Tuesday 12th May 2015 @ Braemar Road
Erdington and Saltley 1-6 Solihull
Team: Harvey, Brandon, Sam, Kye, Samim, Tion, Tyrese, Shaun and Troy
Goal: Tyrese
This result has to be put into context in order for the brilliant performance to be appreciated.
We were missing nine players, who between them have played 183 times this season and scored 119 goals. If you took those sort of players out of the Chelsea team they’d struggle. They would implode.
However we’re better than Chelsea. We didn’t wilt. We stood up and were counted. Every last one of the lads.
With most of the team under 10s and in year five at school, we started the game positively and looked to play the type of passing football that the “under 11s” have come known for this season. The ball was kept on the floor during the opening stages of the game, with short passes a feature of our play. This was even more pleasing owing to the fact that we found ourselves two goals down within the first five minutes. However rather than panic and lump the ball forward we tried to express ourselves whenever in possession. The half time score of 4-0 to Solihull didn’t tell the story of our gutsy performance and desire to attack at every opportunity. The one chance that sticks in the mind is Troy’s cheeky little dink which was brilliantly saved by Bradley in the Solihull goal.
At half time we asked for more of the same. A weaker group of players would have crumbled when we asked them to continue being brave in possession, but these boys simply rolled up their sleeves and gave it everything they had.
During the second half we created more clear cut chances than during the first, with Samim going through on goal on a couple of occasions. Eventually our endeavour was justifiably rewarded when captain Tyrese scored a great goal from outside of the area. It was the least we deserved. The fact that the second half ended 2-1 to a Solihull side going for the title, illustrates the talent that this young team possess.
It’s a strange feeling…being proud of your team after watching them lose 6-1 but proud is exactly what we were. You only have to look at the figures quoted at the outset of this report to understand why we are so proud.
Well done boys! We couldn’t be prouder of you!
Man of the Match – it could be any of the nine lions that roared their way through the match but Tyrese just pipped it. Marginally.
Up The Ton!
Erdington and Saltley Primary Schools' FA 