Petersfield under-9 Hurricanes 3 Beacon Hill under-9 Panthers 0: AFTER flirting with frustratingly out-of-reach silverware for the past seven months, battling Petersfield Hurricanes deservedly broke their duck at Frimley on Saturday.

The occasion was the North East Hampshire Youth League under-nine Plate final, which the jubilant Hurricanes won 3-0 against Beacon Hill Panthers.

It followed a frustrating summer during which the progressive Hurricanes, who have moved up three divisions within the North East Hampshire Youth League structure since forming less than 18 months ago, ran out ‘winners’ of three of the four summer tournaments they competed in – only to be denied silverware by the age-related ‘festival’ format.

This time around, in their first competitive event, they were not to be denied and reaped the reward their effort in training and on match days has deserved.

An own goal after good work by Taylor Pearce and a second goal bundled over the line at the far post by Alex Garlant after a teasing cross from Harry Timmons saw the Hurricanes go in at the interval 2-0 ahead on the artificial pitch at Frimley Lodge. A solo run up the right and a firm finish by Timmons sealed the win as the gutsy Panthers were finally overwhelmed.

Under the leadership of co-managers Wayne Port and Martin Redpath, the Hurricanes have got stronger as the season has gone on – the Plate win underpinning their progress after a shaky start to life in Division Two.