Saturday 15th May 2021 @ Vale Stadium, Castle Vale

Representative Fixture

Erdington and Saltley 6-0 South Staffordshire

Team: Jack, Reo, Rion, Rhys, Myiano, Lennon, Omari, Jason, Ebrima, Yaw, Younussa, Dylan and Uzi

Goals: Lennon x 2, Ebrima x 2, Omari and Rhys

Man of the Match: Jason and Omari – both boys were a constant threat down the wings

Saturday was one of those days when everything clicks into place. It was 8:30am and we just knew it was going to be a good day as every member of the team had arrived “on time-ish”. I had no reason to check my phone, no reason to frantically phone around parents and plenty of time to just stand around and pretend to be working on a tactical master plan for the game.

The game started with a bang as Lennon applied pressure high up the pitch, won the ball and unleashed a long distance shot that whistled agonisingly wide of the right-hand post. Nevertheless, the captain’s energy set the tone for the whole team, who replicated his zest as they buzzed around all quarters of the pitch. Our first goal came after Omari refused to let the Staffordshire defence rest and won the ball back before calmly slotting the ball home from close distance.

As they did all game, the South Staffordshire boys continued to play a brand of football that was pleasing on the eye and demonstrated a coherent style of play. They consistently played the ball out from the back, moved it through the thirds and retained possession when attacking options were limited.

After opening the scoring, Omari turned provider when he slotted Ebrima through on goal before the Firs forward rounded the keeper and smashed his shot into the top right-hand corner. Clearly energised by his first goal, Ebrima added a second thanks to some mouthwatering interplay down the left with wing wizard Jason.

Clearly on top form, Lennon rounded off a superb half of football by stroking the ball home from outside the area to make it 4-0 when the ref called a close to proceedings.

The second half saw South Staffordshire grow in confidence and pose us a number of questions, only for Jack to make a number of saves as he, along with the defensive stalwarts that are Myiano, Reo, Rion, Yaw and Younussa, worked hard to protect his clean sheet.

Unbeknown to the throbbing crowd of 17 people, Lennon and Rhys had been working on a series of stylish celebrations ahead of the game. Unfortunately for the 17 hardy souls, they chose to ignore these celebrations, instead opting for a Macarena-machine gun hybrid that left all in attendance longing for the simple, yet classy days of Alan Shearer’s raised right arm as both boys added further goals in the second period.

Overall, it was a brilliant game, played between two very talented sides. Both sets of players, parents and coaches conducted themselves in a manner befitting to the occasion which made for a really enjoyable morning of football.

Well done boys!

Up The Ton!