Saturday 4th November 2018 @ CTC Kingshurst Academy

West Midlands County Schools’ FA League

Solihull 1-0 Erdington and Saltley

Solihull u11s 2 – 4 Erdington and Saltley u10s

Teams and Scorers:

Under 11s: Tyrese (c), James, Louie, Mason, Aidan, Toby, Reece, Klechai, Oliver, Liam, Enoch and Jaiy

Under 10s: Padraig, Owen, Rhys, Callam, Tavani, Jeval, Romaoe

Scorers: Romaoe x 3 and Callam

Playing on adjacent pitches, the under 10s and under 11s experienced very different fortunes, following very different displays. While one team had a good day at the office, the other team didn’t quite reach their usual high standards. However, such is life! Some days are great. Some are good. Some we’d rather forget.

The under 11s started their game with the majority of possession, with Solihull camped in their half for the first 5-10 minutes. However while we had most of the ball, we never really threatened the Solihull goal and lacked the same spark that we’ve had in all of our previous games so far this season.

As the under 11s toiled away, the under 10s took a one goal lead thanks to a clinical finish from Romaoe. Starting out on the right, the sharp-shooting wing-wizard ran onto a Callam ball before slotting past the Solihull keeper. It was no less than they deserved after starting the game in the ascendancy.

The second third saw Toby come into centre midfield for the under 11s, ensuring our energy levels and work rate increased in the process. Chances came and went for The Ton, with the best falling to the feet of Toby, only for the Solihull keeper to pull of a great save when faced with Toby steaming in on him. Supporting the Solihull keeper was committed defence who made a number of brilliant last ditch tackles to protect their clean sheet.

Despite improving during the middle third, the under 11s were unable to find a way past the Solihull shot-stopped, a problem the under 10s did not have. Now leading 3-1, the younger of the two Ton teams were putting on a show for all in attendance. With Romaoe making it a brace for the day, it was left to Callam to momentarily steal the limelight from his teammates with a stunning goal from the half-way line.

Determined not to be outdone by his opposite number one, Tyrese pulled off a number of brilliant saves for the under 11s. First saving a close range shot from a Solihull cross that seemed destined to nestle in the corner of the net and then tipping a lob onto the cross bar to draw gasps of amazement from the stunned crowd. Yet despite doing his very best to keep his team in the game, he had to pick the ball out of his net with ten minutes to go when his Blues teammate Luke rifled the ball past him to give Solihull the lead.

With the clock ticking down, Padraig made a brilliant save on his goal line to maintain the under 10s 3-1 lead and in the process setting the stage for Romaoe to bag his first hat-trick of the district season. Throughout the side, all of the boys battled their hearts out against a team of under 11s district players to leave CTC with a memorable victory. For all of Jeval’s attacking flair, Tavani’s wing wizardry and the clinical finishing of Callam and Romaoe, Rhys, Owen and Padriag should be commended for their determined defending. It really was a team effort.

In the closing minutes of the under 11s game we had two chances to level but once again found the Solihull keeper a stubborn opponent and one who we just couldn’t get past. Ah well. There will be days like this. That much is inevitable in football. The key now is how we bounce back against Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands County Schools’ FA Cup. I for one can’t wait for next week so we can put the lessons learned yesterday into practice!

Well done boys!

Man of the Match:

Tyrese – our captain led by example, pulling off a number of amazing saves.

Romaoe – a hat-trick against older opponents.

Up The Ton!