YOUTH CUP REPORT | Athersley Rec 2-8 Chester

A convincing win and a fantastic performance moved the Young Blues into Round One of the FA Youth Cup in Barnsley.

Captain Will Goodwin, Regan Rubin and sub Jack Gibson were all at the double – with Jake Hampson and Tom Ruffer also getting on the scoresheet.

Calum McIntyre’s side dominated the contest from the off and led inside just six minutes. Goodwin beat Athersley’s keeper, Ross Pritchard, to a ball on the edge of the box before squaring for Hampson to slam home from inside the box.

The confidence grew as the half progressed and the second goal arrived, courtesy of the skipper, as Hampson turned provider to set up Goodwin who fired into the back of the net.

Ten minutes later, two became three. Great work again in the build up ended with Goodwin’s ball across the six-yard box being parried by Pritchard and enabling Rubin to tap the ball in.

Pritchard was caught on the stroke of half time, losing it on the edge of the area to Rubin who was composed and strong as he teed up Goodwin to lob the onrushing defender.

The one-way traffic continued in the second half as the goalie denied Hampson and Goodwin before Rubin’s directness on the counter found that fifth goal, finding the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

After five goals in over an hour, the last five in this match would all follow in the final twenty minutes.

First, Tom Ruffer found the bottom corner with real precision as Goodwin added yet another assist to his name. Then, Athersley striker Alex Hutchinson found space inside the area to sidefoot past Josh Schofield for a consolation goal.

However, sub Jack Gibson was to make his mark with a well-taken brace in the final ten. Hampson was at the forefront of both goals, as his corner was nodded home by the forward at the near post – before he pounced on the wingers free kick in added time after it had struck the post – converting the rebound to make it 8-1.

Hutchinson converted a penalty deep into stoppage time before the whistle sounded and McIntyre and co had to start preparations for a trip to Morpeth Town in Round One!

CHESTER FC: Schofield, Kucharski, Burke, Hall (Bell 62), Young, Edwards (Gibson 79), Ruffer, Hughes, Hampson, Rubin (Lowe 83), Goodwin.

SUBS NOT USED: Sutton, Buckley.

SCORERS: Hutchinson 78 & 90+3; Hampson 6, Goodwin 25 & 45+1, Rubin 35 & 63, Ruffer 73, Gibson 88 & 90+1.