Saturday 20th December 2014 @ Braemar Road

Erdington and Saltley 1 – 0 South Birmingham

Team: Harvey, Teon, Shaun, Brandon, Jermaine, Kane, Tyrese, Kruize, Shilo and Cameron

Goal: Tyrese

On the back of some very fine form, we went into this game full of confidence knowing we had been playing exceptionally well during recent weeks. However, despite playing our best football of the season during November and December, we couldn’t have predicted how the game would have started yesterday! For the first 15 minutes, South Birmingham belied the fact that they hadn’t won this season to take command of the game. South were first to every ball and their work rate was great, characteristics that have come to represent us over recent weeks. However despite being the second best team during the first thirty minutes, we most certainly had the two best chances of the half and should have entered the break in the lead. Firstly Kruize raced through one on one, only to try and deftly chip the keeper when a good old fashioned blast would have been better. Then Kane dived in on the far post to send a tantalising Kruize cross over the bar. Both chances would have been taken on another day but luck conspired against us on these occasions, despite the boys’ best efforts.

At half time we asked the lads to show more urgency and to be braver, just as captain Shilo had shown throughout the first half. With his hair showing slightly more volume than normal, Shilo played throughout the first half like a man possessed. He won every ball in the air and was tenacious in the tackle.

As the second half got under way, Villa striker Shilo burst forward immediately from the kick off and rifled a left footed rocket just wide of the post. This was a clear illustration of our intentions and it showed that the lads meant business during the second thirty. The rest of the half continued in a similar vein, with The Ton throwing everything at old rivals South Birmingham. After meeting them in three finals last season (winning two) , the last of which we lost 7-2, there was unfinished business. Chance after chance came and went, most notably via Cameron, Kane and Kruize. However a mixture of good goalkeeping, bad luck and our inability to stay onside meant it was 0-0 with 90 seconds left on the ref’s watch. Jermaine, who had been quite during most of the game, burst down the left and weaved his way into the box, before sliding Tyrese through one-on-one with the keeper. The Blues midfielder has been in the form of his life this season and calmly slid the ball past the keeper to give us a 1-0 lead. It was the very least that we deserved but we know only too well that football doesn’t always give you what you deserve – Dudley and Kings Norton anyone?

A report of yesterday’s match would not be complete without a mention of two superb last ditch salvages courtesy of Teon and Harvey. First we’ll start with Teon. With The Ton pushing up the pitch in search of a goal and with the score still 0-0, South Birmingham broke away after their defence cleared the ball up the pitch. The South striker raced forward from the half way line, with no defenders in front of him. It looked certain that he would score and give South the lead, although Teon had other ideas! Charging back, the Hillstone midfielder come defender somehow managed to get a last ditch tackle in to thwart the South forward. Not to be undone, Harvey made a great save shortly after Teon’s heroics, after South once again broke away and found themselves one on one. Without such feats we would have certainly lost the game, no matter how harshly such an outcome would have been.

After the match I said how much we’ve all enjoyed the first half of the season and how much of a privilege it’s been to work with this set of boys and I meant every word. It’s been fantastic to watch this group of lads grow in confidence since that 9-0 loss to Solihull in September and develop as footballers and young men. Furthermore, to do so with a large proportion of the squad being made up of under 10s (Kane, Troy, Cameron, Kye and Sam have all played for the 11s), albeit incredibly talented under 10s makes it an even bigger achievement. What a team and what an incredible set of lads!

Speaking of Solihull, that’ll be out next game on Jaunary 10th. I only wish we had a game next week, such is our great form at the minute. Alas it’s Christmas!

 

Have a restful and fantastic Christmas and behave boys!

 

Man of the Match – This is a tough one. Shilo was herculean in his efforts, whilst Kane was everywhere and Harvey kept our first clean sheet for months! However we all feel that Teon deserves it this week for his stubborn refusal to be beaten in defence!

 

Up The Ton!

 

Tuesday 16th December 2014 @ Heartlnads Academy

Erdington and Saltley Under 10s 5 – 2 Bromford Under 11s

Team: Harvey, Ilani, Harvey, Kye, Sam, Oakley, Kane, Tyrese, Samim, Eddie, William, Kian

Scorers: Kane x 2, Oakley x 2 Samim

 

On a fine, mild December evening, the Under 10s really came of age! Following a highly successful first half to the season, in which we have won every one of our games, it was time to step up the challenge. Bromford Lions are a fine footballing side and are having yet another very good season. Earlier in the season our Under 11s played them and drew 1-1, so this was definitely a challenge and a half!

From start to finish the lads played the ball out from the back and did so in a manner that demonstrated great maturity and self confidence. Time and time again we found ourselves in a position where there was nothing open to us going forward, so we simply started again by calmly passing the ball back to defence and moving it out wide to the opposite side of the pitch. We never panicked and remained calm throughout. Furthermore, we did the dirty work too. Tonn and I found ourselves reminding each other that we had four lads out there who are in Year 4, not to mention the fact that the rest are Year 5!

 

By half time we were leading 3-0 thanks to some outstanding team goals, the result of some very tasty passing! The scorers were Kane and Oakley, with Oak’s second goal a particularly classy affair. Picking up the ball in the centre of the park, Samim played a forward pass that dissected the whole of the Bromford team, leaving Oakley to run onto it, before deftly poking it past the onrushing Bromford keeper.

 

The second half started much in the same way that the first half ended, with The Ton on top and playing some intelligent football. Our guile and graft was rewarded when we extended our lead through Hodge Hill wizard Kane, who expertly finished another flowing move, and Samim who deservedly got on the score sheet following a great display. However we knew that wasn’t the end of the game and that Bromford would come roaring back like the lions that they are. They scored a couple of cracking goals courtesy of friend of the district Gio but we refused to fold and stood strong, seeing out the game and taking a 5-2 win.

 

There is so much to be proud of right now. First there is Tyrese who captained the team as our only under 11s outfield on the night of his 11th birthday, producing a performance of immense pride and determination. Then there is the four Year 4 boys (debutant William, Kian, Ilani and Eddie) who were up against a team two school years older than them. Not to mention a couple of goals and tireless work rate of Kane. The silky footwork of Samim. The wing wizardry of Oakley. The herculean defending of Kye, Harvey and Sam. Plus the alert keeping of Harvey. That’s a long list, but I didn’t feel it fair to leave anyone out.

 

Once again we must say a huge thank you to Wayne and the boys of Bromford Lions who are by far our closest allies when it comes to local teams. They put up a fine battle and could have easily given up after falling 4-0 behind. However they’re not called lions for no reason at all. Well done lads, the pleasure as always is all ours.

 

Tonight is a night to savour everything that is great about our fine district!

 

Enjoy your Christmas folks!

Man of the Match – Birthday Boy Tyrese

 

Up The Ton!

Saturday 13th December 2014 @ Heartlands Academy

Sutton Coldfield 4 – 6 Erdington and Saltley

Team: Harvey, Shaun, Brandon, Teon, Hayden, Kye, Jermaine, Kruize, Tristan, Troy, Tyrese, Shilo, Cameron, Ryaq

Scorers: Shilo x 2, Tyrese, Troy, Cameron and Teon

 

On a frosty Saturday morning it was no surprise that the only two district games to beat the frost were both played on 3G surfaces. Surely this is what all teams need to be playing on ASAP? Anyway, that debate is for another day, so back to the action…

Starting the game with clear attacking intent, it took us a while to get to grips with the 3G surface, with the ball often skimming off the surface and passes going too far. However, after ten minutes or so, we gained the upper hand thanks to an expert finish from Year 5 striker Cameron. However, just as we were starting to build up a head of steam, the ref blew for a penalty and left everyone slightly bemused as to what it was for. However, these things happen in football and it’s about how you react in the face of adversity. We reacted by rolling our sleeves up and making sure that we went into half time in the lead, via a class Shilo finish from the edge of the area.

The half time team talk was simple – be patient and reap the rewards. This is exactly what we did, steamrolling into a 5-1 lead. I’m not sure if I’ve got the sequence right but I know the goals came courtesy of Shilo, who played the second half in defence (yes you read that right!), Teon and Troy. Teon’s and Troy’s were both smart finishes from the edge of the area, but Shilo’s was even more special. The St. Matthew’s striker come defender, burst forward with the ball and carried it the length of the pitch before riffling it home. With 15 minutes to play, the game was wrapped up and The Ton were well in control. Or at least that’s what we clearly thought! Sutton Coldfield, to their eternal credit, got back into the game thanks to a couple of long range free kicks. With the game tentatively balanced at 5-4 to The Ton, nerves could have got the better of us. However as we’ve proved already this season on a number of occasions, we’re made of stern stuff and we refused to buckle. Tyrese made sure of the three points by curling the ball beyond the reach of the Sutton keeper and into the bottom right hand corner.

It was a great game for the neutral but not for my blood pressure! Today’s win makes it four games unbeaten (three wins and a draw), scoring 17 goals in the process! We’ve really built up a great team spirit and the atmosphere within the squad is possibly our biggest strength. If we continue scoring at the rate that we are, whilst tightening up at the back, there’s no reason why this run of form can’t continue!

 

Well done lads, you did us all proud once again!

 

Man of the Match – Shilo

 

Up The Ton!