly team seeming rather nervous and tentative in their play.
It was after 11 minutes that a free kick led to the opening goal for Brentwood as their big center half lost his marker to head home.
A stunning equalizer from Alfie Baldock was soon followed by a flowing move which ended with Timi Esan scoring. By now the game had completely changed and 3 mins from half time a superb pass released Esan again who applied his usual calm finish. As half time approached Ardingly now looked comfortable at 3-1 but with literally the last kick of the half Brentwood scored to change the whole complexion of the game and send the teams to the dressing room with plenty to ponder.
As the teams emerged for the second half it soon became apparent that the goal just before half time had not rattled Richardson and his teammates as they continued to play with a calmness and composure which belied their years.
Richardson was afforded more opportunity to display his talents in midfield on the large pitch it was vital to retain passion and to stretch the opposition, waiting patiently for them to tire.
However Brentwood displayed a great deal of character and fought valiantly but as the game progressed more space appeared and with 15 mins to go Esan engineered an opportunity for himself and shot into the bottom corner to make it 4-2.
This seemed to knock the stuffing out of the opposition a little and a masterful tactical substitution saw Andrew Bell, put on to play center forward. Within a few minutes he scored the fifth goal showing great anticipation to capitalize on a mistake by the goalkeeper to walk the ball home.
With 4 minutes to play Brentwood won a corner and after a frantic goalmouth scramble claimed a goal.
The very next attack Esan completed his hat trick with what can only be described as an outrageous goal, somehow working his way from the touchline into the 18 yard box, into the 6 yard box and tapping home with bemused defenders all around.
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