Jo Richardson 1 Roding Valley 0
(Essex U16s Schools Cup Final)

THIS season's U16s Alan Child Cup final saw a Roding Valley team that made the final last year as an U15s side.

They faced Jo Richardson, a newly established school who were making their debut in an Essex Cup final.

Both sides boasted an impressive run-in to the final, scoring many goals and conceding few.

The first half was an extremely tough affair.

With neither side willing to give much away there was little action and despite a few half chances the deadlock never looked like being broken.

The Roding Valley goalkeeper had to be replaced midway through the first half after a brave challenge that resulted in a broken nose.

The substitute keeper's first job was to pick the ball out of his net after a low drive found the bottom corner only to be adjudged offside.

In the second half Jo Richardson began to get on top of the game working the ball into wide areas and keeping it nicely.

With ten minutes to go their dominance finally paid off when Tyrone Scarlett out-paced the last defender and coolly slotted the ball passed the onrushing keeper.

The remainder of the game was tense for Jo Richardson as Roding Valley threw everything at them but they managed to hold strong and defend the lead.

Epping Youth A 0 Abbey Youth Falcons 7
(Harlow League U10s) ABBEY Falcons are on a roll and continued their unbeaten run this season with a comfortable victory over Epping.

The Waltham Abbey side, are jointly managed by Mark Smith and Glen Moulder with Andy Dangerfield as chief coach.

Colebrook 4 Ridgeway Rovers 1
(Echo League U12s) COLEBROOK are now just one game and three points away from winning their division the Echo league after toppling Ridgeway Rovers.

A hat-trick from new boy Dion Bishop and a volley from Luke Macdonald allowed Colebrook to take maximum points in a game that was far from one-sided.

In fact, Ridgeway were a goal up at half time, but an outstanding second half performance from Bishop saw him score a hat-trick and then turn provider to McDonald.

While it has not been plain sailing for Chigwell-based Colebrook, six wins and a draw has seen them rise up the table to be transformed into Premier League contenders in just two months.

The championship will now be decided between Colebrook and Byron, in the last league match, at Byron's Hainault ground on April 20.

Byron, who also have just the one league match to play, currently lead Colebrook by a single point.

Winchmore Hill 2 Ryan FC 3
(Cheshunt League Cup semi-final U13s) RYAN took the game to the home side from the start and Lyle Della-Verde scored a hat-trick in the first-half.

In the second half Ryan dropped the tempo and Hill scored with a free kick on 55minutes.

Ryan were forced to defend hard as the minutes ticked away but they couldn't stop Winchmore Hill scoring a second goal almost on the final whistle.

Ryan now play Southgate in the final.