ANFA junior lift Cup

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 1: All Nepal Football Association groomed junior team lifted first Mayos Cup after beating West Lindsey Junior team in the last match of round-robin tournament played today at Dashrath Stadium. Bhaktapur Football Training Centre boys emerged second after playing1-1 draw with Nepal Fan Club (NFA).

The visiting English team of Yorkshire could not produce the fire today in a do or die situation that was like a final match for West Lindsey boys. With the defeat today, the visitors who were hoping to capture the Cup were hurtled into the third place.

The defeat today allowed Bhaktapur Football Training Club boys for the second place. Bhaktapur had earlier defeated the West Lindsey 4-1. ANFA junior team had secured full points having won all three matches in four-team round robin fixtures while Bhaktapur won one, drew one and lost one. Lindsey boys won one against NFA (7-2) and lost two while Nepal Football Academy players lost two matches and drew one match.

In today’s final round-robin battle, Lindsey boys were outplayed by high paced ANFA juniors. Their defenders had tough time checking the attacks from Ujjwal Lochan Shrestha who drew the first blood from visitors in the 16th minute of the first half. Shrestha who had hit the ball on cross bar on his first attempt scored in his second attempts when he took a scorching shot from ten yard within the penalty area. Shrestha who scored six individual goals in the tournament was later adjudged the best player. Mahesh Sarkar stretched ANFA’s lead in the first half injury time. Sarkar was fully assisted by non other than otherwise hardworking Lindsey custodian Scottie Ayers’s laziness.

The tired looking visitors who were not seemed accustomed to playing at wet and shoddy conditions of pitch, however, pulled back one in the 28th minute of the second half. Daley Snell capitalized a corner kick and headed home to lower the margin 2-1. But the pace, skills of local boys and shoddy pitch were too much for them and had to satisfy with a defeat that gave them third place.

The owner of Mayos Noodles and Vice President of FNCCI Rajendra Khetan later distributed prizes cups, medals to all the participants in the tournament that include the members of West Lindsey’s other members.