Hunts U16s Downed In Season Curtain-Raiser

Ron Redmond Trophy Final

Huntingdonshire U16 0 Bedfordshire U16 6

BEDFORDSHIRE continued their dominance of the traditional pre-season curtain-raiser with a dominant display against Hunts.

Played in memory of the former Bedfordshire County FA stalwart, Beds have long looked invincible in the match - and they kept that record intact with a fourth-successive victory.

Three goals in the last 13 minutes by gifted Bedfordshire substitute Liam Toomey gave him a notable hat-trick to add to an earlier goal and left the host side ragged and well-beaten.

The visitors scored after two minutes when Martin Collins found Jamie Rowlett and his early cross bounced off the body of the home goalkeeper to leave Lee Neale with a simple tap-in.

Hunts responded with a Kurtis Webb shot before the same player then set up Aaran Mackay, who was denied a goal but a brilliant interception by Adam Adjendi. Mackay then had a header saved by Daniel Glass and the same player got the ball in the net from a Ben Lambert cross but his effort was ruled out by an offside flag.

There could have been further first half goals at either end with Ben Cartwright clearing off the line for Hunts and Oliver Medwynter bringing a full length save from Glass.

Bedfordshire's half time substitutions were to prove very significant - within four minutes of coming on Toomey netted his first.

Again Hunts rallied with Medwynter shooting just wide and Mackay wasting two good chances with weak finishes.

After 56 minutes Beds substitute Sheram Askar outpaced two defenders to make the score 3-0 and Toomey took over scoring three times in the last 13 minutes each time weaving magic in the area to leave defenders trailing.

Hunts manager Seb Hayes will have some work to do with his squad before they begin their league programme in October.