Saturday 18th April 2015 @ Braemar Road
Erdington and Saltley 0 – 1 Kings Norton
Team: Harvey, Shaun, Brandon, Kane, Tyrese, Marc, Troy, Kruize, Shilo, Jermaine, Teon
A long, hard (but highly rewarding) league season came down to the final sixty minutes of the campaign. It was winner takes all on Saturday at Braemar. Erdington and Saltley vs. Kings Norton. The victors would claim the title of Birmingham champions.
We went into the game in fine spirits, knowing we had goals in us. However Kings Norton are a finely oiled defensive machine and we knew it would be a tight affair.
With three minutes on the clock, Kings Norton pounced on The Ton’s failure to clear a ball and took the lead. After looking a little shaky during the opening five minutes, the lads settled down into their natural game and started to express their selves with much more cohesion. As a result it was hard to argue that they didn’t dominate the first half, putting the first five minutes aside. Chances came in the form of a Shilo free kick, a Shilo shot from a Tyrese pull back and a Tyrese shot from distance that the keeper managed to claw away down low to his right. The first half was also memorable for the tenacity shown by both teams, although Brandon came off worse following a clash of heads, after a golf-ball size lump decided to nestle itself on his forehead.
The second half saw more of the same, with the lads attacking at every opportunity. Tyrese had to drop into defence to cover for the absence of Brandon, whilst Kane pushed up into midfield to support the imperious Marc in the centre of the park. With Jermaine playing out of his skin down the left and Troy linking up well with Kane down the right, it seemed only a matter of time before we’d score a goal. A couple of crossed fizzed across the face of the Kings Norton goal, with no Ton player able to connect with either of them. Then Shilo burst through the defence, rounding the keeper at a tight angle, before shooting using his left foot. With his shot bound for the back of the net, the Kings Norton defender impressively got back in time to clear his lines. Great defending. Terrible luck!
In a second half that was rough and ready, the boys can be immensely proud of how hard they worked and how desperate they were for the win, and with it the title. We couldn’t have asked for more and that is the most pleasing thing. Everything was left on the pitch.
Alas there are times in life when you have to accept that it’s not going to be your day and this was one of them. There are also times in life when you have to bow out gracefully. This was one of the.
Well done Kings Norton. Congratulations boys. Enjoy the celebrations, you should be proud of your season’s work.
I think today is a day to end on a quote or two about perseverance:
“Never, never, never give in!”
“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”
― Babe Ruth
“If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.”
― H.G. Wells
The moral of the story? We’ll always bounce back and be stronger for the experience.
Come on boys! Roll on Harborne!
Man of the Match – Marc
Up The Ton!
Erdington and Saltley Primary Schools' FA 