The Ton Suffer Late Heartbreak But Gain Respect

Friday 8th May 2015 @ Bodymoor Heath

Erdington and Saltley 1-2 Kings Norton

Team: Harvey, Brandon, Tyrese, Shaun, Shilo, Kruize, Marc, Troy, Kane, Jermaine, Hayden, Sam and Cameron

Scorer: Kruize

I once read that football doesn’t build character, it reveals it. For me, that theory was illustrated tonight by the 13 warriors in black and white. After a long and exceptionally successful season, tonight was the night when everything clicked and fell into place. Well almost everything. Unfortunately we just didn’t have luck on our side.

The first half of tonight’s final was a privilege to watch. Before the game we made the point of discussing last season’s final. For those that don’t know, we lost heavily to South Birmingham after a young man named Tim put on a masterclass. We talked about how all those present that night still remember that performance one year on. Well those present tonight will remember our performance, particularly the first half, for many years to come.

We gave the lads three points to act upon during the first half:

1- for our attitude to be perfect
2- to carry out our tactical instructions
3- to pass the ball quickly, rather than holding on to it for too long

Each of these was carried out and more during the first 25 minutes. The manner in which we zipped and pinged the ball around was amazing. Intricate one-twos were made all over the pitch, with every player confident when in possession. With the trio of Troy, Kane and Marc controlling the centre of the park, it was left to Shilo and Kruize to attack the box from the wings. After 15 mins the first goal came via a succulent move involving three or four quick one touch passes and a half volley from Kruize. Amazing? No that doesn’t do it justice!

With The Ton in total control, another goal seemed certain. Despite a ten man goal mouth scramble, we were unable to squeeze the ball over the line and the score remained 1-0, much to the amazement of all those present.

The second half saw more of the same, with the boys letting the ball do the talking, as quick passing remained the main feature of our play. At the back, the trio of Tyrese, Brandon and Shaun kept Kings Norton at arms length and reduced them to a couple of shots from distance during the first 35 minutes of the game.

After missing the goal mouth scramble, The Ton came agonisingly close to extending the lead once again, only to find the woodwork in the way this time. Bursting down the right, Kruize looped a cross into the box, where Troy met it on the volley. Bang! It smashed off the crossbar and rebounded out. So close!

With the ref’s watch entering the final nine minutes, Kings Norton won a corner. It’s at this point that Lady Luck really kicked us when we were down. Not content with the aforementioned near misses, she now levelled the game via a clearance that bounced off our own man and landed in the back of the net. As the stopwatch approached four minutes remaining, Kings Norton broke the hearts of The Ton, after scoring to seal victory.

Obviously I’m biased, but there’s no way we deserved to lose that final. No way. That’s not to take anything away from Kings Norton, who’ve had a remarkable season and should be proud of their efforts. Well done boys! Congratulations!

As for our boys…proud. Proud. Proud and proud!

Today was a day to prove the theory that football is cruel. However it was also the day when we came together as a united team and the day when we created a memory for all those present at the game. One year from now they’ll all recall the night they saw The Ton play.

We’ll bounce back and come again. We always do!

Man of the Match – Marc:
Tackling, passing, attacking, defending and scoop passes. There’s nothing he couldn’t do tonight!

Up The Ton!

Birmingham Primary Schools’ FA Cup Final

Friday 8th May 2015 @ Bodymoor Heath

One year on from our heavy defeat at the hands of our 2013/14 rivals South Birmingham, The Ton have reached the final of Birmingham’s most prestigious competition for the second consecutive year. Following two years of exceptionally consistent performances (four cups, three runners up and two 2nd place league finishes) we find ourselves approaching the end of the season, with silverware once again up for grabs.

Whatever happens on Friday, this incredibly talented group of boys have produced more amazing displays than I can keep track of, made many friends and memories for life. Job done!

District Team 2015/16 Trials

Round one of the trials process has been spread over five nights, as follows:

Friday 1st May 2015

The Abbey, Audley, Birches Green, Brookvale, Brownmead, Coleborne, Court Farm, Erdington Hall, Featherstone and Hawthorn

 

Thursday 7th May 2015

St. Margaret Mary, St. Mary and St. John, St. Peter and St. Paul, Oasis Short Heath, The Oval, Shirestone, Slade and The Yenton

 

Friday 15th May 2015

Gunter, Heathlands, Hillstone, Marsh Hill, Osbourne, Paget, Storywood and St. Barnabas

 

Tuesday 19th May 2015

Adderly, Highfield, Leigh, Nansen, Parkfield, Rosary RC, St. Saviours, Shaw Hill, Thornton and Ward End

 

Thursday 21st May 2015

Corpus Christi, Cromwell, Firs, Hodge Hill, Nechells, St. Clements, St. Joseph’s, St. Mathew’s and St. Wilfred’s

 

Each of the above schools have been contacted via email, post, fax and Twitter. Therefore your teacher should have passed on the nomination form you you if you’re currently in year 4 or year 5. However if they haven’t and you require further information, please use the form below to contact us. Thank you.

 

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The Ton march on to the final!

Wednesday 29th April 2015 @ Braemar Road

Erdington and Saltley 6 – 0 Sutton Coldfield

 

Team: Harvey, Shuan, Tyrese, Brandon, Sam, Hayden, Shilo, Kruize, Jermaine, Marc and Troy

Goals: Shilo x 2, Kruize x 2, Jermaine and Marc

 

At short notice, the boys pulled on their boots and took on Braemar neighbours Sutton Coldfield, with a place in the final of the Birmingham Schools FA Cup up for grabs.

The first half saw The Ton playing up hill and with the wind howling in our faces. However, despite the difficult conditions we still threatened the Sutton goal, most notably via Troy who was a constant thorn in the backside of the Sutton defence. Despite causing them problems throughout the first 15 minutes, the Marsh Hill wizard didn’t get the goals that his play deserved. Instead the first goal came through old timer Shilo who raced clear to score, only moments after picking himself up following a tough challenge or two. The St. Matthew’s pupil also played a part in the second goal of the game. Latching on to a Marc forward pass, he charged down on goal, only to be fouled. Despite falling to the ground, he managed to poke the ball forward to Kruize who finished for the third time in two games.

The half time team talk was based around the need for the team to maintain their great attitude and work rate. With Ty marshaling the defence, superbly supported by Brandon and Shaun, the attacking players could pour forward safe in the knowledge that The Ton goal was in safe hands! I’m not sure on the order of the second half goals, although I know Shilo and Kruize added a second each, whilst Marc bagged his second goal against Sutton in two games. However a special mention must go to Jermaine who was a total menace down the left hand side of the pitch and deservedly picked up a goal of his own, after some industrious work down the wing. A goal made and finished by the Lea Forest winger. Class! Several more chances came and went, with the crossbar rattled and a number of sweet crosses agonisingly missed. At the other end of the pitch, a clean sheet was earned to top off a great evening.

We now progress to Bodymoor Heath for the second season in a row.

This great season is fast drawing to a close, but there’s still a chapter or two left in these talented authors!

 

Man of the Match – Jermaine. Like a young Stanley Matthews!

 

Up The Ton!

West Midlands League Table

Pld Won Drw Lst For Agst Diff Pts
Kings Norton 9 7 2 0 22 3 19 23
Solihull 8 7 1 0 34 9 25 22
Redditch 8 6 1 1 28 7 21 19
Erd & Salt 8 5 0 3 32 16 16 15
Wolves 10 4 2 4 19 18 1 14
Dudley 10 4 3 3 30 25 5 13
Harborne 10 3 1 6 22 22 0 10
Aston 10 3 1 6 19 20 -1 10
Sutton Coldfield 10 2 3 5 17 29 -12 9
East Bham 10 2 0 8 14 57 -43 6
South Bham 9 1 0 8 12 32 -20 3
A B&D EB E&S H KN R SB SOL SC W
A X X X X X X X X X X X
B&D 2~1 X X X X X X X X X X
EB 0-3 1~7 X X X X X X X X X
E&S 4~3 1~3 7~0 X X X X X X X X
H 2~3 4~9 2~4 0~2 X X X X X X X
KN 2~1 1~1 6~0 2-0 2~0 X X X X X X
R 4~1 3~1 9~1 * 2~1 0~0 X X X X X
SB 0~4 6~3 3~4 0~9 2~3 0~2 * X X X X
SOL 4~2 4~0 12~3 * 1~1 * 2~1 4~0 X X X
SC 1~1 3~3 4~1 3~6 0~1 0~3 1~7 2~1 1~4 X X
W 1~0 1~1 5~0 5~3 2~3 1~4 0-2 1~0 1~3 2~2 X

The Ton March On

Saturday 25th April 2015 @ The Priory

Harborne 2 – 3 Erdington and Saltley

 

Team: Harvery, Shaun, Sam, Kruize, Jermaine, Tyrese, Troy, Shilo, Hayden and Brandon

Scorers: Kruize x 2 and Troy

 

A week after the crushing blow of missing out on the league following a 1-0 defeat to Kings Norton, The Ton bounced back at the first time of asking. On a pitch more suited for cattle, the boys refused to let the poor surface limit their ambitions in terms of attacking football. Racing through on goal, Shilo smartly lobbed the onrushing keeper, only to see his fantastic effort bounce off the post. Despite threatening the Harborne goal, The Ton fell behind when Harborne scored from a corner. Trailing 1-0, the boys refused to drop their heads and were duly rewarded when Kruize scored a stunning free-kick, curling his effort around the wall and past the keeper to his left. A second Ton goal came through the magical boots of Troy. Patiently plugging away up front, the Marsh Hill wonder, latched on to a through ball to expertly finish with his first shot of the game. Clinical to say the least!

The second half seen the weather improve with the rain blowing over. More good news came in the form of a second Kruize goal, after his cross looped over the keeper. Although unintentional, the Slade winger deserved it for his stunning return to form, built firmly upon his tireless work rate. A fourth goal looked on the cards, but Harborne’s refusal to give in saw them snatch a second late in the game. With a couple of minutes left on the clock, Harborne threw their keeper up front when they got a corner, although they were unable to grab a late equaliser and The Ton progressed to the semi-final, where we’ll take on Sutton Coldfield in a local derby.

Overall a very pleasing morning. Three goals scored on a terrible pitch. Job done. Roll on Sutton!

Well done boys! You continue to do us all proud!

Man of the Match – Kruize. Skilful, industrious and hard working.

Up The Ton!

The Ton Pups Roar Like Lions

Tuesday 21st April 2015 @ Mere Green Primary School

Mere Green 1 – 8 Erdington and Saltley Under 10s

Team: Jacob, Ilani, Sam, Samim, Oakley, Kye, Cameron, William, Kian, Eddie, Tion and Harevy

Goals: Cameron x 3, Kye, Tion, Ilani, Sam and Samim

The under 10s took on Mere Green FC in a 7-a-side encounter, keen to play some attractive, high paced, attacking football.

Sometime the best laid plans fail to come to fruition, but this wasn’t one of those times thankfully!

This was a tale of posts, crossbars, silky passing and great teamwork. It was the game when the youngest members of the squad came to the party and set their stalls out. It was a game when The Ton played as a team and oozed cohesion. It was a game when the boys played their best football of the season!

Straight from the off the boys pinged the ball around with great confidence and attacked at every opportunity, so much so that they were leading within a couple of minutes and never looked back. By the end of the first twenty minutes The Ton led 4-0 and Cameron had hit the woodwork 63 times.

The second twenty saw the young trio of Kian, Eddie and William steal the show with an array of passing not seen since Barcelona last played. The three lads controlled the midfield battle and passed the ball around in short triangles, always looking to put the opposition on the back foot.

After adding a fifth goal during the middle third, the third saw three further goals added to bring the tally to eight. It also gave us the move of the night, which saw the ball passed out from the back and following seven or eight passes, finished with a cheeky Samim back heel through ball and Ton shot on goal that squirmed agonisingly wide.

By the end of the game the Ton Army had certainly been given their money worth!

Well done Mere Green. Despite trailing by eight goals, the lads refused to drop their heads and were rewarded with a fine breakaway goal to make it 8-1. A fine team, containing lads of great character. It’s always a pleasure to lock horns with you.

More of the same next time out please lads! Our appetite has been well and truly whetted!

Man of the Match – Cameron

Up The Ton!