Midland Counties Youth Championship Huntingdonshire U18 5 Shropshire U18 2 A SUPERB hat-trick from Jamie Osbourne was the highlight of an excellent win for Huntingdonshire U18s at Rowley Park, St Neots. Those watching could have been forgiven for thinkin

Midland Counties Youth Championship

Huntingdonshire U18 5 Shropshire U18 2

A SUPERB hat-trick from Jamie Osbourne was the highlight of an excellent win for Huntingdonshire U18s at Rowley Park, St Neots.

Those watching could have been forgiven for thinking the visitors had also turned up as spectators as Hunts came out of the traps with all guns blazing.

Inside the first 25 minutes, they had scored three, hit the bar and had a good effort ruled out for offside, though Shropshire did pull two goals back to claim a foothold in a pulsating game.

A brilliant through ball from Aaron Petty split the Shropshire defence after just 88 seconds for Osborne to collect the opening goal.

Hunts captain Gibson Kupfama was denied by visiting goalkeeper Shaun Biddulph before Petty rattled the crossbar.

On 19 minutes, Osborne took a perfectly weighted return pass from Robert Devoy to score the second goal and Petty made it three when he ran from the halfway line past three defenders to score a great solo goal.

What had looked like a one-sided contest to this stage suddenly changed as within five minutes, Shropshire scored twice.

Poor defending at a corner allowed Kieran Garrett a tap-in before Lori Tabata pulled another back with a solo run and finish.

It was then back to the other end as visiting keeper Biddulph was called upon to make an outstanding save to deny Jon Hall but he was then beaten at his near post as Osborne claimed his hat-trick goal to make it 4-2 at the break.

Hunts started the second half in determined fashion and only two outstanding saves by Biddulph, who was seeing most of the action, denied Devoy and Hall.

A piece of individual skill by Devoy on 68 minutes effectively ended the contest when he lashed in from 30 yards.

Thereafter, the visiting goalkeeper again denied Devoy and substitute Sam Makansi to keep the score at a reasonable level.

Following the game, Jon Hall, pictured, was presented with his county cap by George Randles, vice chairman of the Hunts Youth FA and president of the Midland Counties Youth Championships.

Hall completed 15 games for Huntingdonshire to win the honour.