Saturday 25th October 2014 @ Braemar Road

Erdington and Saltley 4 – 3 Aston

 

Team: Harvey, Shaun, Brandon, Kane, Kruize, Tristan, Tyrese, Marc, Troy, Cameron and Jermaine

Goals: Tyrese, Cameron, Marc and Tristan

 

That’s why I love district football! What a game! What a team!

Last season we played Aston in three epic games. We came out on the winning side on all three occasions but could have easily lost all three games. That’s how closely matched the two teams always are. I love playing Aston more than any other district. I teach in Handsworth which comes under Aston and love the area. Aston, Lozells and Handsworth can sometimes get a bad press. However, anyone who ever gets to know the area, and especially the kids,  simply falls in love with the place. Therefore a game like that against Aston is better than any other game in the world for me!

Despite starting the game brightly, we couldn’t get a footing in the game early on and went a goal behind after a matter of minutes. Nevertheless the lads continued to try and play football the right way – passing the ball on the deck and attacking at every opportunity. With the half drawing to an end, The Ton won a penalty after the skilful Troy was fouled inside the area. Captain Tyrese stepped up to coolly slotted the ball away to level the score at 1-1 ad the half time whistle blew.

The second half couldn’t have started any worse for The Ton. Within five minutes of the restart, we found ourselves 3-1 down! However we refused to drop our heads and carried on trying to play attractive, attacking football. If truth be known, Aston could have put the game beyond us at 3-1 but in football you need that bit of luck. Our second goal was a masterpiece. There were a number of teachers at the game today from other districts and they were all waxing lyrical about the breath taking quality of the goal, including Adam, the Aston manager. I missed the goal as I was dealing with Tyrese who had come off injured. However I’m told that it involved around ten one touch passes. Adam even compared it to this goal:

With our heads fully up and chests puffed out, we attacking in numbers and scored an equaliser through Marc Witty. The goal was finished by the astonishing Villa player, Marc Witty, who was returning after injury to play his first game of the season. However, the start of the goal was just as good. Tyrese picked the ball up on the half way line and played a cross field 30 yard ball that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Premiership. I really mean that! That levelled the score at three each and there was still a few minutes left on the clock. Last week we lost to a late, late goal but this week the boot was on the other foot. With a couple of minutes left on the clock, The Ton poured forward and someone in black and white rifled a shot in from the edge of the area. As the ball looked destined for the top corner, Troy dived in the way and headed it, inadvertently stopping it from going in. My heart stopped beating. Then Tristan popped up and poked the ball home. My heart started to beat again. Amazing. It was like something from a Hollywood film!

In all honesty neither team deserved to lose but we know that feeling only too well after the few weeks that we’ve experienced. Aston were a credit to their shirt and schools. A performance like that is the reason why I’m so proud to be working in Aston/Handsworth.

We couldn’t be any prouder of the way you played today lads. Words fail me.

 

Man of the Match – There are so many who could possibly be given this accolade. Harvey pulled off a great save at 3-3. Troy, Cameron and Kane each gave a performance that made a mockery of the fact that they  are only year 5. Tyrese gave a true captain’s performance, whilst Tristan was full of energy and commitment. Then there was Brandon and Jermain who left everything on the pitch, plus Kruize and Shaun, who despite not starting the game as well as they would have hopped, managed to pick themselves up and play like a couple of warriors. That leaves only one player. A player who has been out injured for so long that he had to be introduced to the team of 2014/15 for the first time before the game started! Step forward Mr Marc Witty. It was like watching a young Brian Robson. Ask your parents who he is kids or just YouTube him! At the end of the game I said to Marc that we’ve got a new rule…Marc is not allowed to get injured again. I have never spoken a truer word.

 

Well done lads! What a team!

Up The Ton!

 

Saturday 18th October 2014 @ Braemar Road

Erdington and Saltley 1 – 3 Brierley Hill and Dudley

 

Team: Harvey, Alfie, Shaun, Kane, Brandon, Hayden, Jermaine, Teon, Shilo, Troy, Cameron and Kruize

Goal – Troy

 

Last week we played really well and suffered a couple of sucker punches and lost the game 2-0. This week was entirely different because this week we played exceptionally well. From the first whistle to the last we dominated the game. Our passing was crisp. We played through the thirds. We battled. We lost. Football has a funny way of kicking you when you’re down!

Playing into the wind and up the infamous Braemar hill, we set out to attack Brierley Hill and Dudley from the very first minute of the game. Shilo and Teon were controlling the centre of the park, as Kruize caused problems up front with his pace and direct running. Time and time again we looked to play the ball on the floor rather than kicking it long. The wind was so strong that we couldn’t have kicked the ball in the air even if we had wanted to! Kane was making plenty of dangerous runs down the left from his defensive position, linking up well with Jermaine in the process. As the half wore on, so did our dominance. The goal was ironically very scrappy considering the amount of good football that we’d played up to that point! Shilo and Cameron put pressure on the keeper and Troy nipped in to tuck the ball away. At half time we deservedly led 1-0.

The second half couldn’t have started any worse with Dudley scoring a heavily deflected goal after a minute of the restart. The boys refused to drop their heads and continued to play attractive passing football. Chances came and went and with the clock ticking down the game looked destined for a draw. However with a few minutes left on the clock, Dudley played a long ball forward for their striker to charge down and poke past the onrushing Alfie. If that wasn’t bad enough they went on to do it again in almost identical fashion with seconds left on the clock. Credit where credit is due…well done Dudley. Yam did good ennit!

I’ve never felt so crushed after a defeat. It was even easier to take last season when we lost in two cup finals! On those occasions I knew that we’d been beat by the better team. I 100% believe that we were the better team today by some distance. I think we played some incredible football and gave it our all. That’s why I find it so hard to stomach. However, as my old nan used to say “What makes you bad, makes you good”. Now my old nan could talk in riddles with the best of them, but basically she meant that we can learn from every disappointment and become stronger for it.

Next week we’re up against Aston in what will be a very tough game. If we do what we did today and throw in a bit of what we did last week, we’ll be a match for anyone. We’re on the brink of something beautiful lads! Hang in there and don’t lose the faith!

 

Man of the Match –  Shilo. A captain’s performance from a boy who is growing in stature with every passing week.

 

Up The Ton!!!!