Under-17s Defeated

Peter Brabrook's under-17s lost 2-0 to Ipswich Town in the semi-final of the FA Premier Youth Academy play-offs on Saturday.

Peter regarded the Suffolk side as the strongest of the potential semi final opponents - and so it proved.

The game was played on a warm Chadwell Heath day in front of an enthusiastic crowd which included the chairman Terry Brown and fellow directors.

Says Peter: "It was disappointing to have lost but we created enough chances to have won.

"Young Billy Mehmet went through with only the keeper to beat but trod on the ball when he could have scored, and he might have done better with a header.

"Freddie Eastwood had a good chance and Elliott Ward had a great volley saved off the line.

"We were better than them in the first half but we defended poorly for the goals.

"If we'd scored the first goal we might have won the game comfortably.

"They only had one attack in the first half and scored from it but as the game went on we threw caution to the wind and pushed people further forward.

"There were a few people that said their first goal definitely didn't go over the line and with the second one it came off the keeper's chest when he should have saved it and they scored from the rebound.

"Maybe that first goal affected the game but we still had a full game to get a goal or two and on the day it just wasn't to be.

"We squandered so many chances it was untrue. But I said to the lads they've had a good season and they shouldn't be too despondent.

"The Ipswich people are saying it is the best side they have had for seven or eight years but in my opinion, and without being biased, we are better than them.

Peter joked that he would spend the afternoon watching the FA Cup final with his 1964 winners' medal round his neck, saying: "You won't all get one of these today!"

Team: Jackson, Khan (Akinsette), Ward, Johnson, Dean, Allen, Cascione, Ritchie (Pearson), D.McMahon, Eastwood, Mehmet (Fletcher).