A devastating second half performance from the Arsenal youths saw them through to the FA Youth Cup final and Town’s lads out. In the first half it had looked like Town would win, but only a fabulous display from Darren Kelly prevented the scoreline being more in favour of the Londoners.
It was a nervy start from both sides with the game played at 500-miles-an-hour. First real chance was after eight minutes when Thomas crossed, Artun cleared straight up the the air and a combination of Kelly, Artun and several Arsenal attackers sent the ball to Volz who ought to have done better with his shot from eight yards. Sadly for Arsenal he hit it wide.
At the other Ambrose tried a looping effort with Arsenal keeper Holloway out of his goal after clearing. The shot gave the keeper a fright, but sailed over.
Arsenal went ahead after 12 minutes when Volz struck a shot into the left corner of Kelly’s goal after good work from Pennant. It was exactly the start Town didn’t want.
A minute later Israel was booked for throwing the ball away needlessly when it was a Town throw-in.
Town came back on terms on 18 minutes when Darren Bent sent a glorious cross in from the right. Matt Bloomfield sent it goalwards with an impeccable header with Holloway nowhere. It was a superb goal and typical of the style shown by the youngsters this season.
Darren Bent within a whisker of scoring a second when he flicked a long ball from Kelly. Bent was unmarked and perhaps didn’t realise quite how much time he had and rushed a header when he could have taken a lot longer over it.
Town were gradually settling into their game and a number of the Arsenal players were beginning to lose their cool. Pennant, however was still looking a danger every time Arsenal broke.
Darren Bent again came close when he held off a defender but couldn’t beat Holloway. He regained the ball, but with several Arsenal defenders in attendance he couldn’t get another go in at goal.
Snowdon nearly put the ball past his own keeper as a cross came in from the left. From the resulting corner Sidwell hit a shot which Kelly tipped over excellently. From that corner Volz hit the ball over.
Dickinson went close with 11 minutes of the first half left when he hit a spinning, looping, confusing effort which only just went past Holloway’s post. At the other end Volz only just went wide with a shot as a corner was cleared.
Snowdon atoned for his earlier error when he took the ball from Aldiere as an Arsenal freekick almost left him in the clear. Pennant put in another good cross, but Artun got there before the on-rushing Arsenal players and headed it out. Kelly caught the cross well.
On 44 Bent made it two for Town. Ambrose sent in a low cross and the unmarked Bent met the ball and sent the ball back across Holloway and into the net. Town almost made it three when Ambrose almost found Bent.
An entertaining half ended with Town having had the best of the possession, but Arsenal perhaps having more chances. However, it was Town who took theirs with Bent looking particularly impressive.
At half-time Arsenal brought on Carlin Itonga and Jermaine Brown for Israel and Volz. Pennant was moved into a wider role on the right with Itonga joining Aliadiere in attack.
Snowdon cleared the ball off the line from a Chorley header before the Town goal lived a charmed life. First Itonga bore down on goal and hit a shot from eight yards. Kelly reacted brilliantly and tipped the ball on to the bar. Seconds later an Arsenal shot was deflected on to the bar and Kelly cleared up.
Town were under a bit of pressure and Kelly again did well when he put a Pennant freekick round the post. Kelly again did well when he rushed out to beat Thomas to the ball after an excellent cross field ball from Pennant.
Kelly was proving the man of the match with a series of saves from Pennant, Thomas, Itonga and practically everyone else on the Arsenal team. Particularly impressive was a save from Itonga, flowed by a save from the rebound and then a catch from the next ball in.
Kelly’s antics were getting the Town crowd going and the shouts of Blue Army were ringing round Portman Road. Darren Ambrose hit a shot over after a well-taken freekick across the field from Bloomfield. With 26 minutes left Steve Burton was replaced with Matt Richards.
It was all hands to the pumps at the back with Arsenal piling on the pressure, but eventually the Arsenal possession told. A cross came in from the right, the Town defence all missed the ball and Ricketts slotted home. It was a goal Arsenal deserved, but it was a bad goal to concede. Kelly was injured as the goal was scored, but was OK to carry on.
Kelly was back in action again as Itonga and Thomas bore down on goal. Thomas tried to put the ball past him, but the Town keeper took the ball from his feet and held it. Just three minutes later Itonga hit another shot and Kelly again made an excellent save.
The barrage continued and Kelly made another good save from Aliadiere. Town took off Dickinson and brought on Matt Robinson.
With it almost all Arsenal Aliadiere scored their third. His quick, mazy run left him Kelly to beat and he did so with ease.
With nine minutes to go Ian Westlake was replaced with Mark Mayes.
With less than a minute of normal time remaining Richards put over a cross which was missed by the Arsenal defence. However there was no Town man there to put it home.
Four minutes were signalled by the fourth official, but Town couldn’t get the goal they needed to take it into extra-time. It was a fine run from the Tractor Kids, but in the end Arsenal proved too good a side despite a fantastic performance in goal from Kelly.
Kelly, Artun, Snowdon, Bonwick, Beevers, Westlake (Mayes), Bloomfield, Ambrose, Bent, Burton (Richards), Dickinson (Robinson). Unused: Hulyer, Chaffey.