Saturday 25th March @ Holte Secondary School

Birmingham Primary Schools’ FA League

Aston 2- 0 Erdington and Saltley

Team: Tyrese, Taylor, Telpher, Fareed, Danny, William, Reece, Jaiy, Tiarno and James

Man of the Match: Tyrese; The Birches Green shot stopper pulled off a string of sensational saves, many of which a boy of his age should not have had a chance of getting a hand/face/chest to!

With the title out of our grasp and second place all but secured, we decided to play the under 10s against Aston in order to give them a chance to taste district football ahead of next season. As you’d expect, there were a few teething issues related to the larger format of the game and the offside rule, but other than that they took to it like a duck to water.

Starting the game like a steam train, the boys attacked Aston from the kick off and were unfortunate not to take the lead when a rasping shot from the right foot of Reece cannoned off the left hand post of the Aston goal. For large parts of the opening twenty, the game ebbed and flowed, before Aston took the lead with two minutes to go. The goal came following a stunning Ty save, only for an Aston player to capitalise quickest to latch onto the rebound, with his shot evading the three retreating Ton boys.

The second twenty brought with it a similar blow, with the lads once again conceding late on, this time with the last kick of the third. Despite this blow, the middle third showed several signs of improvement, with the lads adjusting more and more to the demands of 9-a-side. Having moved from defence to central midfield, James battled bravely against Aston’s play maker Nat Nat. Up front, Reece was making some intelligent runs, showing his growing understanding of the offside rule by being flagged offside on no occasions and getting in behind the Aston defence a number of times.

After twice conceding late on, it would have been understandable if the lads let their heads drop. However during the final third they found another gear and were unlucky not to grab a goal (or two) in the opening five minutes. With Reece going close once again and Danny having a bullet of a long range shot tipped over, it was the latter who then went closest when he smashed a shot against the crossbar. For the second time in the game, the woodwork denied the boys a deserved goal and a foothold in the game.

The result of the game is irrelevant. The manner in which the lads grew and improved as the game went on was a victory in itself.

A special mention to Aston too, who have improved as a team as the season has gone on and more than played their part in a brilliant game. Sporting, hard working and respectful throughout, both sets of boys should be commended for the part they played in bringing a smile to the faces of all present in the sun-drenched B19.

Well done lads!

Up The Ton!