Boston United hit for six at the Scholars Ground…
REIGNING champions Walsall went goal crazy as they booked their place in the Midland Youth Cup final with a 6-0 victory over Boston United at The Scholars Ground tonight.Braces from Will Shorrock and Brendan Pooni with one apiece for Maziar Kouhyar and Nathan Owen have given the Saddlers the chance to defend their title against Basford United.
Boston had the first big chance of the half when Walsall’s Jamie Smith misjudged a long ball, allowing Kemal Yenibertiz to run clear but he could only fire wide of Dan Jezeph’s upright.
But Smith soon had a chance of his own and will feel he should have done better with a Will Shorrock corner that he powerfully headed wide.
Kouhyar was next to try his luck. After ghosting past the Boston defence, he dragged a left-footed effort wide.
Kouhyar’s warning wasn’t heeded by the visitors and after receiving the ball from Jordon Sangha around 25 yards out, he unleashed a thunderous strike which cannoned in off the woodwork to give the Saddlers the lead.
The Saddlers doubled their lead instantly with Shorrock producing a strike to rival Kouhyar’s for goal of the game. After good work down the Saddlers’ right, the ball reached Cameron Peters who flicked it up for the midfielder to volley into the top corner.
The third didn’t take long to arrive either. Nathan Owen’s fine turn and strike hit the foot of the post but Brendan Pooni was alert to fire home the rebound. But Owen did manage to get in on the act on the stroke of half-time when he lashed into the bottom corner to give the Saddlers an unassailable lead.
Tobias Hayles-Docherty replaced Kouhyar at the interval, while Ashley Maddocks took to the field in place of Peters as Neil Woods looked to rest some of his starlets ahead of Saturday’s league encounter with Burnley.
A fine interchange of passes between Sangha and Pooni presented the former with a chance, but his looped effort was well-held by Harry Payne in United’s goal.
Skipper Sangha embarked on a purposeful run at the heart of the Pilgrims’ defence before playing in Owen, unfortunately his shot was beaten away by Payne.
The Saddlers did find a fifth goal when Pooni danced down the right before feeding Shorrock inside the box, he jinked past the defender before firing across the keeper to complete his brace.
Pooni thought he’d added the sixth goal when he tapped home after Maddocks’ effort had been parried away but he was adjudged to be in an offside position.
King, who replaced Shorrock after his second, almost topped the lot when he rattled the crossbar from 30 yards despite slipping as he took the shot.
The sixth did arrive as Pooni demonstared his predatory instincts once again to fire home from close range and cap a brilliant performance by the Saddlers.
The youngsters will have to put their cup exploits on the backburner for now as they take on Burnley at Ray Hall Lane (11am kick-off) on Saturday needing a win to keep pace with the top two.
Walsall XI: Jezeph; Tonks, Smith, Roberts, Cockerill-Mollett; Sangha ©, Shorrock (King, 71), Owen, Kouhyar (Hayles-Docherty, 46); Peters (Maddocks, 56), Pooni
Boston XI: Payne; Gordon, Forth, Ross, Drummond; Evison (Hobbins, 50), Vince, Dykes ©, Floyd; Yenibertiz, Chavundra