PINNOCK PLAYS HIS PART AS THREE LIONS REACH INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE TROPHY FINAL

Former Dulwich Hamlet defender & ASPIRE Academy graduate Ethan Pinnock excelled in England’s triumph in Tallinn

Now regularly earning rave reviews after switching to National League highflyers Forest Green Rovers in the summer, the rise and rise of Ethan Pinnock continued apace earlier this week when he stepped on to the field of Tallinn’s A Le Coq Arena for his England C debut. And it was a winning debut as Ethan played the full 90 minutes against Estonia U23’s; England C reaching the final of the International Challenge Trophy night by beating their Estonian hosts 2-1 in Tallinn.

To set up a final showdown in Slovakia come the summer England C needed a point to guarantee runners-up spot, Estonia needed victory. Conditions were freezing, the mercury in the minuses at kick-off and flurries of snow by full time. But the action some warmed up. In a madcap six minute spell the Three Lions struck early on in the game when Lincoln City’s Elliott Whitehouse put them ahead, the Imps’ player connecting with James Hardy’s cross seven minutes into the tie.

It was a great start, but Estonia reacted. Woking stopper Brandon Hall made two decent blocks after a long ball had breached the England defence. However, at the third strike Hall as beaten as the ball came out to Pavel Dõmov, his stinging strike sneaking under the body of the Lions ‘keeper.

Hardy was again the instigator as England found a swift response just three minutes later. Played in by Aldershot Town’s Jake Gallagher, Hardy found Hampton & Richmond Borough’s Jamal Lowe who beat Estonian keeper Marko Meerits to the pass, chipping the ball over the prostrate custodian and into the gaping net. On his way to Portsmouth in the New Year, the Beavers’ marksman will unfortunately no longer be eligible for that final decider.

The Estonian U23, boasting NINE full internationals in their ranks, had by the far the better of the second half of the game but the England defended stoutly to make certain of that summer sojourn in Slovakia.