Saturday 19th December 2015 @ Birmingham Futsal Centre

BPSFA Futsal Championship: Winners

 

Team A: Rob, Sam, Kane, Rio, Cameron P and Kye

Team B: Gerard, Taylor, Cameron E, Tion, Samim and Diago

 

Scorers:

Kane – 10 goals

Samim – 9 goals

Rio – 7 goals

Taylor – 3 goals

Cameron P – 4 goals

Sam – 2 goals

 

Scores:

Group Stage

Team A 7 – 1 East Birmingham

Team A 6 – 1 Harborne B

Team A 3 -4  Sutton Coldfield B

Team B 2 – 3 Aston

Team B 6 – 1 Harborne A

Team B 1 – 0 Sutton Coldfield A

Semi-finals

Team A 4 – 1 Aston

Team B 4 – 1 Sutton Coldfield A

Final

Erdington and Saltley A 4 – 1 Erdington and Saltley B

 

The first half of this season has been full of many highs, but also a few lows too. Prior to Saturday we had competed in five competitions, winning two of them and losing out narrowly in the finals of the other three. In fact our last three fixtures were all for silverware and all against Sutton Coldfield. Unfortunately we lost all three of them. However the words of the greatest basketball player in the history of the world spring to mind when I think about this group of boys:

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. –Michael Jordan

As well as this ancient Japanese proverb:

“Fall seven times and stand up eight.”

 

Perseverance is so important in sport and this set of incredibly talented boys showed it in abundance on the weekend by dominating the BPSFA Futsal Championship and monopolising the final.

The B Team started off their campaign slowly, losing 3-2 to Aston after fighting back from two goals down to level the game at 2-2, before conceding a third goal. However in their next game they bounced back in style, putting six goals past Harborne. In their final game they knew only a win would get them out of the group stage. Working their socks off against arguably the favourites of the tournament Sutton Coldfield, the lads kept their first clean sheet of the tournament and capitalised thanks to a Samim goal.

The A Team started off the day like a steam train, putting seven past East Birmingham and another six past Harborne, conceding only two in the process. Already safely through the group, the lads squared up against Sutton Coldfield determined to break the Sutton hoodoo. Nevertheless a game packed full of goals went against us and we lost 4-3.

In the semi-finals both teams were up against opponents who has beat the other Ton team during the group stages. The A Team took on Aston, who had beat the B Team, whilst the B Team took on conquerors of the A Team, Sutton Coldfield.

With three of the starting five under 10s, the B Team started off their semi-final as the underdogs. However after taking an early lead they never looked back and stormed into a 4-0 lead before conceding with the final kick of the game. A truly stunning performance. One that I’ll never forget.

Meanwhile the A Team were putting on a great show of their own, putting four foals past Aston and controlling the game throughout.

That meant it was an all Ton final. It was a strange affair as we didn’t really know who to support, so chose to stay out of it and leave the lads to it! The A Team ended the game as 4-1 winners and with it came the title. However the most pleasing thing about the final was the fact the the A Team lads shared the victory with the B Team players and the sense of unity was something special.

A great way to end 2015!

 

Man of the Match:

A Team: Kane – ten goals and a herculean performance from start to finish.

B Team: Samim – nine goals and a phenomenal performance from the Birches Green wizard.

 

Up The Ton!

Wednesday 16^th December 2015 @ Heartlands Academy

Erdington and Saltley W – L Colron

Team: Gerard, Taylor, Resharne, Blessing, Cameron E, William, Ilani, Kian, Eddie and Che

 

The score-line is irrelevant. The performance and attitude of the lads was more impressive than any score-line could ever be.

This is less a match report and more a reflection! I don’t know who scored what or when.

ATTITUDE – every single one of the lads displayed an exemplary attitude from start to finish. They ran their socks off, held their positions, supported each other and played as a team rather than chasing personal glory. This is a great compliment because it would have been easy to chase the goals, but they didn’t. They stuck to the instructions which were simple – pass and pass quickly. Throughout the whole game this is exactly what they did.

EXECUTION – as stated above, our instructions were simple: let the ball do the work and constantly find space so that you can receive it. Every player did this superbly, with very few passes going astray. The accuracy of our passing was possibly the best we’ve ever seen.

DETERMINATION – after conceding the goal, the lads got visibly annoyed. This was great to see! It showed how determined they were and are. The one lapse in concentration was punished and this annoyed the life out of the lads. Brilliant!

FUN – smiles, laughs and jokes. Just what we want. Just what we demand!

 

Despite not playing for some time, the lads gelled quickly and looked like they played together every week. There’ll be plenty more games during the second part of the season, so lots of opportunities to continue growing as a team. Plus there are other lads set to return to the team, after being rested for tonight. Very exciting indeed!

 

A special mention for Colron, who were a credit to their team and should hold their heads up high. They kept going from start to finish and showed great sportsmanship throughout. Well done boys!

 

Thank you parents and lads for your great support and effort and roll on 2016!

 

Man of the Match – Ilani. Eight goals and a truly devastating captain’s performance!

 

Up The Ton!

Saturday 12^th December 2015 @ Wolverhampton Wanderers

Erdington and Saltley 2 – 3 Sutton Coldfield

Team: Rob, Sam, Taylor, Kye, Ilani, Rio, Kane (c), Cameron, Samim, Tion, Harvey and Pharrelle

Goals: Kane and Cameron

 

Our last two games have both been high pressure games – first we faced Sutton in the final of the West Midlands 7-a-side and then we faced our north Birmingham neighbours in what was effectively the final of the Birmingham League. In both of these games we lost out to the narrowest of margins, with Sutton benefiting from weather assisted incidents of bad luck and from the finest of goal difference margins. Coming into the BPSFA Winter Cup Final we were determined to yield this series of unfortunate events and gain another piece of silverware.

 

Starting the game on the front-foot, we had the better of the opening five minutes, although Sutton Coldfield started to look very dangerous on the break. Ten minutes into the game The Royals broke away and capitalised from our uncertainty to take a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later it was 2-0 to Sutton, after a similar counter resulted in a clinical finish. At this point it would have been easy for the boys to fold but they’re made of tougher stuff and managed to steady the ship and see out the first third.

 

Still very much in the game – down but not out – the lads started the second third like a steam train, dominating possession throughout the entire second twenty minutes. Chance after chance was created but Sutton’s resolute defending meant nothing came of them and the score stayed at 2-0. However like all good captains, Kane then popped up just when his team needed him and struck a sweet shot to get us back in the game. With Tion now on the pitch and helping the team move the ball with more pace, the second goal seemed a sure thing. However yet again Sutton stood firm and kept us at bay. Driving down the left, Samim’s determination to chase a seemingly lost cause meant he was able to keep the ball in for Tion, who then passed the ball to Cameron in the Sutton box. The Gunter forward had worked his socks off all game and his sheer stubbornness meant he was able to get a shot on the Sutton goal, only for it to be saved, before eventually stabbing home the rebound whilst lying on the floor. Great team spirit epitomised in one team move. We were back in the game and the end of the second third came just when we didn’t want it to!

 

Before heading out for the final third we talked about the need to move the ball quicker, rather than holding on to it for too long on a cramped pitch. The lads were pumped up and raring to go. Alas if there’s one thing we know about football, it’s that it is a cruel game! Within 30 seconds of the restart we were 3-2 behind following a slice of misfortune, although great credit must go to Kieren (Sutton Coldfield) for his determination in closing down Ron and Harvey. The next twenty minutes seemed to fly by, just when we didn’t want them to! Chances came and went once again but we couldn’t find a second equaliser and agonisingly lost another final against Sutton Coldfield.

 

At the end of the game the lads were out on their feet and their spirits all but crushed. They were hurting. However they should be proud of their efforts throughout the game and proud of their efforts during the first half of the season. The spirit amongst this set of boys is unlike anything that we’ve ever experienced before and this defeat will make us stronger. It is worth noting that this is our first 9-a-side defeat since August, as well as the first time that we have conceded more than one goal in a game all season. There is not a lot wrong with what we’re doing and before long it’ll fall into place and luck will go our way. When everything clicks the world needs to watch out!

 

The final word belongs to the boys of Sutton Coldfield. Well done lads, we’re loving the rivalry that has built up this season and look forward to more of the same during the second half of the season. Congratulations The Royals!

 

Keep your heads up lads, you’ve done us proud!

Man of the Match – Cameron P: Brave. Committed. Hardworking. A fantastic performance from the Gunter pupil.

Saturday 21st November 2015 @ Heartlands Academy

Erdington and Saltley 1 – 1 Sutton Coldfield

 

Team: Rob, Sam, Kye, Ilani, Kane, Rio, Samim, Cameron, Troy, Taylor and Oakley

Goal: Troy

We’ve been here before. Déjà vu can be cruel! Very cruel! In 2013/14 we missed out on the title after losing once all season, although that loss came against eventual champions South Birmingham. Then in 2014/15 we faced-off against Kings Norton on the final day of the league season, knowing a win would give us the title. We dominated that game but lost 1-0. Finally to today, knowing a win would guarantee us the league for the first time in our history, we went into the game looking to reverse the 1-0 scoreline that we achieved when we met Sutton Coldfield in the final of the WMSFA 7 side a few weeks ago.

In Arctic conditions and with Hurricane Barney swirling around Heartlands, we started the game brightly, with Troy a menace up front. However it was Sutton who went closest, hitting the woodwork twice during the first twenty minutes.

With our nerves settled, the boys took control of the game and exerted their dominance during the second twenty. Despite being in control of the game, The Ton fell behind to Sutton’s only shot of the second third. With Sutton defending like warriors, we knew we were going to have to find some magic to break them down. With his back to goal and the ball in the air, Troy did just that when he spun and unleashed a half volley oozing with class. Thundering off the post, the Marsh Hill striker’s shot bounced down but just wouldn’t cross the line! Moments later, captain Kane dropped his shoulder in the centre of the pitch and found an opening, before slotting his partner in crime, Troy, through on goal. As we all know, Troy doesn’t miss often and he smashed home, shooting across the Sutton keeper and into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Re-energised by their goal, The Ton threw everything that they had at the Royalists, only to see their shots blocked by diving defenders, saved by Gabriel in the Sutton net or go wide of the goal. With time running out, the lads just couldn’t get that one clear cut chance that would have given the the league title.

As we approach the half way mark of the season, it’s worth remembering that we’ve entered four competitions this season, winning two of them and finishing as runners-up in the other two. That’s not too shabby!

Well done Sutton Coldfield on lifting your first title since the 2007/8 season. Your players have been a credit to The Rose all season and I imagine that’ll continue to be the case for a long while still. The Big Man will no doubt be looking down and smiling. We’re thoroughly enjoying what’s becoming an epic battle between our two great districts! We’ll see you on December 12th when we’ll lock horns for the BPSFA Winter Cup.

 

At the end of the game there were understandably a lot of disappointed Ton players. However we finished the league season unbeaten, conceded only two goals and extended our 9-a-side unbeaten run to 11 games. They’re pretty tasty statistics! Well done boys, we couldn’t be prouder of you!

 

Man of the Match –

 

Up The Ton!