The ball skipped off Jayden's tackle and rolled into Kai's feet. He didn't wait. One touch, then a sharp pass into Noah's stride.
The crowd rose as Noah carried it forward, his head up, eyes scanning. Walsall's backline was retreating, but there was space.
Harry was already on the move. He darted in from the left, pointing into the gap between fullback and center-back.
Noah spotted it. A perfect pass, threaded through the line.
Harry burst free, legs pumping, the ball rolling ahead of him on the slick grass. The Walsall keeper charged out, arms wide, shouting at his defenders to close in.
Time slowed. Harry's chest tightened, but he stayed calm. Two quick steps, then he lifted the ball. A delicate chip.
The ball floated over the keeper's outstretched hands.
The crowd gasped—then roared as it dropped neatly under the bar and into the net.
2-0 Salford.
Harry spread his arms wide, sprinting toward the corner flag, his voice lost in the explosion of cheers. Nathan tackled him in celebration, dragging him to the ground as the rest of the team piled on.
[DING!]
[+3 XP – Goal Scored]
[Current Experience: 140/400]
From the touchline, Frank punched the air, his shout carrying over the noise. "That's how you finish! Brilliant!"
In the stands, Sophie leapt so high her mum had to steady her. Ellie was screaming at the top of her lungs.
The referee pointed back to the center circle. Walsall players stood with hands on their hips, their captain barking angrily at the backline. The keeper slammed his gloves together, furious.
Harry jogged back, chest pounding but a grin tugging at his face. That moment, that finish, was one he'd never forget.
But there were still minutes to play.
---
Walsall kicked off with seventeen minutes left. Their heads were down now, the belief draining from their movements. The two-goal cushion felt massive.
But Frank wasn't taking chances. "Stay switched on! No silly mistakes!"
Marcus Thompson, who had replaced Riley Croft in the right-wing pressed from the front, harrying Walsall's center-backs every time they tried to play out. His fresh legs were making a difference, forcing rushed clearances.
In the sixty-eighth minute, Marcus almost added a third. A quick counter saw Kai switch the ball wide to Marcus, who cut inside and curled a shot toward the far post. The keeper got across well, tipping it around for a corner.
Harry took it, whipping the ball into the danger area. Danny Mills rose highest again, but his header went just over the bar.
"Keep going!" Danny shouted, pumping his fist.
Walsall tried to respond, but their attacks lacked the intensity from earlier. Josh received the ball on the wing but this time both Harry and Marcus tracked back together to support the fullbacks, cutting off his options. He was forced to pass backwards.
[DING!]
[+1 XP – Defensive Contribution]
[Current Experience: 141/400]
The tactical adjustment was working perfectly.
The seventy-fifth minute arrived. Frank made his second substitution. "Toby! You're on for Noah!"
Noah jogged off to warm applause, high-fiving Toby Winchell as he came on. The playmaker had done his job brilliantly by scoring one goal and making several key passes.
"Toby, sit in midfield! Keep it tight!" Frank instructed.
The change signaled Salford's intent to protect the lead, see out the game.
Walsall's coach Martin Haynes was gesturing frantically from his technical area, but his players looked beaten. Their striker, who'd been a handful in the first half, was barely touching the ball now.
In the seventy-ninth minute, Walsall carved out one last chance. A long ball over the top caught Dean Halberg napping. Their striker was through, one-on-one with Tommy Henderson.
The crowd went silent.
The striker struck it cleanly, heading for the bottom corner. Tommy dived to his left, getting just enough on it to push it wide.
"Tommy!" The Salford defense mobbed their goalkeeper. The save had been huge.
From the resulting corner, Danny Mills headed clear emphatically. The ball sailed all the way to the halfway line where Jayden collected it.
Harry was already sprinting forward, anticipating. Jayden spotted his run and played it perfectly into space.
Harry was away again, the Walsall defense scrambling back. But instead of going alone, he looked up and saw Marcus charging down the right.
The cross was inch-perfect. Marcus met it on the volley, smashing it toward goal.
The keeper got a hand to it, but the power took it into the roof of the net.
3-0 Salford.
The small crowd erupted. Marcus wheeled away, sliding on his knees toward the corner flag. Harry was first to reach him, jumping on his back in celebration.
[DING!]
[+2 XP – Assist]
[Current Experience: 143/400]
Frank was dancing on the touchline now, all composure gone. The fourth official had to step aside as the Salford bench celebrated.
Game over. Surely.
Walsall kicked off looking utterly defeated.
Salford passed the ball around comfortably now, eating up seconds. The crowd was singing, celebrating reaching the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
Harry received the ball near the corner flag with a minute left on the clock. Instead of trying anything fancy, he shielded it, letting Walsall players close him down before winning a throw-in.
Simple. Professional. Game management.
The throw was taken short. Kai to Jayden to Danny. Back to Tommy Henderson, who held it for a few seconds before kicking long.
The referee looked at his watch one final time.
Fweeeee! Fweeeee! Fweeeeeee!~
Full time.
Salford City U18 3, Walsall U18 0.
Harry dropped to his knees on the grass, head tilted back, breathing hard. Relief, joy, exhaustion—it all hit at once.
Danny Mills was there first, pulling him to his feet. "What a performance, lad! Two assists and a goal!"
The team gathered in a huddle at the center circle, arms around each other, bouncing up and down. Frank joined them, his face beaming.
"Proud of you, boys! Every single one of you!" He looked around at their exhausted, happy faces. "Fourth round of the FA Youth Cup. That's where we are now. Enjoy it!"
Harry broke away from the huddle and jogged toward the stands. His family was right at the front barrier, all three of them in tears of joy.
"That's my boy!" His mum was crying openly now.
Sophie was bouncing up and down. "You were brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
Ellie just nodded, too emotional to speak.
Harry reached over the barrier and hugged them all, not caring that his shirt was soaked with sweat.
"We did it," he whispered.
---
Back in the changing room, the atmosphere was electric. Music blasted from someone's phone, lads were dancing, singing, shouting. Bottles of water and sports drinks were being sprayed around like champagne.
Harry sat in his corner, boots off, just taking it all in. One goal, two assists. Man of the match, surely.
[Match Complete]
[Final Performance Summary]
[Goals: 1, Assists: 2, Key Passes: 4, Shots: 4, Defensive Actions: 3]
[Match Rating: 8.9/10]
[Bonus: +5 Attribute Points]
[Total XP Gained: +8]
[Current Experience: 148/400]
Frank appeared at his shoulder. "Harry. Outstanding tonight. That's the level I know you can reach."
"Thanks, gaffer."
"But don't get comfortable. The fourth round means better opposition. Probably a Championship or Premier League academy."
Harry nodded, the reminder grounding him slightly.
"Enjoy tonight though. You've earned it." Frank clapped him on the shoulder and moved on to speak with other players.
Jamie Walsh sat down beside Harry, still in his tracksuit from being on the bench. "Fair play, mate. You were quality out there."
"Thanks. Sorry you didn't get on."
"Nah, don't be daft. Team performance is what matters. You delivered when it counted."
As the celebrations continued around him, Harry's phone buzzed with messages. Ellie was organizing a family celebration for when he got home at the weekend.
But underneath the joy, Harry felt something else. Hunger. This win was brilliant, but it was just one step. The fourth round would be tougher. The opposition would be faster, stronger, more technical.
He needed to keep improving his abilities. Keep leveling up. The system had given him an advantage, but it was up to him to use it properly.