Austen Arrowheads U-18 1 Potton Colts 2 COLTS gained revenge for losing the league title to Arrowheads to win the Rutter Cup at Garden Walk. The Stevenage side had won the title on the final day of the season by beating Colts, but the Bedfordshire side g

Austen Arrowheads U-18 1

Potton Colts 2

COLTS gained revenge for losing the league title to Arrowheads to win the Rutter Cup at Garden Walk.

The Stevenage side had won the title on the final day of the season by beating Colts, but the Bedfordshire side gave manager Graham Barham a perfect birthday present by lifting the trophy.

Austen settled the quicker and made the early running, stretching the Potton defence only to waste a couple of chances shooting high or wide with only Michael Duff to beat in the Potton goal.

Once Potton settled they defended stoutly and before the half was over they took control mounting attacks of their own, with Leo Churms and Daniel Grinstead pulling the strings in the middle of the park.

Austen, however thwarted any attempts by Bradleigh Smith and Stevie Thomas leading the Potton front line.

The second half saw both teams playing attacking football with Zac Rowe and Nick Cooper making headway down the Potton flanks supported by full-backs Jack Aris and James Ellison, who both had fantastic games.

But it was Austen who took the lead when a forward went around the Potton defence and planted the ball past the wrong footed Duff.

Potton did not panic and showed great character, with captain Matt Gedney keeping the team calm.

They levelled the scores when Grinstead shot from the edge of the box, with his shot rebounding to Thomas who netted the rebound.

This lifted the whole Potton team and the winning goal came when Nick Cooper's corner swung in and James Cooper came up from the back to head in.

Austen made changes, but Potton were not prepared to throw it away although man-of-the-match Michael Duff still had to make two important stops in the Potton goal to seal the victory.

Austen: Melwyn Auburn, Craig Brooks, Marc Chittenden, Craigh Compton, Liam Connolly, Gareth Drey, Philip Fisher, Robert Hemmings, Ben Horlock, Matt Jackson, Alan Kenney. Robin Lucas, Ross Randall, Oliver Roworth, Thomas Roworth, Steven Soards, Josh Watson.

Potton Colts: Jack Aris, Daniel Barham, Leo Churms, James Cooper, Nicholas Cooper, Ben Cutmore, Michael Duff, James Ellison, Thomas English, Matthew Gedney, Dean Giddings, Daniel Grinstead, Sam Lewis, Zacharia Rowe, Bradleigh Smith, Stevie Thomas.

- The first Crow League Cup finals day takes place at Garden Walk on Sunday, with three games scheduled.

The under-14 final between Stevenage Borough Blues and Baldock Town Knights kicks off at 10.30am, and is followed at 1pm by the under-15 final which sees Letchworth Garden City Reds play Wymondley Park.

The day is rounded off at 3pm when Bedwell Rangers face Letchworth Garden City Yellows in the under-16 final.

The following weekend sees the under-11, under-12 and under-13 finals at Garden Walk.