County progressed to the second round of the FA Youth Cup at Edgeley Park on Wednesday evening, beating Farsley Celtic 3-0.
Goals inside the opening eight minutes from James Barry and Joe Hillary set County on their way to the second round, before Ashton Mee added a third moments before the full-time whistle.
County started with a high tempo as Hillary drove into the penalty area from the left-wing, cut a perfect pass back to Barry, who showed great desire to get to the ball first and fire the Hatters ahead.
Hillary doubled County’s lead just three minutes later. A loose pass by Liam Wilson in the Farsley Celtic net found the feet of the left back, who took a touch and lofted a composed effort into the goal.
Kylan Depeiaza had a golden opportunity to hand County a third before the break – the striker shrugged off his defender and had three blue shirts to his left, but his pass was cut out at the vital moment.
Farsley did have a chance of there own as as Benga Krubally came forward on the left, cut inside and curled a right-footed effort wide of Kane Bove’s post.
HALF-TIME: County (Barry 5′, Hillary 8′) 2-0 Farsley Celtic
County started the second period strongly, and could have had a third within minutes of the restart. Another great corner by Barry found Depeiaza with space, but he mistimed his header, which sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Bove didn’t have much to do, but made an excellent save midway through the half. A whipped free kick from close range looked destined for the top corner, but Bove clawed the effort behind for a corner, at full stretch.
County grabbed that elusive third moments from time. Mee latched onto a through ball, beat the defender with a nutmeg, rounded Wilson in the Farsley net and fired a strike into the roof of the net.
FULL-TIME: County (Barry 5′, Hillary 8′, Mee 90′) 3-0 Farsley Celtic
County XI: Bove; Watson, Scruton, Partington; Redshaw (Davis 90), Fligg (Capt.), Johnson, Barry (Gardner 52), Hillary; Depeiaza, Mee.
Photographer: Mike Petch
