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Pro Touch debutants steal show with brilliant display
A TOP team of talented footballers made a triumphant debut on Saturday when they beat the Camden and Islington Year 8 District side at Market Road.
Players from the new Pro Touch Soccer Academy (PTSA) were playing their first ever match – just four weeks after being put together as a team.
The squad of 18 promising prospects were specially selected after impressing coaches during an open trial with the academy, which is aimed at helping disadvantaged youngsters make it as professional footballers.
With only two weeks basic training under their belt, the 12 to 14-year-olds were given the chance to strut their stuff in a competitive friendly against some of the best players that Camden and Islington has to offer.
Pro Touch got off to the perfect start when Charlie Fiander latched on to a well-weighted pass from Andrew Osei to fire them in front less than 10 minutes into the game.
The District team quickly rallied and found a way back in to the match when former PTSA triallist Crispin Tshibangu levelled the scores.
Hosts Pro Touch regained their advantage on the stroke of half time when central midfielder Gerard Chimboda survived appeals for offside to slot home from close range.
But an experienced District team again battled back to square the score line courtesy of a well-placed effort from Michael Dollo.
With the game tied at 2-2, the visitors were presented with the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot. With Tshibangu destined to score his second of the game, PTSA captain and goalkeeper Mark Halpin pulled off a brilliant save to keep the scores level.
The reprieve didn’t last long as substitute Devon Timms fired the Camden and Islington side into the lead for the first time in the game.
But within minutes the scores were level yet again when star striker Devon Ossei-Manyan netted the goal his impressive performance deserved.
Gerard scored his second of the game to give Pro Touch the lead for the third time in the game, before player of the match Dwaine O’achie added a decisive fifth.
In the dying minutes of the match, hat-trick hero Gerard completed his timely treble with what was surely the goal of the game.
The talented youngster chipped the keeper from the edge of the area to seal a memorable 6-3 victory.
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