ANTHONY TAYLOR has clinched The Italian Job.

The Hindsford FC hotshot is bound for Juventus - having already had a sweet taste of soccer's high life.

The nine-year-old sparkled in the Old Trafford cauldron on Saturday when, in front of a packed crowd for the Manchester United Premier League clash with Leicester City, he won the final of the Bobby Charlton Soccer Skills competition.

Anthony, who visited the Bobby Charlton School back in August, completed five different skills for his test before 50,000 fans, and at half-time he was presented to Sir Bobby - before displaying his ball-juggling skills.

The Astley lad beat off some 25 youngsters - aged up to 15 - from as far afield as Iceland and as near to home as Hindsford.

Among the ones who failed to qualify were clubmates Iain Howard, 8, and 11-year-old Mark Goddard.

Anthony, of Withington Drive, will be heading for his week-long holiday with the Turin giants for a soccer coaching course sometime in the New Year.

Back home he plays for Hindsford U10s and also attends the Bolton Wanderers School of Excellence with team mates Matthew Houlihan, Luke Joyce and Robert Swanton.

Back on home ground Anthony failed to score as the U10s thrashed Young Lions 15-0 (Neil Smith 6, Houlihan 2, MOM Grant Willett 2, Andrew Golpys 2, Joyce 2, Daniel Finch).

Rest of the Hindsford scores: Hawks U10s beat Charlton Juniors 1-0 (Dean Edwards; MOM Jonathan Matthews); Boys drew 2-2 at Halliwell (MOM Scott Brown); Eagles beat Boothstown 7-3 (Matthew Eckersley 4, James Ross 2, Carl Hopwood; MOM Ben Lenders); Rovers U12s won 10-0 at WJ Dolphins (S Pickup 4, I Beech, D Nazar, M Quinn, C Hopwood).

EASTLEIGH U9s beat Birchwood 7-0 with goals from Michael Lea, Luke Sylvester 3, Craig Hobson, Robert Cleworth and Ian Mort.

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