7 & 8 Boys Football v Sidcot

On Wednesday 29 March the year 7 and 8 boys teamed up to play a combined game against Sidcot School. The year 7 boys had played just 24 hours earlier in a tough match against Priory School – and professional footballers say they can’t play two games in two days! Despite their enthusiasm to play, the boys were down to 11 as some injury and absence left them a little short on the day. Not even this could dent their determination to enjoy the last friendly football fixture of the 16/17 season!

Max ANDREWS, Finlay BELCHER, Ben BOHIN, Danny CONWAY (leader), Maximus DIXEY, Louie DUN, Brandon GEATER, Beau GILBERT, Tom GREEN (leader), Nana GYIMAH-SARPONG, Caolan PEARCE (referee), Toby RICE, Mason SMART (leader), Ollie STRATTON, George TURNER

Both year 7 and 8 teams have enjoyed some successes this season but the overriding feeling from their fixtures has been that of frustration. Determined to finish on a high, this group of boys took to the field with one simple aim – to enjoy themselves! So often youngsters look at every match they play from a results perspective and their enjoyment is often dependant on the outcome of the match & very much secondary to it. In truth you will never truly excel at something you don’t enjoy and so why not start with the enjoyment first!

Sure enough that is what they did and as if by magic they enjoyed the lion share of the possession and attacking play in the opening 10 minutes of the game. Respective year group captains Louie Dun and Nana GS had teamed up to take control of the centre field and that was exactly what they did. Both boys may be smaller in stature but both bring technical ability & determination to the party by the bucket load and were proving to be an extremely effective combination. Almost every attack began with either Louie or Nana and more often than not when one turned distributor the other had one the ball in the tackle in the first instance! Wingers Belcher and Gilbert were also really started to get into their stride and both causing problems of a very different nature. Finlay showed some really accomplished touches during the opening period of the game and brought others into play really well around him. Beau was quick and strong and looking a real threat bearing down on the ball that had been played in front of him.

The first goal of the game really didn’t really reflect the quality of the St Kath’s football but did come about as a result of it – nobody was complaining mind you! Sustained and overwhelming attacking pressure had brought about several SK corners, all of which had been taken by Louie Dun. Louie has real quality from his set piece delivery and his corner kicks were not lacking any quality at all; what they were lacking was someone to attack them and try to turn the ball goal bound. On his third or fourth corner kick Louie whipped in another fantastic ball which proved very tricky for Sidcot to clear. As they struggled to clear a goalmouth scramble ensued with several players having their shots blocked. Eventually the ball fell to the feet of central attacking midfielder Max Andrews who needed no invitation to fire the ball into the back of the net to give his team the lead. The start of what would prove to be a very successful afternoon for Max!

In stark contrast to 24 hours earlier the first goal of the game really kick started an impressive footballing performance. One thing you cannot fault the SK boys for is their will to get the ball down and pass it. There are no boys in the team who are wasteful on the ball and it all starts from the back. Brandon and Ollie and both really physical and great ball winners but both can pick and pass and do exactly that when they had the time and space. Max Dixey always had fantastic composure on the ball and never panics which means he always finds the pass if one is on offer. George would normally play further up the pitch but was still recovering from a recent injury so it was an added bonus to have his quality on the ball in the back four.

The front four were starting to link up really well after the first goal and more often than not either Nana or Louie would push on to join in the fun. They were knocking the ball around really well into spaces and even playing some neat one touch football at times. It wasn’t just football for footballs sake either, they were creating chances. In fact so many chances that all of the parents on the side & I could not believe that after 20 minutes the score was still just 1 nil! One particular passage of play in particular sticks out in my mind. A sweetly struck effort from winger Beau Gilbert rattling the crossbar and coming back into the field of play to the feet of centre back Ollie Stratton who’s shot then cannoned into the upright and ran out of play – the boys could not believe that the ball had not gone in! When just minutes later the ball fell to Gilbert on the edge of the area you couldn’t forgive him for letting fly – this time the ball beat the goalkeeper and Beau had doubled his teams lead with just 2 minutes before half time.

It has to be said that it wasn’t all one way traffic and the boys did look a little vulnerable on the counter attack. One such attack did result in Toby Rice being called into action with a Sidcot striker bearing down on goal and clean through. Toby’s competitive nature means that he relishes these opportunities and the challenges that the ruthless and lonely nature of keeping goal bring about. Toby stood tall and kept his feet for as long as possible before making an excellent save down low to his left, to the sheer delight of his team mates. A warning sign of things to come! Despite a level of vulnerability on the counter attack, SK had been in control for large parts of the first half and so were left a little shell shocked when Sidcot pulled a goal back just seconds before the half time whistle. Another counter attack proved costly but not before Toby had done all he could to prevent the goal. He made an excellent save, this time down to his right but was forced to parry the ball away from goal at full stretch. Brandon and the Sidcot poacher were in a straight footrace to the ball with Toby getting to his feet ready for the follow up save. Brandon lunged in for the ball and Toby hurled himself at it but neither was able to stop the Sidcot player turning it into the net.

Half time was awash with positives; hunger to win back the ball, eagerness to pass and move and most importantly smiles all round! The start of the second half however was not in company with the first half when a disastrously unfortunate own goal left everyone stunned! The last touch came from outside the penalty area but the ball rocketed into the roof of the net leaving Toby absolutely helpless. What is it with St Kath’s and own goals this season?! With the scores poised on a knife edge level at 2 all the next goal was going to be vital. Sidcot enjoyed a period of dominance and were buoyed by their equaliser which created somewhat of a storm for SK to weather!

St Kath’s didn’t panic, maintained calm heads and settled back into their football for the second half. Once again the moves started to flow and once again they started to cause problems for the Sidcot defenders. They were having a lot of joy down the right hand side and both Max and Ben had recognised this. Beau was also quick to latch on and released a couple of great passes into the space in behind the Sidcot left back for Ben and Max to chase down. Cleverly Max just drifted out to the right hand side to pick the ball up and kick start an attack by going directly at the Sidcot defense. Max is an incredible athlete and uses every bit of his strength, pace and power on the football pitch which makes him a huge handful! In actual fact the joy down the right indirectly created the chance for SK’s third goal as Nana found himself on the end of a through ball which he finished with a great level of composure for such a young player. I for one was thoroughly enjoying watching Nana play in a more advanced position and judging by the look on his face I wasn’t the only one!

Unbelievably Sidcot pulled back another goal just 1 minute later and were back level at 3 a piece – you just couldn’t write it! SK were in need of something special and that was exactly what happened in the final 10 minutes of the match. Max Andrews had clearly had enough of watching the two teams trade goals and set about putting the game to bed … he did exactly that! His second goal was the hallmark of a strong and powerful striker as he barrelled his way through the Sidcot defense to smash the ball home. His third goal showed real composure as he finished neatly putting the game out of reach. His fourth effort however was one of real magnitude. Max had often been drifting out to the right hand side to pick the ball up and this time rather than going on the outside he cut back in to the middle of the pitch. Ben Bohin had spotted the change of direction and so checked his run and hit a new path that left everyone screaming for Max to pass the ball. Winger Finlay Belcher had also seen the run and bombed on down the left side and was also in acres of space presenting another glorious passing opportunity for Max. Max ignored the efforts of both team mates and had he not produced what he did next, would no doubt have suffered the wrath of them both! Max beat about 3 or 4 players in total to find himself in the penalty area but with a really difficult angle to goal. Max bent the ball impressively into the bottom corner to beat the goalkeeper and give him his fourth goal. You couldn’t knock him for it – the way he was playing he probably saw the opportunity as a clear goal scoring chance!

I was absolutely delighted at the end of the match, not with the outcome but with the way the boys had arrived at it. For a lot of this group they have endured some harsh lessons this year on the football pitch and it is great to see those boys who have remained resolute and determined come away with some success to celebrate. Man of the match has to go to Max Andrews for his match winning performance.

Well done gentlemen – a lovely note to finish on and an excellent springboard for year 8 & 9 football next year!

Mr Cook