Our Menston Under 13’s suffered a heartbreaking last minute cup final defeat after clawing their way back from 3-0 down, levelling only to see Bingley Juniors snatch a winner with virtually the last kick of the game at Oakworth on a blisteringly hot, sunny morning.
The game started in the worst possible way for Menston, with Bingley scoring with their first attack. The first half settled into a scrappy affair with both teams struggling on a bare, baked pitch. Chances came and went for both teams, the Menston goal dominated by the imposing figure of Noah (comfortably the tallest in our team). At the back Luke, Nate, Harry, Hendrix and Ollie kept the Bingley attack at arms length, the high line demanded by the coaches meant a lot of longer balls ran through to our keeper.

In midfield Robert, Captain Archie, Marcus, Harry and Alfie worked tirelessly to get the ball down and play our usual passing game, and Oscar and the 2 Ollies up front always looked a threat- all these players interchanging with rolling subs helping keep players fresh in the energy sapping conditions.

The second half started as badly as the first as we conceded a second goal, again with their first attack, and not long afterwards a third. Time ticked into the 70th minute and a free kick was awarded to Menston, to the left of the penalty area but far enough out to pose no immediate danger. However as Archie took the free kick into the penalty area the vagaries of the well baked pitch spat the ball high in the air and over the keeper into the net. Not our most cultured goal but enough to raise hope. Oscar tucked a nice second away and nerves started to shred in the Bingley team. When Alfie raced on to a through ball and slotted the equaliser it seemed the comeback was on, and after a full team celebration pile-on the game restarted. Fatigue probably played a roll but a neat run was finished off by Bingley and it was they, rather than us that lifted the trophy and the spoils. An end to end game that someone had to win, but it felt like football was the true winner. Next season can not come soon enough.