The Ton Make History…Again!

Saturday 11th June 2016 @ Wednesfield High School

West Midlands County Schools FA Cup Final 2016

Brierley Hill and Dudley 1 – 8 Erdington and Saltley

Team: Rob, Sam, Kye, Tion, Kane, Ilani, Rio, Cameron, Troy, Samim and Taylor

Goals: Kane x 3, Sam x 2, Troy, Cameron and Samim

Man of the Match: Everyone!

I’m writing this from Portsmouth Port, on my way to Guernsey with school, having been deprived sleep for the past 24 hours. Therefore please forgive me if the details are a little sketchy! I’ll give it my best shot…

For the third year in a row The Ton were in town for the final of the West Midlands County Schools FA Cup. After losing to Wolverhampton in 2014, the boys of 2015 shared the cup after drawing with Redditch. However the class of 2016 were determined to go one step better by becoming the first Birmingham district to win the cup since the 1980s when Saltley lifted the title.

The game started brightly for the Brummie boys, as The Ton controlled the opening 15 mins and dominated possession. After taking the lead via captain Kane, the boys continued to knock on the Dudley door only to find the woodwork and keeper in the way. Such is the cruel nature of football that Dudley levelled the game in the 18th minute following their first attack of the game. Rocked by this blow, the boys lost their way a little in the closing stages of the first 25.

Following a few honest words at half time, the boys came to life during the second 25, bagging seven goals for none in reply. A truly breathtaking half of football that Dudley, for all of their efforts, simply couldn’t live with. Our West Midlands rivals worked their socks off but found The Ton in formidable form.

It’s hard to recall all of the goals, although there were some stunners, including some great runs and finishes from Samim and Kane. Plus a trademark cool finish from Troy, a long distance screamer from Cameron and a brace of goals for striker wannabe Sam.

Overall the boys couldn’t have given us anymore in that second period. Throw into the mix a commanding defensive performance from Tion, Sam, Kye and later from Ilani and Taylor and you begin to understand how good the boys were. Also let’s not forget Robbo between the sticks. Once again the sum of our parts far exceeded the value of us as individuals. In all of the years that I’ve been involved with district football I have never been so blessed as to work with a group of boys with such a strong spirit and sense of what it is to be a team.