Goals, upsets and doubles at Christian football finals 

There were goals, upsets and double winners at the Norfolk Christian Football Youth League cup finals day in Norwich on Saturday (May 2).

The Under-16 cup final between league winners Heigham Park Rangers Eagles and league runners-up St John’s United kicked off the day at Sale Road.
 
Edmund Jones opened the scoring for St John’s early in the first half and before Eagles could recover he had doubled the lead. Jones completed a decisive hat-trick before half time and Alfie Dearmer added a fourth to complete a comprehensive win and an upset on the day.
 
Heigham Park Rangers Eagles consoled themselves by receiving the league winners trophy and captain Steven Kidd took the top goal scorer trophy with an incredible 55 goals, which was as many as any other team in the league had scored in total, and which is believed to be a league record.
 
The Under-14 finals followed on the 3G pitches at Thorpe High School with league winners and firm favourites ENYP taking on local rivals Heartsease Youth Black, who finished bottom of the league, and had pulled off some shock results to reach the final.
 
Roman Uhrig opened the scoring for ENYP and Joel Chatten added a second before half time against their diminutive opponents.  Heartsease fought hard but were often out-muscled and Owen Muir added a third in the second half to secure a league and cup double for ENYP.
 
U14 league top goal scorer was Thomas Musson of Heartsease Youth White with 29 goals.
 
The Under-12 cup final, also at Thorpe, was between league winners Lighthouse and league runners-up Brooke Adventurers.
 
Lighthouse took a first half lead through first Matthew Mutton and Joel Philpott added a second. Brooke came back into the game when league top goalscorer Charlie Mayhew added to his 15 league goals ten minutes from time to bring the game back to life. In the last minute Philpott scored his second goal, and a third for Lighthouse, to seal the league and cup double.

Referees for the games were Keith Morris and Chris Allen.
 
League chairman, Mike Culwick, said: “It was a great morning of football enjoyed by everyone. All the teams should be congratulated for the quality of football on display and also for the quality of friendship and fair play, which we expect from all who take part in the league.
 
“A special mention must go to the U16 teams, Heigham Park Rangers Eagles and St John’s United, who were all smiles at the end and came together for a joint photo. In a great act of sportsmanship, Heigham manager Steve Cooke also asked to be allowed to present the cup to his team’s closest rivals for several years, St John’s.

Pictured from the top, U16 league winners Heigham Park Rangers Eagles with cup winners St John's, middle U14 cup and league winners ENYP and, above, U12 cup and league winnes, Lighthouse.