Myles Ford reports: "With a 10am push back in Nottingham in the EH Tier 2 Plate final to prepare for, the team met on Friday afternoon for the bus trip north. Thanks to the support of the main committee we were able to stay overnight and due to some classic Armenian positivity and motivation it proved to be valuable team bonding time.

The boys used the journey to share their expectations for the game, what each other brought to the team and hearing inspiring messages from the old boys in the Pebbles thanks to Simon Smith (aka Ai Stormzy). After a suitably early lights out for the boys, Carlo hatched his masterplan, knowing that Surbiton would have never encountered anything like Noah ‘Gangster Pants’ Kenderick before releasing Jens Peters from the bench on a discombobulated back four.

Brighton started confidently despite Surbiton pressure, with quick passing across the back three and screens but an unforced error gifted Surbiton an early short-corner that was converted with a low drag-flick to put Brighton 1-0 down.

Despite the setback, our masterplan worked a treat with our first full attack on eight minutes. Jacob Ridley was released down the right, slipping an inside ball to Fintan Harman whose cross found Gangster Pants himself popping up on the far post to equalise. The game then settled as Brighton grew in confidence, Surbiton’s pacey forwards offering a threat on the break, forcing one vital save from Alex Eason, but Brighton increasingly dominated possession through Fintan, Stanley Liles and James Wood in midfield, Calvin Clarke-Roberts, Jamie Coles and Bryn Harman spreading the play in wide areas.

After going into the break at 1 -1, Surbiton came out of the blocks the faster and controlled possession without ever forcing a clear opportunity, but the game turned 10 minutes after the restart, Brighton grabbing a 3-1 lead with two goals in quick succession.

A beautifully worked left-slip short found Jacob with the vital deflection, then 90 seconds later Fintan pounced on a loose ball from close range after Stanley’s fine run got behind the defence on to the baseline.

Jens then put the game beyond doubt on 62 minutes with customary movement finding space in the D. Brighton finished the game comfortably as captain Fraser Cooper defended with typical authority, but in truth every player in the squad made valuable contributions to secure a fully-deserved 4-1 victory.

For the majority of the boys, the final marked their last competitive game as junior players and their conduct off the field and commitment on it has been a huge credit to the club. Most of the team joined at primary school and don’t attend schools with hockey programmes so their achievement is really down to the quality of coaching from Wendy Russell, Jon Royce and Jon Williams in their time at Brighton.

The Under-16 Boys management team would also like to thank the whole men’s section, especially the adults who play in the Pebbles, Rocks and Summer League teams, who have been so supportive of the boys development."

Brighton's Plate wining line up (pictured):

GK – Alex Eason
Defenders – Fraser Cooper (C), Francis Adams, Ryley Norman, Harvey Saville, Toby Starkey.
Midfielders – Stanley Liles, James Wood, Jamie Coles, Calvin Clarke-Roberts, Bryn Harman, Ren Dormon.
Forwards – Fintan Harman, Noah Kenderick, Jacob Ridley, Jens Peters.