FC Bascome 2 Warwick Football Academy 2 (FC Bascome win 5-4 on penalties)

FC Bascome lifted the Under-18 Charlie Marshall Cup after coming through a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Warwick Football Academy at Somerset Cricket Club on Saturday.

After a goalless first half, FC Bascome took the lead in the 54th minute through Mosias Mills but Warwick equalised through an own goal from Isai Gibbons ten minutes later. Zachary McGuire put Bascome back in front in the 68th minute before James Cooper again drew the sides level with a wonderful volley in the 82nd minute.

That sent the game to penalties, with McGuire scoring the crucial spot kick to the delight of his Bascome team-mates.

FC Bascome started off brightly on the ball but Warwick slowly grew into the first half, with Jah’Zion Taylor and Xahvi DeRosa instrumental in anything they attempted going forward. Taylor had a few efforts from distance and DeRosa dragged one or two shots wide.

Bascome fashioned their best two chances of the first half in the final five minutes. First, Isai Gibbons was picked out nicely on the left by midfielder Khari Sharrieff. His low cross found Jordan King in the middle, but the forward took a heavy touch, allowing Warwick defender Luke Horan to intercept and clear.

Just before half time, quick passing between Mosias Mills and King saw Mills fire a ball across the six-yard area to Micah Doran. He struck towards goal, but Warwick keeper Curtis Jackson made a smart save to palm it away from danger.

The second half sprang to life early on and Warwick had a plethora of half-chances without really troubling Bascome goalkeeper Ethan Adderley.

Against the run of play, Bascome opened the scoring with a moment of magic from a set piece. Mills, shooting from parallel to the right edge of the penalty area, smashed a free kick from about 25 yards past Jackson at his near post.

Warwick’s James Cooper, who was on the wrong end of a penalty shoot-out for Robin Hood against Somerset Eagles in the Shield Final two days ago, played the pivotal role in Warwick’s equaliser. He played a ball into the danger area and Gibbons diverted the ball into his own net from close range.

Less than five minutes after conceding, Bascome regained the lead. A free kick from Mills near halfway was flicked on in the direction of Zachary McGuire, who controlled and fired into the near post past Jackson, despite appeals for offside.

Bascome should have killed the game 15 minutes from time when Mills was fed into space by a long pass from midfielder James Morrison, and his precise cross picked out Doran, who missed from six yards.

Warwick pounced on that chance eight minutes before the end with a corner by Heris Ziai picking out Cooper, who smashed a terrific volley past Adderley.

Both teams went for the win in a frantic ending but the contest went to penalties, with Warwick shooting first.

Mills, who plays in the senior league with Devonshire Cougars, missed the first penalty high for Bascome. The next eight penalties were all converted, leaving Warwick’s Luke Horan stepping up to his side’s fifth penalty knowing a goal would give his side the win.

However, his kick crashed off the crossbar and gave FC Bascome’s Khari Sharrieff the chance to send the shoot-out into sudden death, which he duly did.

Keori Binns-Leverock then put his penalty wide to give McGuire the opportunity to win t for FC Bascome, which he did by placing his shot into the roof of the net.

Scorers

FC Bascome: Mills 54, McGuire 68

Warwick Football Academy: Gibbons og 64, Cooper 82

TEAMS (Starting XI)

FC Bascome: Ethan Adderley, Isai Gibbons, Daniel Morris, Jeon Wolfe, Kydan Browne, Micah Doran, James Morrison, Jack Fischer, Zachary McGuire, Mosias Mills, Khari Sharrieff

Warwick FA: Curtis Jackson, D’Ari Coddington, Michael Madeiros, Jah’Zion Taylor, Tokia Bean, Kimani Davis, James Cooper, Keori Binns-Leverock, Reza Ziai, Luke Horan, Xhavi DeRoza.

Referee: Cecoy Robinson