English through to 2015 Baltic Amadeus Trophy semi finals

The English U17 men’s team secured their spot in the 2015 Baltic Amadeus Trophy semi finals as group runners-up in Lithuania.

After a solid performance, including a second half shutout, in a 10-5 (3-3, 3-2, 2-0, 2-0) defeat of Polish club side Lodz, the English sealed their progress with victory against Finland before a narrow defeat to group winners Moldova.

The English showed good character to recover from a losing position against the Finns, turning round a 5-4 half-time deficit to seal a 7-6 (1-2, 3-3, 2-0, 1-1) victory.

Having both scored hat-tricks against Lodz, Joe Jenkins-Delf and Freddie Pearson were on target again against Finland, with Welsh Wanderers player Jenkins-Delf bagging another hat-trick and Invicta’s Pearson adding another two.

Sedgefield’s John Pratt got in on the act with a hat-trick in the crunch tie against Moldova, but drawing the first period and winning the third was not enough for the courageous English side as they succumbed to an 8-6 (2-2, 3-1, 0-1, 3-2) defeat.

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Group Stage Stats

England 10 – 5 Lodz (Poland)

English goalscorers: Joe Jenkins-Delf (3), Freddie Pearson (3), Ben Ray (2), Aaron Mason, Bradley Watts

England 7 – 6 Finland

English goalscorers: Joe Jenkins-Delf (3), Freddie Pearson (2), Alex Waller, Nick Armitage-Bond

Moldova 8 – 6 England

English goalscorers: John Pratt (3), Joe Jenkins-Delf, Alex Waller, Ben Ray

England U17 Team for 2015 Baltic Amadeus Trophy

1. Bill Moores (gk) – City of Manchester
2. Nick Armitage-Bond – Cheltenham
3. Ben Ray (cpt) – City of Manchester
4. John Pratt – Sedgefield
5. Bradley Watts – Exeter
6. Freddie Pearson – Invicta
7. George Davies – Solihull
8. Aaron Mason – Sedgefield
9. Alex Waller – Exeter
10. Tom Hutchens – Exeter
11. Jack Cutting – Exeter
12. Joe Jenkins-Delf – Welsh Wanderers
13. Toby Eve (gk) – Exeter

Head Coach: Ant McGuinness
Assistant Coach: Norman Leighton