Midland Counties Schools’ Football Federation

 75^th Anniversary Celebrations

The Midland Counties celebrated their 75^th Anniversary year by entertaining both boys and girls sides from the touring Australian Schools Under 18 party for invitational matches played at The Marston’s Stadium, home of Hinckley United Football Club.  The Australians are in the UK undertaking a ten game tour with matches in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.

The Midlands side started the stronger and in fact looked more like a team used to playing together on tour than the Australians.  They played some attractive football and created several half chances before breaking the deadlock on 13 minutes.  A superb run down the left to the bye-line by Martin Slevin resulted in an excellent cross that left Markel Bailey with the simplest of chances from 6 yards out and he duly obliged by side footing in to put the Midlands one up.

Two minutes later a terrific through ball down the right found Bailey who squared the ball only to see his fellow striker’s effort balloon over the bar in front of an open goal.  Australia had to wait until the 20^th minute for their first real chance that came by way of a free kick awarded to them just outside the penalty area but was wasted with a shot that cleared the bar by some distance.  They were clearly finding the conditions very difficult to cope with as they faced driving rain and wind making their task very unpleasant.

The Midlands missed a further gilt edged opportunity following another fine run and cross down the right by Bailey who, at this stage, was having a fine match.  Yet again the chance was wasted from inside the six yard box with an open goal beckoning.  After a great save from David Lowery in the visitor’s goal Australia slowly began to claw their way back into the game and equalised with a brilliant goal on the stroke of half time.  The ball came down the right and an inch perfect through ball found David Rowley in the right hand corner of the penalty area.  Taking a couple of strides he planted a superb shot into the bottom left corner of the goal across the keeper’s body.  With the teams going in level at the break it was the Midlands side who would be regretting missed opportunities and thinking they should be at least 4 – 1 up.

Australia came out for the second half in very upbeat fashion and started just where they had left off at the end of the first period.  After several strong attacks they were rewarded with a goal that proved to be a worthy winner.  Glen Trifiro, picking up the ball in central midfield, powered forward and hit an unstoppable shot from 25 yards giving goalkeeper Liam Taylor no chance.  The second half followed the same pattern as the first but in the opposite way – after the goal it was the Midlands side that began to gain the ascendancy and with the wind and rain easing had much the better of the last quarter of the game.

They could not turn their territorial advantage into goals however and despite several chances for the home side the Australians held out for an excellent 2 – 1 victory.

The girls’ game took place in the afternoon on the full size 3G pitch alongside the main stadium.  Leicester City Ladies provided the opposition with an Under 18 side and were soon playing some attractive football, building a 2 – 0 lead before half time.  Australia, to their credit, battled back after the break and with the wind behind them giving them an advantage as the Leicester girls began to tire, clawed back the two goal deficit to end a very entertaining match 2 – 2.


         The Leicester City Ladies and the Australian Schools captains before the match. 


                               The two captains toss up with referee Mark Warren