Boro Under-13s retain Hull Youth League Cup

In a tense opening start to the game, both teams struggled to maintain possession with an excellent work ethic being shown by both sets of players.

It was East Riding who took an early lead, a ball into the box causing confusion in the defence giving the striker an easy finish into the bottom corner.

With half-time approaching and after a flurry of substitute activity, Finlay Hopper twisted one way and another to draw a foul from the defender.

With the box jam-packed, Reuben Taylor floated a delightful free-kick into the box with the ball dropping kindly for that man Hopper reacting quickest to toe-poke it into the bottom corner.

The second half was a war of attrition with both teams cancelling each other out, East Riding had a couple of chances towards the end but weak finishing let them down.

With time ticking down another free-kick from Taylor fell to the head of Jake Gallagher who was just unable to steer the ball goalbounds with the keeper in no man's land.

The full-time whistle sounded and both sets of players collapsed to the floor knowing that penalties were forthcoming.

Jay Shah produced a wonderful save from the first penalty to give Boro the early advantage.

With all players then being successful from the penalty spot for both teams (Southwick, Gallagher, Greening and Birley) it fell to Reuben Taylor to take the fifth and final spot-kick.

He strode up confidently and smashed the ball into the top left corner to send the Boro fans and manager Keith Taylor into raptures, the latter having coached many of the players since Under-Sevens.

The team would like to say a special thanks to sponsors Happy Futures who kindly sponsor the team every year and who kindly surprised every player with a gift at the end of the final.