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Midland finals of the ESFA/TESCO Cup For Inter Association Teams
University of Nottingham Sports Ground - Highfield
Saturday 10 March 2012
Bassetlaw Schools’ F.A. became Midland Champions when the Inter-Association Tesco Cup was staged by the Nottinghamshire County Schools’ F.A. at Highfield Sports Ground.
Bassetlaw, the Nottinghamshire champions, were undefeated on the day as eight Associations competed for the title. They began the day by defeating Northampton 3-1 in their first group game, then defeated Bromsgrove and District before making it maximum points with a 4-0 win over Gainsborough. The runners-up spot in the group was closely contested and despite losing to the group winners, Northampton qualified for the semi-finals by virtue of a 2-1 success against Gainsborough and a draw with Bromsgrove and District.
On paper, the other League was the stronger of the two and when the final games were played, all except Loughborough, who ended the day with 3 defeats, could have qualified. In the end, it was Kingston-upon Hull who missed out as Kings Norton beat Loughborough 1-0 and they themselves could only draw 0-0 with Stoke.
In the semi-finals, a Jay Smith goal brought Bassetlaw a 1-0 win against Stoke, while the other game produced a surprise and the previously unbeaten Kings Norton side lost 2-0 to Northampton, thus ensuring that two teams from the same group reached the final. The Northampton side owed their success to goals from Tyler Jones and Justin Hook and some good defensive work.
Bassetlaw and Northampton thus both qualified for the National Finals at Chelsea’s training ground but met for the Midlands title and a tight game was settled rather unfortunately by an own goal from a Northampton defender.
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GROUP 'A' |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
PTS |
| 1 |
BASSETLAW |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
1 |
+7 |
9 |
| 2 |
NORTHAMPTON |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
-1 |
4 |
| 3 |
BROMSGROVE & DISTRICT |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
2 |
| 4 |
GAINSBOROUGH |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
-5 |
1 |
| |
GROUP 'B' |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
PTS |
| 1 |
KINGS NORTON |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
+2 |
7 |
| 2 |
STOKE ON TRENT |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
+1 |
5 |
| 3 |
KINGSTON UPON HULL |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
+1 |
4 |
| 4 |
LOUGHBOROUGH |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
-4 |
0 |
Semi-Finals
Bassetlaw 1 v 0 Stke on Trent Northampton 2 v 0 Kings Norton
Final
Bassetlaw 1 v 0 Northampton
Midland Finals of the ESFA/TESCO Small Primary Schools’ ‘Soccer Sevens’
University of Nottingham Sports Ground - Highfield
Saturday 10 March 2012
County Champions Schools’ participating:
Warwickshire : Warton Nethersole’s CE Primary School
Northamptonshire : Isham CE Primary School.
Leicestershire : St. Mary’s CE Primary School, Bitteswell
Shropshire : Newtown CE Primary School
Nottinghamshire : Hollywell Primary School, Kimberley
Humberside : Barmby Moor Primary School
Worcestershire : Welland Primary School
Derbyshire : Risley Lower Grammar CE Primary School
Lincolnshire : Aysoughfee Hall Primary School
As in the Inter-Association Tesco Cup, the competing teams were divided into groups, one of five and one of four. In Group A, Risley School proved dominant, winning all three of their matches with a goal difference of 7-1. Ayscoughfee, the Lincolnshire representatives recovered well from losing to Risley in their opening game to defeat Welland 2-0 and Barmby Moor 3-0 and qualify for the semi-finals in second place.
Group B had five teams and produced a close finish. Shropshire’s Newtown School needed to win their last game against Isham to top the group but could only draw 1-1, thus allowing Warton School to clinch the group on goals scored with Newtown in second place.
In two close semi-finals, Riley Harbottle netted the only goal to bring Risley a 1-0 win over Newtown while an own goal from an Ayscoughfee defender put Warton through to the final.
This turned out to be a remarkable game with Jay Snow giving Warton an early lead but they then had to defend desperately against constant Risley pressure. Two superb clearances while facing his own goal from one Warton defender frustrated Risley although Warton thought they had scored again in the last minute when they put the ball in the net when some of their team did not hear the referee’s whistle for an infringement at the other end of the pitch.
Warton thus became MIdlands champions but the disappointed Risley will also go through to the National Finals at Watford Academy in May.
| |
GROUP 'A' |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
PTS |
| 1 |
RISLEY |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
+6 |
9 |
| 2 |
AYSCOUGHFEE |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
+3 |
6 |
| 3 |
WELLAND |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
-5 |
3 |
| 4 |
BARMBY MOOR |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
-6 |
0 |
| |
GROUP 'B' |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
PTS |
| 1 |
WARTON |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
5 |
+2 |
8 |
| 2 |
NEWTOWN |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
4 |
+2 |
8 |
| 3 |
HOLLYWELL |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
= |
4 |
| 4 |
ISHAM |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
-2 |
4 |
| 5 |
ST MARY'S |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
-2 |
2 |
Semi-Finals
RISLEY 1 V 0 NEWTOWN WARTON 1 V 0 AYSCOUGHFEE
Final
WARTON 1 V 0 RISLEY
Arnold Hill Academy vs Chesterfield High School
9 February 2012
The sixth form football team of Arnold Hill are through to the last eight of the ESFA National Schools’ Trophy, after beating Chesterfield High School 3-2. The support for the ‘Green Army’ was mammoth, occupying the whole of the surrounding area. The match hadn’t even kicked off and the tension was palpable. Both teams, lined up, shook hands and separated to begin the 7th round of the national competition.
Despite the -1 degree temperature, the game soon heated up with a penalty appeal in the first 15 minutes after Jack Norrish burst into the box and was upended but the referee waved the appeals away. Another great move by Arnold Hill saw David Corder hit the post from outside the box. Despite this, Chesterfield physically dominated the first 20 minutes of the game, intimidating the usually unflappable ‘Green Army.’ Against the run of play on 30 minutes, the visitors Number 2 found some space 25 yards out, turned onto his weak foot and laced the ball into the top corner, silencing the enormous crowd. Arnold Hill upped their game with a very vocal crowd spurring on a comeback. The referee brandished a yellow card for Chesterfield’s Number 14 for delaying the restart of the game and kicking Sam Huckerby. Twenty seconds later, he pushed Jack Norrish into the fence surrounding the pitch and received his second yellow and therefore his marching orders, much to the delight of the home support. That rounded off a mediocre first half from Arnold Hill who found themselves one down going into the break but with a glimmer of hope for the second half.
The second half began with Arnold Hill taking the initiative and capitalising on their one man advantage. However, from a set piece, 5 minutes into the half, Chesterfield crossed the ball from a free kick on the half-way line and their towering centre-back leapt above the Arnold back line and headed the ball past the goalkeeper. Despite dominating the game, Arnold Hill found themselves even further behind and facing an embarrassing defeat in front of their own fans.
Arnold Hill manager, Mr Crawley, knew it was time to make some changes and brought off Sam Huckerby to be replaced by Sean O’Callaghan. This, with a change in formation, saw complete domination by Arnold Hill, attacking the defence in the hope of salvaging some pride. Brett Langsdale exploded down the wing and found himself in the corner, showing the defender his quick feet, he crossed the ball into the six yard box, narrowly missed by the first player, allowing super-sub Sean O’Callaghan to pop up and tap the ball home to light the spark of a possible comeback, much to the delight of the partisan crowd. Mr Crawley made another change, taking off Mark Hurst and bringing on Speedy Gonzalez, Jamie Frost.
Chesterfield could not handle this attacking onslaught. After receiving the ball from Kieran Poland (KP), Jono Parr carried the ball up the left wing, interchanging the play and from 40 yards out, crossed the ball aiming for Jamie Frost. Jamie dummied the header, confusing the goalkeeper and the ball rolled into the bottom corner sending the supporters and players into delirium. The comeback was almost complete and everyone could taste possible victory with 15 minutes to go.
With 11 minutes left, Jamie Frost played a hopeful ball through to Jack ‘MCFC’ Marshall. Chesterfield’s goalkeeper came to collect the ball but had a nightmare as the ball went through his legs and left Jack on the other side to tap home comfortably sending the GREEN ARMY into dreamland! The fences were shaking with excitement at the prospect of pulling off the impossible. The third and final change came when Michael Baxter was replaced by Johnny Collins. Chesterfield began to pile on the pressure, and had a chance to pull back an equaliser but KP had it covered with a save worthy of the African Cup of Nations Final !
This allowed Arnold Hill to play on the counter attack and with 3 minutes left, Tom Lees-Collier found himself one on one with the goalkeeper, with the fans expecting a final flourish, he aimed for the top corner but missed by millimetres. Despite this spurned opportunity the fans were still on top form, starting to celebrate the impending victory. The final whistle blew and pandemonium rang throughout school, Arnold Hill had pulled off an improbable victory and were through to the last eight of the National Schools Trophy.
FT : Arnold Hill 3 – Chesterfield High 2
Arnold Hill: Kieran Poland (KP), Jack Norrish (Nozza), Tom Ditchfield (Ditcho), Michael Baxter (Hannibal), Jono Parr (Jono), Sean OCallaghan (Shauno), David Corder (Cordier), Tom Lees-Collier (TLC), (C) Brett Langsdale (Arshavin), Sam Huckerby (Huckers 69), Mark Hurst (German), Johnny Collins (Juanneh Collino), Jamie Frost (Jay), Jack Marshall (Marshy), Shomari Whitely (Shom).
Man of the Match: Jono Parr & Jack Marshall
Reported by Harpal Hayer and Brett Langsdale
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