Saturday 4th February 2017 @ Boldmere St. Michaels

West Midlands County Schools’ FA League Match

Sutton Coldfield 3 – 0 Erdington and Saltley

 

Team: Gerard, Taylor, Cian T, Tiarno, Danny, William, Liam, Ilani, Cameron and Che

Man of the Match: Cameron – gave a performance of pure grit and determination. An example for all.

 

Sometimes in football you don’t get what you deserve. Other times in football you have to hold your hands up and admit you were second best. Yesterday was the latter.

Despite starting the game the better of the two title chasing teams, we couldn’t convert any of our chances and ended the first twenty all square at 0-0. Yet we did create chances and we did work hard for the cause. The boys did exactly what we asked of them. Chances were created in the form of Che’s effort that was cleared off the line, William’s strike that flew agonisingly wide and Cameron’s near post rocket that was superbly tipped over.

Then a minute into the middle third we crumbled in a way that became all too familiar during the remaining 40 minutes of the game. After pulling off a brilliant save, Gerard found himself exposed when the Sutton striker reacted faster than The Ton defence to latch onto the ball that now lay idle in the Ton box.

After some honest words, the boys momentarily bounced back in the final third and almost equalised when the excellent Cameron raced on to a clever William through ball, only to find his powerful effort sensationally saved by the Sutton keeper. Had that strike gone in it would have been 1-1. As it was, Sutton scored two goals in the final two minutes to put a gloss on the scoreline that even the most ardent member of the Ton Army would be hard pushed to deny them.

After the game we all sat down for a frank and honest debrief. The boys were very reflective in their feedback and acknowledged that they weren’t at the races for the most part of the game. However we did emphasise the point that such performances have been few and far between throughout the two or three years that this set of fine young men have represented their district. It was a blip.

It was simply a bad day at the office but these boys will bounce back. Sometimes we have days when we aren’t good enough. Thankfully most days these boys are exceptional!

Keep your heads up lads, learn from it and simply come again!

Up The Ton!

Saturday 28th January 2017 @ Heartlands Academy

Jersey 2017 Fundraising Match

Friends of The Ton 0 -1 Friends and Family of The Ton

Friends and Family of The Ton 3 – 3 Birmingham Badgers

Friends of The Ton 2 – 0 Birmingham Badgers

 

After the euphoria of watching the real Ton stars do so well on the final day of the Daniel Sturridge Cup, it was left to the ‘old boys’ to take centre stage! With all players donating £10 for the right to give themselves an almost certain asthma attack (and possibly much worse – read on!), the games were played in a great spirit and brought memories of ‘what we could have been’ flooding back for all players.

The first match saw the team made up predominantly of Ton parents and players from present and yesteryear tear apart a team made up of my mates. In the lead up to the game, all but one of my mates had made it clear they were “fat”, “unfit” or had “dodgy knees and a knackered back”. Such feedback filled me with dread as the ref blew to start the game. I was right to be concerned. In fact, had it not been for my superb keeping, we would have suffered an embarrassing defeat. I kept the score respectable and carried the team on my aching back. In the end a fluky Tonn goal gave the red’s three points.

I know my mates won’t read this so I can say what I like!

Next up was a real barnstorming encounter, with the result swinging both ways during the 35 minutes. The red’s took a two goal lead early on and seemed to have knocked the stuffing out of the Badgers. However following a few puffs on some strategically placed inhalers and a couple of knowing looks from some strategically place embarrassed wives and children, the Badgers found their second wind and stormed back into the game to lead 3-2. However with the ref checking his watch and preparing to blow for full time, 2012 Ton captain Jayden Ward, who had tormented both teams throughout the afternoon, burst through to snatch an equaliser with the last kick of the game.

Following some home truths, my mates were determined to roll back the clock to the glory days of 2000 – 2002 by taking all three points against the Badgers. Now more stable at the back, the lads popped the ball around (every now and again) and scored two goals to take a lead that the Badgers were unable to overturn on this occasion.

Then in the dying minutes of the game and with the goal gaping, Frank Junior (Ireland’s version of Neymar Junior) swung his legendary right foot at a delightful right wing ball, only to strike the air and collapse to the floor in a heap. As unscrupulous teammates mocked and laughed, Frank Junior hobbled off the pitch to a chorus of…well, nothing. Then after a 13 hour cool down in local watering holes, it was on to the local accident and emergency, who confirmed what our team doctor (our defender T-Dog is a doctor) failed to diagnose, namely a broken fibula (in two places).

He was never that good anyway.

A huge thank you to all of the players, supporters, raffle ticket sellers and the referee. Thanks to your hard work and effort we raised £360.41 toward the Jersey 2017 fund!

A special thank you to Matt for organising this game and for putting in so much effort to support the lads on their journey to the Channel Islands.

Up The Ton Parents and Friends!

Saturday 28th January 2017 @ Heartlands Academy

Daniel Sturridge Cup – Final weekend

 

Team: Tyrese, Gerard, Tiarno, Kian, Danny, William, Taylor, Aidan, Resharne, Reece, Jaiy, and Che

Goals: Resharne, Reece, Che x 2, Taylor

Results:

W 2-1 Wolverhampton

W 2-1 Sutton Coldfield

Man of the Match: Che – his work rate up front made him unplayable at times.

For the second consecutive year we picked up the Daniel Sturridge Cup runners-up trophy. There are times when lifting a runners-up trophy can feel like simply being the first loser. Last year we lost a close final in a bitterly disappointing way. It was a real blow. However this year we well and truly earned the runners-up trophy.

Unable to name a settled team for any of the four weeks and with four or five players unavailable each week, we picked up enough points over the four weeks to actually sit atop of the table with one game left in the tournament – South Birmingham vs. Harborne. Unfortunately Harborne couldn’t claim the victory that we required in order for us to lift the winners trophy. Nevertheless on this occasion the runners-up trophy tasted all that sweeter!

During three of the four weeks, the majority of the team had been made up of under 10s, with Resharne, Reece, Aidan, Tyrese and Jaiy regularly lining up in the starting seven. Their refusal to be daunted by the task that lay in front of them has left us all excited about next season.

However we still have plenty to play for this season, a fact we were reminded of by the manner in which the under 11s of Che, Gerard, Taylor, Tiarno, William, Danny and Kian led their younger teammates into battle.

After taking a 2-0 lead against both Wolverhampton and Sutton Coldfield, the lads weathered late storms in both games after conceding to set up nervy finishes. Sensational keeping from Ty and Gerard meant both teams were shut out sufficiently and the six points required to guarantee second spot were secured.

After lifting the Bath International Cup and the BPSFA 6-aside Cup, this was our third trophy of the season and another reason to be proud of these fine young men.

Well done boys!

Up The Ton!

Saturday 21st January 2017 @ Heartlands Academy

Daniel Sturridge Cup, Day Three

B Team: Tyrese, Gerard, James, Jaiy, Danny, William, Jeval, Kian ON, Kian B, Liam and Che

A Team: Tyrese, Gerard, Liam, Aidan, Reece, Danny, Tiarno, Taylor, William, Kian B and Che

 

B Team:

Won 5-0 vs. Sutton Coldfield

Won 2-1 vs. South Birmingham

A Team:

Won 4-1 vs. Harborrne

Lost 3-1 vs. South Birmingham

Won 2-1 vs. Aston

 

Goals: Taylor x 2, Reece x 2, Jeval, Jaiy, Danny x 2, William x 3, Kian B, Che x 2 and Liam x 2

Over the past three weeks the B Team side of the Daniel Sturridge Cup has been used as an opportunity to develop the under 9s and 10s in preparation for next season’s under 11s commitments. Whilst a number of the u11s have been used in the B Team as a means of developing their leadership skills. Overall it has been a fantastic success, with Aaron, Aidan, Bobby, Jaiy, James, Jeval, Klechai, Liam, Navaro, Patrick, Reece, Resharne, Telpher, and Tyrese all pulling on the jersey to represent the older age group.

Over three weeks and six games, the lads remained unbeaten with four wins and a pair of draws, as well as ending with the best defensive record. The commitment and effort shown throughout has filled us with great hope ahead of next season!

Game week three saw the boys start with a bang when they put five past Sutton Coldfield, after weathering a lot of pressure during the first half of the game. Classy finishes from Jaiy, William and Jeval secured the three points for The Ton.

Next up was South Birmingham and following a couple of classy Tyrese saves, the boys scored two super counter attacking goals to once again take full points and with them the B Team title.

The A Team were determined to make it a double celebration and began the day brightly, putting four past Harborne to start the day in the perfect way.

Our second game was the big one. If the lads were to have any chance of winning the title that they last lifted in 2015, they were going to have to take three points off South Birmingham. The game started well with the lads matching South in all departments. However shortly before the half-way stage of the game, South capitalised on a Ton error to take a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately for the lads, this simply wasn’t their day as a ruthless South Birmingham dispatched every chance that came their way to deservedly win the game and with it, almost certainly the title for the first time.

Pleasingly the boys picked themselves up following such a blow and played some excellent football against Aston. With Aidan marauding down the right like Erdington’s answer to Cafu and Reece pulling the strings up front, the boys played some exciting attacking football and took a two goal lead, before conceding a goal with the last kick of the game. Despite this minor set back they ended the day on a high and demonstrated their ability to bounce back, which is something that they should all be proud of!

With one week left to play, it’s been a tournament of many highs and a few lows but one that will leave us in a better position than when we started and primed to push on during the second half of the season.

Men of the Match: Gerard/Tyrese and James; the two goalkeepers have come as a pair throughout this competition and the added competition has certainly pushed their performances on to new levels. Both boys have pulled off sensational save after sensational save to give their team a chance to win each game. Young James has been a rock for the u10s and his no-nonsense defending meant the u10s/B Team have conceded the fewest  goals in their competition.

 

Well done boys!

Up The Ton!

Saturday 14th January 2017 @ Heartlands Academy

Daniel Sturridge Cup 2017 – Fixture week 2

 

A Team: Gerard, Tyrese, Tiarno, Taylor, Kian B, Danny, Che, William, Blessing, Resharne, Reece and Aidan

B Team: Gerard, Tyrese, Jaiy, Telpher, Patrick, Navaro, Bobby, Jeval, James and Aaron

 

A Team Results:

L 1-0 vs. Sutton Coldfield

W 2-0 vs. Wolverhampton

W 9-2 vs. East Birmingham

 

B Team Results:

W 3-1 vs. South Birmingham

D 0-0 vs. Aston

Scorers:

Man of the match: James and Blessing; both boys put in commanding defensive displays. James’ was one of bravery and strength, whilst Blessing’s more attacking and composed. Both boys gave their teams a solid foundation upon which the rest of the team could attack, safe in the knowledge that their defence had their back!

On a bitterly cold and wet morning the boys brought a bit of sunshine to the hearts of the frozen masses in attendance at Heartlands Academy. As parents and family members shivered on the sidelines, the boys played exciting attacking football as if they were popping the ball around on a sun-drenched Brazilian beach. From start to finish they did us proud!

The B Team consisted exclusively of under 10s players and they stood up brilliantly to the challenge of competing against boys a year older than them. Refusing to be out muscled by  their bigger and stronger opponents, the boys went toe-to-toe with them, as perfectly illustrated by James in defence who time and time again bravely won his one-on-one battles against South and Aston players.

In goal, both Tyrese and Gerard pulled off a couple of outstanding saves apiece. The added competition is clearly having a positive impact on both players, as over the past two weeks their performances have moved up to another level. Brilliant!

In midfield, Jaiy continued his fine goal scoring form, arriving late in the box on a number of occasions to claim a brace of goals against South Birmingham.

Later in the morning the A team belied the fact that a number of players were absent by dominating their encounter against Sutton Coldfield from the first to last whistle. However despite peppering the Sutton goal throughout the game, the lads lost 1-0 to a counter attack and were left frustrated and contemplating what could have been had they taken just one of their chances.

Next up was Wolverhampton and despite making five changes to the starting lineup, the boys continued where they left off in the Sutton game. The composure with which they passed the ball around was great to see! William popped up with a quality finish, to match the one that he tucked away earlier in the day against South B.

Finally the lads put on a show against East Birmingham, who it must be noted scored a couple of sensational goals of their own! Up front Che brought his teammates into played expertly, whilst the rest of the lads bombed forward at every opportunity, always looking to go for goal.

They were rewarded with the biggest victory of the morning but it wasn’t enough to stop the lads from slipping from the top of the league with two weeks of fixtures left to play. Over the past two weeks the boys have lost two games 1-0, both loses coming after dominant displays. I am 100% certain that they’ll learn from this and continue to grow!

Well done boys! You did us proud!

Up The Ton!