Leadbeater scores late to win College the Cup

After a hard-fought and nail-biting encounter, the team from Milton Keynes overcame the side from York College/i2i Academy with a final scoreline of 3-2, thanks to a last minute winner from man of the match Alfie Leadbeater.

Following a tense first half that saw the sides go into the interval locked at 0-0, MK opened the scoring through David-Ray Marstaller before Leadbeater found the net for his first of the day to give the College’s side a seemingly unassailable 2-0 lead.

However, with 11 minutes to go, the side from York found the net to halve the lead before completing an unlikely comeback to level the scores and set up the tie for a nervy last few moments.

With the threat of extra time and penalties looming large, it took a moment of true class and composure from Leadbeater to cancel out the comeback and break the hearts of the York-based academy, finding the net in the 90th minute.

Looking ahead, the MK side now face their second major final in a week when they travel to Doncaster for the League Play-off Final.

Principal Julie Mills said: “The whole team has done the College proud with their success in the final.”