2006-2007 Season

TROPHY REPLAY FOR CITY BOYS

Nottingham U15s, supported by Skills Holidays, played Poole and East Dorset in the semi-final of the English Schools’ F.A. “N.U.T.” Trophy at Highfields on Saturday 3^rd March 2007. Heavy overnight rain had made playing conditions difficult, but both sides battled hard to produce an exciting contest.

Poole looked a very competent team from the kick-off and had the better of the early exchanges. They moved the ball well, whereas Nottingham seemed a little nervous on this big occasion. Four minutes into the match, the visitors took the lead, when a Ben Reeves shot was deflected into the net. Nottingham Boys still looked unsettled and for the next fifteen minutes gave away possession too easily. Nevertheless their solid defence was able to repel any danger.

Gradually the City Boys increased the tempo of their game and began to create more concern for the Poole defenders. They came close to scoring the equaliser a few times, especially in the final minute of the half, when Lamah Griggs (Fairham) shot inches wide of the upright.

Both sides took time to settle at the start of the second half, but it was Nottingham, who soon began to gain the upper hand. They were now playing with more enthusiasm and confidence and after ten minutes of pressure they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Connor Hardy (Farnborough) floated a cross to the opposite side of the penalty area. It was met by captain Craig Clay (Fairham), whose powerful header flew past the Poole keeper into the net. Four minutes later the City Boys went into a 2-1 lead, thanks to a superb left foot shot from Connor Hardy.

Poole recovered quickly from this setback and staged several dangerous forays against the Nottingham defence. In the 24^th minute, the City defence failed to clear a cross from the right, which fell to Luke Burbidge, who fired home to the left of keeper, Luca Rocca (Trinity). Two minutes later the same player came close to restoring his side’s lead, when he hit the bottom of the post, after a similar turn and shot.

It was then Nottingham’s turn to press for the winning goal and they came close when Hardy’s cross from the left bounced off the chest of the Poole keeper, Scott Wilson. In the ensuing scramble for the ball, Wilson was injured and needed lengthy treatment.

However he was back in action two minutes later, when he made a fingertip save from a powerful Wilkinson shot. Further chances fell to both teams with Griggs shooting wide once more and a Poole striker slicing his attempt over the bar from close range.

Extra time was now needed and two tired teams took to the field again for twenty more minutes of play. Several players went down with cramp as they bravely fought for every ball. Luca Rocco saved the day for Nottingham when he tipped a powerful header over the bar, while the Poole keeper, Wilson, concluded an excellent performance by making several athletic saves. In the final minute, Dale Stevenson (Top Valley) had a chance to steal victory for his team, but his shot was saved by Scott Wilson.

The match finished as a 2-2 draw and with both sides giving their all, they deserved to fight another day. The replay will take place on Tuesday 13^th March in Dorset.

CITY BOYS MAKE HISTORY

In 1905, 1921 and 1922, the Nottingham Schoolboys team went out of the English Schools’ Football Association Trophy at the quarter-final stage. On Wednesday 31^st January at Northwich Victoria F.C.’s ground, the current Nottingham U15s reached the semi-final of the Trophy with a battling 3-1 victory over Mid-Cheshire. The Trophy competition, often referred to as the Schoolboys F.A. Cup, began with the founding of the E.S.F.A. in the 1904-05 season and Nottingham has appeared in every competition since then, but this is the first time that a City side has ever reached the last four.

On January 13^th, the U15s travelled to Birmingham to play their 4^th round replay with Erdington & Saltley. A single goal by Lamah Griggs, (Fairham) saw them win this tie to set up another away fixture seven days later against York. The match was played at Poppleton School in York and both teams had to contend with a very poor playing surface and a strong cross wind. Good football was almost impossible in the conditions and the game developed into dour midfield battle.

York’s few chances were thwarted by Nottingham’s solid defence, once again well marshalled by Mario Lopez (Big Wood). Gianluca Rocco (Trinity) in the city goal was also called upon to make two very good saves towards the end of the match. The winning goal came two minutes into injury time, when a cross from Connor Hardy (Farnborough) found Lamah Griggs (Fairham). Lamah forced a way through the York defenders and hit a powerful shot into the back of the net.

This hard working City team now faced Mid-Cheshire on a superb Victoria Ground pitch. The home side started well and for the first ten minutes, the Nottingham Boys were forced onto the defensive. However gradually the City team began to get more and more possession and started to threaten the Mid-Cheshire defence.

In the 14^th minute, midfielder, Matthew Wilkinson (William Sharp) won the ball near the half-way line and pushed forward as the home defence retreated. His powerful shot from 25 yards screamed into the net over the head of the Mid-Cheshire keeper. Ten minutes later, Craig Clay made it 2-0 with a calmly taken penalty after his Fairham schoolmate, Lamah Griggs had been brought down in the penalty area. Nottingham remained in control of the game until half-time.

However in the second half, a determined Mid Cheshire outfit, playing with blustery wind at the backs, pushed forward relentlessly. Nottingham’s defensive line held firm until ten minutes from end, when the inevitable goal was scored by Underhill. The pressure continued on the City goal and keeper Luca Rocco was once again called upon make several dramatic saves. Both sides began to tire towards the end and players started to go down with cramp.

In the second minute of injury time, a long ball out of the Nottingham defence found Lamah Griggs free on the right flank. He scampered forward and drove the ball viciously past the keeper and into the net, thus continuing his marvellous record of scoring in every round. The Nottingham side held onto their 3-1 lead for the next two minutes and then celebrated their unique victory.

Nottingham’s opponents in the semi-final will be Poole and East Dorset, who knocked out Swansea by 3 goals to 1 in their quarter-final match. Nottingham will host the semi-final game on Saturday 3rd March. Another Nottinghamshire side, Worksop and Retford will be playing in the other semi-final against Reading.