Lambton Street U18s bow out in style with third John Maley League Cup success

Manager Chris Lindstedt led the Wearsiders to a 2-1 victory against Durham City at Nissan to secure the trophy for a third time in the last five seasons – and the club’s sixth piece of silverware in the boss’s six-year reign.

Durham threatened from set pieces in a very tight first half, but Lambton Street forced Durham keeper Kieron Stoker to make an excellent one-handed save from a thunderous Cameron Fenton strike.

Harry Wood almost took advantage of hesitancy in Durham’s defence, but, having got in between the back four and the keeper, he lifted his effort wide.

The game burst into life two minutes into the second half when Lambton Street’s leading scorer, Dominic Laws, was adjudged to have been brought down in the area and Michael Cooke sent Stoker the wrong way from the resulting penalty.

The lead lasted only five minutes, however, as Durham equalised when a long ball found Jayven Redman, at the far post. His header was parried by Sam Bell only for the striker to react quickest to poke the ball home from close range.

Bell then made an excellent save to deny Durham a quickfire second, and Lambton Street sealed victory when excellent link-up play saw Wood win a headed flick to release Laws.

He drove to the by-line before pulling the ball back for Wood to fire home first time from just inside the box.

Despite a late Durham flurry, Lambton Street cleverly saw out the remainder of the game to retain the trophy they won last season, beating Darlington RA in the final.

Lambton Street skipper Jonathan Winlow received the trophy from New Hartley stalwart Ian Crawley, who was assistant manager to the late New Hartley manager, John Maley.

Lindstedt, who previously led Lambton Street to two Durham County Youth League titles and a Durham County Youth Cup triumph, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to be manager of a club which is affiliated to such a historic organisation as Lambton Street Youth Centre.

“I would like to thank Kevin Howard and his staff at the Youth Centre for their support over the last six seasons. I would also like to thank every player that has played for the club during this period for their hard work and efforts in making the club one of the most successful that has competed in the Durham Youth League in recent years.

“I would also like to wish the current squad good luck for their future football careers. There are some talented boys with very big futures ahead of them and I would like to wish them all the best wherever their careers may take them.”

In the last six years, Lambton Street have produced 29 Durham County Youth team players, one England Schoolboy international (Michael Sweet) and one player (James Martin) signing professional terms at Hartlepool United.