Musker pupils' cup triumph

Rosemary Musker 1, Dereham Neatherd 0ROSEMARY Musker's U15 football team beat Dereham Neatherd School in the South Norfolk Cup final at Gaymers Sports Park in Attleborough.

Rosemary Musker 1, Dereham Neatherd 0

ROSEMARY Musker's U15 football team beat Dereham Neatherd School in the South Norfolk Cup final at Gaymers Sports Park in Attleborough.

This was a typical cup final with both teams starting nervously, making mistakes and lacking the composure to add a clinical finishing touch.

In the first half Rosemary Musker made all the running and with some great work in midfield by co-man of the match Elliot Smith they were looking the better side.

But it was always going to be a case of who would conjure up the moment of magic to seal the victory.

That magic came in the 30th minute of the first half after some sustained pressure from Musker resulted in a corner, which was whipped in by vice-captain and Norfolk player Ross Bailey and duly headed in by Musker captain and co-man of the match Ryan Conroy to make the score 1-0.

Musker continued in the ascendancy and, but for some excellent goalkeeping from the Dereham keeper and a lack a composure by the Musker forwards, the score could have been four or five to Rosemary Musker.

This victory is a fitting end to an outstanding season from this very talented team, who reached the quarter-finals of the National Cup - and deserved a County Cup final place, but for an administrative error that saw them omitted from the competition despite winning all of their matches.

Teacher Mick Piggott, who manages the team, said afterwards:“I am immensely proud of what these boys have achieved and they thoroughly deserve the title of 'county champions'.

“They have worked really hard for each other and the team spirit is brilliant. I am really looking forward to an even better year next season where we hope to finish off their schooling at Rosemary Musker with a tour to Spain.”