Hail Hugo as Villa claim late SFAI trophy final success
Villa team and management pictured after winning the Subway SFAI Under 14 National Trophy final with a 1-0 win over Leixlip in a game played in Evergreen.
Hugo Thompson was the match winning hero for Villa as they claimed a brilliant SFAI National Under 14 Trophy title with a superb 1-0 win over DDSL side Leixlip United at Evergreen FC in Kilkenny on Sunday afternoon last.
Thompson popped up with the priceless winner in the final minute of normal time when it looked certain that the game would need extra-time to decide the overcome or even penalties, but the centre forward was in the right place to fire home James Stokes' teasing right-wing cross.
The same two players had combined in their thrilling semi-final success over Dungarvan, as the team sponsored by SuperValu Kilbarry and Photodreams were left celebrating a tremendous success on that occasion by two late goals.
This was just as tight an affair as the Kilrush Park battle, as neither side was willing to give an inch throughout, with the work rate of both teams, especially Villa, incredible in the midfield area during a tricky spell in the first-half.
The opening chance on ten minutes fell to the workLAB Connors Park outfit as Lukasz Adamiec set up Freddie Breen, but the Leixlip keeper made a fine save before Joey Robinson fired in a shot that was well handled by the netminder.
Leixlip almost took the lead on 25 minutes, only for a brilliant last-ditch Adamiec challenge denied a certain goal as the work rate from the Villa midfielders, Kayden English, Max Chren, and Yago Barbosa, all immense throughout in a first-half shaded by Villa.
It took a magnificent save to deny Villa the lead on 45 minutes when Chren picked out the run of James Stokes out on the right, who cut inside before unleashing a powerful drive that was superbly tipped over before Kajtek Splawski saved at the feet of the Leixlip striker at the other end two minutes later.
After Leixlip missed a great chance on 57 minutes when their winger headed wide from close range, Stokes was just off target with a tremendous effort from distance two minutes later as the game ebbed and flowed into the final ten minutes.
With the Villa defence defending resolutely throughout, the golden moment arrived for them in the final minute. James Stokes dispossessed the Leixlip left full-back with a high press before playing a wonderful low cross into the centre where Hugo Thompson was on hand to fire left-footed to the net.
After three minutes of added time, the final whistle sounded to wild celebrations on the pitch as young Villa players rejoiced a glorious moment as they claimed National glory with Max Chren receiving the trophy after the game and James Stokes picking up the player of the match award. A fantastic triumph.
Kajtek Splawski, Yago Barbosa, Maksym Indiuchenko, Aidan Kelly, Rhys Hughes, Max Chren, James Stokes, Kayden English, Hugo Thompson, Freddie Breen, Joey Robinson, Callum Byrne, Giovanni Annecchiarico, Leonardo Andre Chauque Soto, Lukasz Adamiec, Ethan Szeflinski, Filippo Annecchiarico, Ben Griffin
Sean Breslin, Richard Frisby, Eoin Lanigan
