Tuesday 16th December 2014 @ Heartlnads Academy
Erdington and Saltley Under 10s 5 – 2 Bromford Under 11s
Team: Harvey, Ilani, Harvey, Kye, Sam, Oakley, Kane, Tyrese, Samim, Eddie, William, Kian
Scorers: Kane x 2, Oakley x 2 Samim
On a fine, mild December evening, the Under 10s really came of age! Following a highly successful first half to the season, in which we have won every one of our games, it was time to step up the challenge. Bromford Lions are a fine footballing side and are having yet another very good season. Earlier in the season our Under 11s played them and drew 1-1, so this was definitely a challenge and a half!
From start to finish the lads played the ball out from the back and did so in a manner that demonstrated great maturity and self confidence. Time and time again we found ourselves in a position where there was nothing open to us going forward, so we simply started again by calmly passing the ball back to defence and moving it out wide to the opposite side of the pitch. We never panicked and remained calm throughout. Furthermore, we did the dirty work too. Tonn and I found ourselves reminding each other that we had four lads out there who are in Year 4, not to mention the fact that the rest are Year 5!
By half time we were leading 3-0 thanks to some outstanding team goals, the result of some very tasty passing! The scorers were Kane and Oakley, with Oak’s second goal a particularly classy affair. Picking up the ball in the centre of the park, Samim played a forward pass that dissected the whole of the Bromford team, leaving Oakley to run onto it, before deftly poking it past the onrushing Bromford keeper.
The second half started much in the same way that the first half ended, with The Ton on top and playing some intelligent football. Our guile and graft was rewarded when we extended our lead through Hodge Hill wizard Kane, who expertly finished another flowing move, and Samim who deservedly got on the score sheet following a great display. However we knew that wasn’t the end of the game and that Bromford would come roaring back like the lions that they are. They scored a couple of cracking goals courtesy of friend of the district Gio but we refused to fold and stood strong, seeing out the game and taking a 5-2 win.
There is so much to be proud of right now. First there is Tyrese who captained the team as our only under 11s outfield on the night of his 11th birthday, producing a performance of immense pride and determination. Then there is the four Year 4 boys (debutant William, Kian, Ilani and Eddie) who were up against a team two school years older than them. Not to mention a couple of goals and tireless work rate of Kane. The silky footwork of Samim. The wing wizardry of Oakley. The herculean defending of Kye, Harvey and Sam. Plus the alert keeping of Harvey. That’s a long list, but I didn’t feel it fair to leave anyone out.
Once again we must say a huge thank you to Wayne and the boys of Bromford Lions who are by far our closest allies when it comes to local teams. They put up a fine battle and could have easily given up after falling 4-0 behind. However they’re not called lions for no reason at all. Well done lads, the pleasure as always is all ours.
Tonight is a night to savour everything that is great about our fine district!
Enjoy your Christmas folks!
Man of the Match – Birthday Boy Tyrese
Up The Ton!
Erdington and Saltley Primary Schools' FA 
Not only would Bromford Lions echo the Match Report, we’d even go one further and suggest it understates how absolutely stunning the Tons U10s display was, especially in the opening period, in which Bromford hardly touched the ball for the first 15 minutes.
On the one hand, being taught a footballing lesson by an U10s team could easily rankle an U11s team, but on the other hand, you just have to take your hat off and applaud a truly wonderful display of football – be interesting to see how far this team can go next season at the rate there developing.
Again, our thanks to Phil and Tonn for organising the match and use of the Heartlands Academy pitch – a rematch at some point being a must, hopefully next time on a rain sodden, muddy, bumpy pitch, with the wind blowing . . . . . . we might get a touch of the ball then !!!!
Good Luck in the New Year from Wayne and all at Bromford Lions.