Saturday 10th October 2015 @ Handsworth Grammar School
Aston 0 – 6 Erdington and Saltley
Team: Rob, Sam, Ilani, Kye, Kane, Tion, Oakley, Rio, Troy, Taylor and Harvey
Goals: Troy x 2, Tion, Harvey, Kane and Oakley
When the fixture list for the season is first published, my focus is immediately drawn to the date of the Aston game. As a teacher who works in Aston, it’s the game that I look forward to most. Plus it’s a local derby and more often than not, a number of our players play for the same Sunday league team as their players.
Over the years we’ve had some real mammoth games, with last minute goals, warring brothers (Tyrese played for Erdington and Saltley during 2013-15, whilst his brother Gio played for Aston) and penalty shoot out victories in cup semi-finals. Today’s game was less dramatic when compared to these past encounters, however that doesn’t mean it wasn’t memorable! In fact we’ll all remember today’s game as the match when the 2015/16 team clicked into place nicely and hit top form!
The Aston boys should hold their heads up high because they gave it everything that they had and never let their team down. It was just unfortunate for them that The Ton were in imperious form.
The first third finished 0-0, but it wasn’t for the lack of efforts created by our boys. After the first twenty minutes we stressed to the boys the need to stay patient and keep moving the ball around at pace.
This is exactly what they did and the goals eventually came their way. The first was scored by Troy, after the Marsh Hill striker spun on the edge of the box and lashed home an unstoppable shot. After this the goals continued to come at regular intervals. Next up was Harvey who burst into the box from the right hand side of the pitch and finished low to the keeper’s left. Before long it was Tion’s turn to get in on the action, with the Yenton midfielder scoring a header from close range.
The final third saw another three goals come, with Troy again in on the action! It was then Oakley’s turn to get his name on the score sheet and in doing so he became the second Marsh Hill pupil to find his shooting boots. The final goal deservedly went to Kane, as the Hodge Hill midfielder scored a peach of a goal.
Parents from both sides commented on the quality of our football and how it was a joy to watch. This is something that I want to echo! In all my years of being involved in district football, this was the greatest performance that I’ve seen. We now have to make sure that we push on and improve on today’s showing. This won’t be easy but it has to be our aim as development and improvement are central to everything that we do.
Well done boys, you should be proud of your performance today!
Up The Ton!
Erdington and Saltley Primary Schools' FA 