Saturday 27th September 2014 @ Maypole FC
Teams:
The Ton A – Alfie, Shaun, Teon, Kruize, Tristan, Jermaine, Kane, Shilo
The Ton B – Harvey, Kye, Brandon, Sam, Rayhaan, Hayden, Cameron, Tierry
Scorers – Shilo x 3, Sam, Jermaine
This is a competition that we’ve done really well in over the past two seasons – winning it in 2013 and finishing as runners-up in 2012 – and yesterday was made up of performances of real potential. However, small sided tournament can be a real lottery, with games more often than not being settled by the odd goal and the odd piece of luck. So it proved yesterday, with both teams starting strongly, without scoring a bucket load of goals.
The A team won their first two games, with Shilo causing havoc for the opposition defenders. The young Villa striker’s first touch was impeccable, strength amazing and finishing lethal. More importantly Shilo, as a veteran district player of last season, stood up and led by example. His attitude throughout the whole morning was brilliant and he put in a real captain’s performance. Well done Shilo!
The B team started solidly, drawing their first three games 0-0. With a bit more luck they’d have won at least one of those games on another day. One moment in particular sticks in my mind. Brandon, spotting Cameron in the clear, lofted a free kick over the defence, at which point the Walsall striker chested the ball down and struck a sweet shot towards the top corner of the net. However the Aston keeper hadn’t read the script and managed to pull off a worldy of a save!
At the half way stage of the tournament, both teams were sitting pretty and in with a great chance of progressing to the semi-final stage. Tournament football can change really quickly and one stroke of bad luck, one mistake can change things quickly. So it proved for the A team against Aston when friend of the district Gio (Tyrece’s brother) scored a late goal with the ref poised to blow for full time. That goal effectively cost the team a place in the semi-final. Football can be a cruel sport!
Both team’s should be immensely proud of their efforts. The B team were without any doubt the youngest of all the teams competing, with half of the lads in Year 5 but this didn’t stop them competing with everyone who they came up against. The A team played some breath-taking football and boy do with have some proper ballers in this year’s team! Tonn, Lemar and I are so excited about the season ahead and can’t wait to get going in the league. Well done boys, you should hold your head up high and be very proud of the shift you put in yesterday. We certainly are. The final word should be reserved for the Year 5 lads – Kane, Sam, Kye and Cameron – who were a credit to Erdington and Saltley. Not once did any of these four lads shy away from making big tackles or fail to give anything less than 110%. Well done lads.
It’s things like this that make us feel so excited! Then factor in Troy who was on holiday, Ty who was playing for Blues against Chelsea and the rock that is Marc Witty (currently injured) and I’m convinced we’ll have many great Saturday mornings this season.
Up The Ton!
Man of the Match: Shilo and Brandon
Erdington and Saltley Primary Schools' FA 