Saturday 18th April 2015 @ Braemar Road

Erdington and Saltley 0 – 1 Kings Norton

 

Team: Harvey, Shaun, Brandon, Kane, Tyrese, Marc, Troy, Kruize, Shilo, Jermaine, Teon

 

A long, hard (but highly rewarding) league season came down to the final sixty minutes of the campaign. It was winner takes all on Saturday at Braemar. Erdington and Saltley vs. Kings Norton. The victors would claim the title of Birmingham champions.

We went into the game in fine spirits, knowing we had goals in us. However Kings Norton are a finely oiled defensive machine and we knew it would be a tight affair.

With three minutes on the clock, Kings Norton pounced on The Ton’s failure to clear a ball and took the lead. After looking a little shaky during the opening five minutes, the lads settled down into their natural game and started to express their selves with much more cohesion. As a result it was hard to argue that they didn’t dominate the first half, putting the first five minutes aside. Chances came in the form of a Shilo free kick, a Shilo shot from a Tyrese pull back and a Tyrese shot from distance that the keeper managed to claw away down low to his right. The first half was also memorable for the tenacity shown by both teams, although Brandon came off worse following a clash of heads, after a golf-ball size lump decided to nestle itself on his forehead.

The second half saw more of the same, with the lads attacking at every opportunity. Tyrese had to drop into defence to cover for the absence of Brandon, whilst Kane pushed up into midfield to support the imperious Marc in the centre of the park. With Jermaine playing out of his skin down the left and Troy linking up well with Kane down the right, it seemed only a matter of time before we’d score a goal. A couple of crossed fizzed across the face of the Kings Norton goal, with no Ton player able to connect with either of them. Then Shilo burst through the defence, rounding the keeper at a tight angle, before shooting using his left foot. With his shot bound for the back of the net, the Kings Norton defender impressively got back in time to clear his lines. Great defending. Terrible luck!

In a second half that was rough and ready, the boys can be immensely proud of how hard they worked and how desperate they were for the win, and with it the title. We couldn’t have asked for more and that is the most pleasing thing. Everything was left on the pitch.

Alas there are times in life when you have to accept that it’s not going to be your day and this was one of them. There are also times in life when you have to bow out gracefully. This was one of the.

Well done Kings Norton. Congratulations boys. Enjoy the celebrations, you should be proud of your season’s work.

I think today is a day to end on a quote or two about perseverance:

 

“Never, never, never give in!”

― Winston S. Churchill

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”
― Babe Ruth

“If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.”
― H.G. Wells

 

The moral of the story? We’ll always bounce back and be stronger for the experience.

 

Come on boys! Roll on Harborne!

 

Man of the Match – Marc

 

Up The Ton!

 

Saturday 11th April 2015 @ Braemar Road

Erdington and Saltley 6 – 0 Derby

 

Team: Harvey, Sam, Shaun, Teon, Kruize, Jermaine, Tyrese, Shilo, Troy, Cameron and Hayden

Goals: Shilo x 4, Troy and Kruize

 

For the second game in a row The Ton went goal crazy, whilst ensuring that Harvey’s last minute dash from America was worth the trip with a clean sheet for the keeper.

With the sun shining and a crisp breeze in the Air, we welcomed Derby Primary Schools to Braemar for the quarter final of the Burton Shield (West Midlands Schools FA Cup). The game started with The Ton going on the attack immediately from the first whistle. The boys looked bright and energetic, looking to attack at every opportunity. They certainly didn’t resemble a team who were playing their first game in three weeks. The opening goal was converted by Shilo following a quick Tyrese free kick which was lofted over the defence from left of the centre circle, before Shilo brought the ball down out of the air and smashed it home. It was no less than we deserved and the lads didn’t look back once from that moment on. Next up was twinkle toes Troy who slotted the ball away expertly after some great work down the right from Shilo. Troy could have had two, only to be flagged offside (correctly) when through on goal (Shilo also had a goal disallowed for straying offside). Not to be perturbed, the lads continued to plug away and Jermaine in particular was having fun down the right hand side of the pitch. However it was from the left hand side that our third goal came, with Kruize cutting in and holding his marker off, before scoring his 12th goal of a great campaign.

During half time the wind decided to pick up and the lads knew they would have to increase their workload, especially faced with the task of playing uphill. Nevertheless Derby started the second half the better of the two teams, and were on top of the game during the first five minutes of the second period. The Ton weathered the storm though and slowly but surely started to retake control of the game, with the back three of Shaun, Sam and Hayden providing the rest of the team with a solid foundation upon which to build their attacks. The fourth goal (and fifth and sixth!) came from the boot of Shilo, with the St. Matthew’s forward securing his second hat-trick in two games (and 9th goal in two games!). I’m not sure of the exact nature of his three second half goals, other than the fact that he worked his socks off for each and every one of them, although I do know that he rounded the keeper and slotted into an empty net for one of them, after being played through by Teon. Gunter pupil Cameron was playing out of his normal striking position on the right wing, attacking and defending with equal gusto and energy. However his efforts couldn’t lead to a seventh goal, despite several moments of excitement being delivered up for the onlooking Ton Army.

Despite Derby’s best efforts and refusal to never give up, Harvey had a relatively quiet day in goal and will be pleased with his clean sheet after stepping off the plane a matter of hours before the game! Now that is commitment. Another special mention should be reserved for Tyrese who bagged himself a hat-trick of assists!

No report of today’s game would be complete without mentioning Shaun (Biggy). Without discussing what we already know, the Slade pupil should be immensely proud of his efforts today. Well done kid!

Next up in the Burton Shield is Brierley Hill and Dudley. We’ll lock horns with our rivals from the Black Country for a place in the final over the next few weeks! Before that there’s the small matter of the league to decide.

 

Man of the Match – on any other week it would have been hard to have given it to anyone other than Shilo, after he scored four goals. However today it has to go to Biggy. Enough said.

 

Up The Ton!