NORTHAMPTONSHIRE FA DAVID JOYCE CUP FINAL
Thursday March 31st 2022, 7.45pm
Sixfields Stadium
BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS UNDER 18S 2
Ronnie Gibbon 22
Munashe Tichawona 53
NORTHAMPTON TOWN UNDER 18S 5
Miguel Ngwa 11
Kenny Ndefo 26
Reuben Wyatt 36
Ethan Lack 48
Jack Connor 81
Cobblers: Callum Cook, Brad Smith-Howes, Tom Cartwright, Courtney Lashley (sub Rico Duggan 46), Dylan Hill, Ethan Lack (sub Kai O’Keeffe 81), Reuben Wyatt, Miguel Ngwa (sub Reece Irwin 85), Kenny Ndefo (sub Jacob Scott 63), Jack Connor
Sub not used: Tom Ladyman
Northampton Town Under 18s won the David Joyce Cup with a 5-2 success over Bugbrooke St Michaels on Thursday night.
Miguel Ngwa, Kenny Ndefo, Reuben Wyatt, Ethan Lack and Jack Connor scored the young Cobblers’ goals in front of 968 fans at Sixfields.
Bugbrooke, who are top of and have a 100% record in the Northants Senior Youth League South Division, were reduced to 10 men very early on when captain Ben Dimond tripped Ndefo as he ran through on goal.
The Cobblers made their man advantage count in the 11th minute, Ngwa checking back in the box and firing in low at the near post.
However, their opponents were back on level terms midway through the first half when Ronnie Gibbon converted from a wide free-kick.
The parity did not last long as Ndefo restored the Cobblers' lead four minutes later, finishing off the near post from his strike partner Connor’s pass.
Wyatt doubled the advantage when he swept home from a deflected cross 10 minutes before the break, and Lack hooked home a fourth after Bugbrooke failed to clear a corner early in the second period.
Bugbrooke pulled a goal back a few minutes later, though, Munashe Tichawona looping a header into the far top corner.
Badgers’ comeback hopes were strengthened further soon after when Wyatt was shown a second yellow card, making it 10 against 10.
But Connor made sure of a Cobblers’ win late on, capitalising on a moment of defensive hesitancy and lifting the ball over goalkeeper James Ward.
The youth team make the long journey to Newport County in the Merit League on Saturday.
BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 5
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (4) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 3
CORNERS: (1) 6
FOULS: (6) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0