11 Boys Football v Churchill

On Wednesday 25 January the year 11 boys boarded the school minibus and headed for Churchill in the hope that their cup run would continue. The boys knew that they were in for a stern test but hadn’t faced this side since year 8.

The boys took to the field looking to settle into the game and find their feet but Churchill had very different plans! Straight from the kick off they moved the ball wide and ran hard to the by-line cutting the ball back across the face of goal to an oncoming striker who had the easiest of finishes. This had to be up there with one of the fastest goals I have seen in a football match but equally was a disastrous start for the SK boys. The early goal really dented their morale and if it wasn’t for Charlie Pepper the boys would have gone further behind. Charlie made a couple of fantastic saves showing some very accomplished goal keeping skills and his display definitely kick started a few others!

It had become quite clear that Churchill’s two strongest players were occupying their central midfield spots and they were making it extremely tricky for the SK boys to get any sort of strangle on the game. Gabe Brown, Tom Green, Danny Conway and Dan Young were really up against it as they struggled to battle with the Churchill front two and countless runners breaking from midfield. It wasn’t long before Churchill managed to double their lead and nobody could argue that they didn’t deserve it. The two goal deficit actually allowed SK to settle into their football and they began to move the ball through the midfield with Jay, Finley and Mason looking to play up to Jude’s feet. Jude worked the Churchill back four really hard for the first half and when the ball did make it to his feet he held up play brilliantly to bring others into the game. The boys created a couple of half chances but the defensive pressure made it difficult to carve out anything more.

Churchill continued to enjoy a lot of time and space in the midfield and had an impressive passing game. They were working the ball in and out of the gaps in the middle third and continued to create chances. Charlie Pepper continued to do his best to keep his team in the game and along with Gabe Brown the two boys must have snuffed out at least five decent goal scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, such was the Churchill dominance; their efforts didn’t stop the opposition working 2 more goals before half time. A four goal lead was going to be a long way back for the tired and deflated St Kath’s boys. Despite the odds being against them they took to the pitch for the second half determined to give their all to get back into the cup tie.

At half time we changed the formation slightly to give Jude more support up front and brought Matty Cructhley into the midfield to carry some of the burdening workload. Lewis also swapped with Charlie in goal and had big shoes to fill after Charlie’s excellent first half performance. The Churchill central midfield due have been well and truly on top in the first half technically and physically and it really needed someone to come in and compete. Almost instantly Matty made an impact; metaphorically and physically. One of his first contributions was to assert his presence in the midfield as he moved in for a perfectly legal and powerful shoulder barge to dispossess the opposition. There really is nothing like watching a year 10 student come into a year 11 game to give more physicality. Matty didn’t stop there as he ran and ran for the second half winning tackle after tackle to try to get the boys back into the tie. Sure enough Churchill responded with some excellent football and continued to create goal scoring opportunities. A brilliant double save from keeper Lewis Mason gave him great confidence for the remainder of the game.

Things weren’t made any easier for the second period as Tom Green was unable to continue for the second half and his replacement Max Conroy also sustained an injury just minutes into his start. Max must have been really frustrated but took solace from the fact that the boys had not conceded with him on the pitch! Kieran and Ciaran really found it hard to get into the game as the ball just didn’t come their way. The full backs Gabe and Ryan were so busy with their defensive work that they simply couldn’t get forward to support in attack.

To their credit all of the boys continued to give 100% for the second half and did create several good chances. It was just clear that it wasn’t going to be their afternoon as they watched Churchill notch up two more goals before the final whistle. Although they couldn’t argue that they deserved any more from the game, SK were unlucky not to get on the score sheet as they did create enough chances. That said Churchill were the stronger team and thoroughly deserved their victory. Had it not been for a couple of stellar SK performances the score line would have been worse.

Charlie and Lewis both put on great displays in goal – it was one of those games where they had plenty to do but had they not kept focus the score line could have been embarrassing. Gabe Brown had one of his best performances from the school and was quite often the last line of defence working tirelessly all game. Matty Crutchley also had a big impact in the second half – he covered every inch of the pitch, much to the delight of his midfield counterparts!

Despite the result the boys enjoyed the experience – after all this is the furthest they have ever been in the cup! Well done gentlemen.

Mr Cook