What a night of football for Team Carmel as our U19 boys travelled to St Joseph’s Hebburn for a thrilling County Cup quarter‑final showdown. The long journey was well worth it, with the squad delivering a performance full of character, determination and teamwork.
A tricky start on a difficult pitch didn’t faze Carmel for long. The breakthrough came when Dan Bell flicked in a sharp finish at the front post after a beautifully whipped free‑kick from James Pomfret. Confidence grew quickly, and Bell soon struck again—reacting first to a loose ball after another dangerous Pomfret set piece to double the lead.
St Joseph’s pulled one back from the penalty spot, but Carmel responded immediately. Just before half‑time, Carmel were awarded a penalty of their own, and Bell stepped up with calm precision to slot it into the corner—completing a first‑half hat‑trick and sending Carmel into the break 3–1 ahead.
The hosts battled back in the second half and managed to level the game at 3–3, but two huge saves from Connor kept Carmel in the fight and pushed the tie to a nail‑biting penalty shootout.
Connor delivered again with a crucial stop, leaving the pressure on our five takers—James P, Olly H, Zak B, Charlie C and Charlie M—each of whom showed incredible composure to convert their penalties. Their confidence secured a dramatic 5–4 win and a well‑deserved place in the County Cup semi‑finals.
A fantastic team effort, full of resilience and heart.
Team Carmel march on once again!