Team 1: Cristian, Micah, Brendan, Bobby, Noah, Eion, Kavarli and Shayon
Team 2: Hayden, Mako, Zaire, Pharrell, Hashim, Ben, Otis, and Mason
On a morning when the BBC said to expect, ‘light rain showers’, the Vale Stadium was engulfed in a deluge of water on a Biblical scale!
The awful weather made it a difficult morning for all of the boys and meant it wasn’t much fun for anyone! Yet, despite this, they never stopped trying their best. They never stopped battling. They never stopped making us proud.
The results didn’t go our way but that is inevitable. No one was washed away. No one got hit by an Ark. Everyone will return for the next game and once again give their all for The Ton!
With school out for autumn half-term, the boys descended onto Jaffray road in search of footballing thrills.
Against Gloucester, the under 10s were in fine form, although the pitch’s slop very much made it a game of two halves! The team playing down the slope essentially dominated the half, while the team playing up the slope was forced to defend for their lives.
Trailing 1-0 at half-time, the under 10s burst from the traps and peppered Gloucester’s goal, just as the visitors had done to our net during the opening thirty minutes. Our relentless pressure eventually saw Ben score a screamer from distance to cap off a fine performance!
The draw was a fair result, with both teams dominating for significant periods of the game.
With the under 10s done and dusted, the under 11s took to the pitch as they squared up against Afan Nedd from South Wales.
The boys from the Valleys were a very talented bunch and arguably the best team we have played so far this season. Despite being up against it during the opening period, we managed to hang in there and started the second half very much in the game at one-goal down.
For the opening twenty minutes of the second period, we worked our socks off in an attempt to claw ourselves back into the game. Yet, eventually the fact that many of the boys were playing up a year and had already played for the under 10s that morning caught up with us. A draining final ten minutes saw Afan Nedd score four further goals to add a shine to the scoreline, although they undeniably deserved the victory.
Man of the Match: Shae – confident in both defence and attack
What a game! What a performance!
This was arguably our best performance to date of 2021/22. From the start, the boys played with an air of confidence and level of skill hitherto unseen this season. It was a joy to watch!
Despite succumbing to an early setback when Harborne took the lead, the boys bounced back to exert their control and played some superb football when in possession. Equally impressive was their tireless work out of possession. Yet despite being on top form, they found themselves trailing with 20 minutes on the clock, even though they’d created many chances and crashed a shot off the woodwork.
But then it clicked. Then The Ton scored a quickfire double to take the lead heading into the break.The first goal came from the right foot of Ovander, who smashed a penalty into the roof of the net. The second goal came from fellow under 10s Mako after he cut in from the left and slid the ball under the out-rushing keeper.
The second period started in the same way that the first ended – with both teams pushing for further goals. This made for a really exciting affair but it was at this point that the game was turned on its head. With both first-choice ‘keepers now sidelined, the game was there for the taking.
A thunderous long-range strike equaled the tie and despite The Ton’s best efforts in the final third, they were unable to snatch all three points.
Team: Hayden, Zaire, Bobby, Pharrell, Mason, Hashim, Mako and Ben
Goals: Mako x 2 , Hashim, Mason, Zaire and Ben
After navigating their way through the earlier rounds and past South Birmingham and Harborne, the under 10s squared up against Sutton Coldfield in the final of the BPSFA Autumn Shield.
The Royals took an early lead in the tie, although this did not throw The Ton boys off course as they quickly restored parity. At 1-1, Sutton continued to create chances, only to find Hayden in stubborn form in the Erdington goal. With Mako a constant threat, The Ton took the lead for the first time in the final, following a swift break up the pitch. From hereon, it was all Erdington and a third goal soon arrived following a rasping drive from Ben.
At 3-1, the game had swung in the favour of The Ton and further goals from Zaire, Mason and a second Mako goal ensured the silverware came home to B24 in emphatic fashion. It really was a dominant display from the boys in black and the first trophy of the season was nothing more than they deserved.
A breathtaking performance and one to be mightily proud of!
After starting their season in style two weeks previously, the under 11s were unable to find the cohesion that characterised their opening-day victory over Aston. Against East, they lacked fluidity but still summoned enough magic to earn a great 3-1 victory over a talented East Birmingham side.
With the first half ending in a stalemate, The Ton boys knew they had to do better during the second period. This is exactly what they did when they burst out of the blocks in the second half and bagged a great team goal when Ovander slotted away following an excellent build up.
At this stage, the lads hoped to take control of the game once and for all, but East Birmingham had different ideas.
Bursting down the right, East’s Adaam struck a sweet shot past the superb Remi in the Erdington net. After taking the lead four minutes previously, Erdington were now all-square with East Birmingham.
The next twenty minutes were scrappy – very scrappy. The Ton were unable to find their flow and East Birmingham had several chances to take the lead, including a shot that thundered off the crossbar. However, Erdington and Saltley continued to believe in their quality, and with two minutes remaining, they finally conjured up some magic to take the lead through Matharr following a Mako corner. Not finished there, they then extended their lead after an incisive counter attack saw Ovander bag a brace.
The 3-1 scoreline was harsh on East Birmingham but we are proud of the boys for refusing to give up when things were not going their way. That is a sign of a great team!
Team: Amelia, Grace, Jessica, Maryam, Sianne, Summer and Summer-Leigh
Goals: Jessica x 3 and Maryam x 2
With a crisp autumnal bite in the evening air, the girls of 2021/22 kicked off their campaign by showcasing their attacking prowess and laying down a marker for the rest of the season.
After travelling to Shropshire and the excellent surroundings of Lilleshall, the girls, led by new coach Esme, raced into a two-goal lead before the end of the first period. However, to their credit, North Shropshire refused to give in and soon clawed their way back into the game. As the game swung one way and then the next, the scoreline was balanced at three goals apiece following the completion of the second period.
With twenty minutes remaining, The Ton threw everything they had left in the tank as North Shropshire. This was no mean feat considering they had no subs, while North Shropshire had plenty! Despite battling fatigue during the closing stages of the game, the girls had enough left in them to earn a morale boosting draw in what was a ten-goal thriller.
Two games. Two exciting games. Two breath-taking games. And a whole load of goals!
While one of our under 10s were battling their way past South Birmingham and into the final of the BPSFA Autumn Cup, the other was embarking on a brilliant comeback that saw them fall agonisingly short of an amazing comeback!
Against South Birmingham, Mako spearheaded a dynamic attack that saw the boys take an early two goal lead, only to see South Birmingham level the scoreline shortly after. However, on the adjacent pitch, it was East Birmingham who raced into an early lead, following some excellent play.
As the game against South Birmingham wore on, the tensity increased ten-fold. With a place in the the BPSFA Autumn Cup final up for grabs, both sets of boys were giving it their all. With the third and final period underway, the scoreline was tentatively poised at two goals apiece.
Unfortunately for the Ton boys, East Birmingham were in full command of proceedings in our other game. At 4-1 up, the East youngsters were showcasing their undeniable talent, whereas the Erdington lads were uncharacteristically lackluster. However, with 20 minutes remaining on the clock, the boys in black suddenly found their groove and stormed back into the game with two quickfire goals to leave the score 4-3 in favour of the boys from the east of the Second City.
Despite knocking on the door, South Birmingham were unable to level the scores and soon found themselves down and out when Erdington extended their one-goal lead through strikes from Ben and Mako. With the game 5-3 to The Ton boys, the excited crowd were able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Unlike the East Birmingham parents, who found themselves gripped with nerves as Erdington pushed for a seemingly inevitable equaliser. Alas, it wasn’t to be, as East claimed the victory.
What a great morning of football. What a great morning to be Erdington and Saltley!
Goals: Endri x 2, Matharr, Rio, Remell and Zacchaeus
Man of the match: Rio and Matharr – an attacking threat from midfield throughout the game
There were many encouraging signs on show during the BPSFA 7-a-side Championship two weeks ago. Yet once again, the under 11s boys left us all filled with optimism thanks in no short part to their amazing attitude on and off the pitch. They genuinely are a brilliant bunch of lads and a joy to work with!
The opening twenty minutes saw Aston and Erdington trade blows in an end-to-end affair. Aston had their fair share of the spoils and we relied on the tremendous reflexes of captain Jack to keep us in the game on at least three occasions in the first half. Despite Aston having several chances, we ended the opening half with a three goal lead courtesy of strikes from Endri, Mathaar and Rio.
Our second and third goals came in quick succession and this knocked Aston off their tracks. Consequently, we were able to pull away during the second period with further goals from Remell (a peach of a strike), Endri and Zacchaeus.
Once again, the boys worked their socks off out of possession and defended valiantly as a team. Throughout the side, players were prepared to sacrifice personal glory for the team and this was arguably the most pleasing aspect of the victory. As stated in the outset of this report, the boys really are a great bunch of lads and this promises to be an incredibly enjoyable season!
Two games of contrasting fortunes. Two games of excitement and pride.
On the first morning of the under 10s’ season, The Ton saw two teams take to the field in the famous black and gold. The first team squared up to Sutton Coldfield, while the second team traded blows with Harborne.
Against Sutton, the boys took an early lead and had more than their fair share of the play during the opening third. However, despite seeing chances come and go, The Ton eventually found themselves 4-1 down and unable to turn the tide.
On the adjacent pitch, the second of the Erdington and Saltley teams had too much for Harborne, although they were grateful for the sharp reflexes of keeper Hayden on more than one occasion. While Harborne were unable to convert their chances, The Ton boys scored three goals to progress to the semi-final of the first under 10s competition of the season.
The 2021/22 campaign kicked off with a roller-coaster of emotions as the under 11s were knocked out of the BPSFA 7-a-side Championship on penalties in the semi-final stage.
After progressing from their group in second position, the boys’ confidence was sky high. Having played three games, the boys had still to concede a goal as they locked horns with Kings Norton in the quarter final stage.
Just as he had done in the opening few games, it was Matharr who found the back of the net to give the boys the lead in what was a cagey knock-out affair. Unfortunately, the Tonn were unable to defend their lead as they conceded their first (and only) goal of the morning. With the scores level and the two teams inseparable after a period of extra-time, penalties were required to determine who would line up in the semi-final.
A nerve jangling shootout ensued but it was The Ton who progressed to the final-four after claiming victory when the shootout went to sudden death.
Another faultless defensive display in the last four meant the under 11s faced penalties once again if they were to make it to the final. However, despite the boys’ heroics, they lost out to Sutton Coldfield when the pennos once again went to sudden death.
Despite the loss, the boys rightly held their heads up high. Five games played, no defeats (other than on pens) and four clean sheets – not a bad start to what promises to be an exciting season!
Erdington and Saltley Primary Schools' FA 