Cornwall u18s 2, Durham u18s 1

TWO goals from Helston Athletic striker Matt Buchan ensured that Cornwall made history in reaching the first ever FA County Youth Cup final on Saturday.

A close range effort and a second half penalty from Buchan, alongside outstanding displays from Falmouth Town’s Olly Walker and Porthleven’s Joel Allen, sealed the famous victory under drizzly skies at St Blazey.

Durham enjoyed plenty of possession and produced the better passing, but for all their promise, rarely threatened Luke Gwillam in Cornwall’s goal.

The home keeper had to be alert early on to punch clear a cross with two attackers lurking at the back post, before a brilliant, drilled cross by the diminutive Neil Milburn was headed wide at the far post by Gareth McMahon.

A pin-point long ball from Allen released Josh Penrose down the right and he forced a corner and Cameron Turner’s dangerous set piece was tipped away from under the crossbar by the Durham keeper.

The Duchy took the lead midway through the half when Turner released Joe Adkins, who made in-roads down the left and whipped in a perfect low cross for Buchan to convert from six yards out.

A breathless passage of play almost produced a second goal just before the break.

Walker won the ball with a fine sliding tackle inside his own half, then burst down the left wing, beat two defenders and crossed the ball which was sliced just wide by a covering defender.

From the corner, Turner’s delivery was headed wide by Adkins.

Durham pressed hard in the opening 20 minutes of the second period but the home side scored a crucial second on 67 minutes.

Adkins, a willing runner throughout the match, raced on to a long ball and was brought down just inside the penalty area by a covering defender. Buchan held his nerve to tuck the ball away in the bottom left hand corner.

Durham pulled one back through McMahon 12 minutes from time, before Gwillam produced an acrobatic stop to deny Milburn in a nail-biting finale.

David Latham was sent off in the dying moments for a rash tackle no doubt born of frustration, as Cornwall held on for a memorable victory.

They will now meet Middlesex in the final after they beat Oxfordshire 7-2 on Sunday. The provisional date for the final is on Saturday, April 8.

Cornwall: Luke Gwillam, Josh Otto, James Heywood (Max Roberts 80m), Joel Allen, Charlie Hambly (capt), Cameron Turner, Josh Penrose, Ed Harrison, Matt Buchan, Joe Adkins, Olly Walker. Subs not used: Jack Webber, Tiago Souares, Jack Rapsey, Dan Steadman.

Packet Pick: Charlie Hambly – composure personified at the heart of Cornwall’s defence