Haverhill Rovers 0 Buntingford Town Youth 2 TOWN S youth team reached their third final of the season as they won the Eastern Youth League play-off semi-final against the South Division winners Haverhill Rovers last Wednesday. The victory means that Town

Haverhill Rovers 0

Buntingford Town Youth 2

TOWN'S youth team reached their third final of the season as they won the Eastern Youth League play-off semi-final against the South Division winners Haverhill Rovers last Wednesday.

The victory means that Town will now play the winner of the Mildenhall Town against Blackstones game in the overall championship final at Thetford Town FC on Monday.

The visitors got of to a flying start and took the lead in just the third minute. John Bitting whipped in an inviting free kick for Will Turl to send a bullet header high into the net from 10 yards.

The hosts reacted well and had their best period of the game in the stages after this early goal. Stuart McHale made a smart diving stop to his right after a forward found space just inside the area and a long throw was scrambled away inside the six yard box.

Buntingford could easily have doubled their lead before half time; Ashley Townsend pressurised the keeper from a through ball enough to make him kick to Robbie Wilmott some 50 yards from goal and Wilmott hit a first time shot towards the empty net, but with the pitch being so hard, the ball bounced over the crossbar.

Tim Jarman's long throw was flicked on by Will Turl but no other player gambled to convert the flick and a similar situation moments later, this time from a corner, saw Ashley Townsend dummy the ball at the near post and the ball rolled right though the six yard box to be hacked off the line by a defender.

Another half chance fell to Luke Jones who miss-hit a shot towards the goal but the keeper allowed the ball to bounce in front of him and the ball came back off the face of the crossbar.

Town started the second half well and increased their lead within four minutes of the restart. Jack Bradshaw's left sided free kick was only half headed clear and Tom Malin lobbed an inch perfect pass over the home defence for Ashley Townsend to convert under the advancing keeper.

The visitors became even more determined with the hosts dropping their heads a little and Town went on to largely dominate the remainder of the game.

Robbie Wilmott reacted to a through ball quickest but the keeper blocked with his legs, Tim Jarman, Wilmott and David Cain all had good efforts just miss the target in the latter stages of the game as Town territorially maintained control to the final whistle.

- Town were unable to reach their fourth youth team final of the season last Thursday when they went down 3-0 at Waltham Abbey in the Eastern Junior Plate semi-finals.

Playing their second game in as many days Buntingford looked tired for long periods of the game and had to play the final 20 minutes with ten men due to an injury to Jack Bradshaw.

Abbey created some good chances throughout but took 35 minutes to open the scoring with a fine strike from 25 yards.

The visitors tried harder in the second half but never really looked to have any chance against a much fresher and sharper host team who scored from a close range header and a late penalty to conclude the scoring.

Town's attacking play was pretty ordinary throughout as they were unable to maintain any affective possession of the ball with Gary Christie coming closest to scoring late on but his close range effort was saved.