Trinity reach National Final

Trinty School   3   0   St Thomas More School

Trinity School from Aspley in Nottingham became the second Nottinghamshire school to reach a national final this season when their Under 13 squad defeated St. Thomas More School from North Shields 3-0 in the English Schools’ F.A. Under 13 Minute Maid Cup on Tuesday 6 May.

Trinity had already won the Nottinghamshire Cup and last week took the Midlands title with a 4-1 win over Sandwell Academy from Walsall to qualify for the national semi-final (northern final). Scunthorpe United’s Glanford Park provided a perfect surface for their clash with St. Thomas More School (North Shields) but Trinity started slowly with the North Shields school dominating the first ten minutes with some good inter-passing.

Fortunately Joseph Dodoo, Daniel Brenan and Thomas Williams were in commanding form at the back, with the latter making two outstanding saving tackles.  In midfield, Michael Thomas had one of his best games for the school, defending well and skilfully linking the defence and midfield.

Neither side came close to a goal in the early stages with shots from Jovan Mullings and Jamhal Salmon being easily saved while St. Thomas More’s best opportunity, a 30 yard free-kick was blocked well by Dodoo.

After 25 minutes, however, Trinity took the lead after a left wing corner had been half cleared to the right hand touch line where Mullings was released by a good pass, cut in and crossed a dangerous ball to the far post.  Louis Greenway-Tambini was unable to convert but the ball ran through to Dodoo who was upfield for the original corner and he hit home the first goal from six yards.

Both sides had near misses early in the second half with a Greenway-Tambini run being checked by a brave dive from the St. Thomas More keeper while a dangerous move from the Northumberland school ended with Williams conceding a corner.

Mullings was then wide with a 20 yard effort but Trinity doubled their lead when Greenway-Tambini went past two defenders and placed a left foot effort into the bottom corner.  Immediately after this, St. Thomas More missed a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit when Leame Robinson met a cross but hit his shot high and wide.

With Trinity now well on top, Greenway-Tambini made it 3-0 when released to the right of goal and skilfully hit his shot across the keeper into the bottom corner and they could have made it four when Dodoo now in midfield after a variety of substitutions hit the post with a fierce drive.

Trinity now meet Poole Grammar School  in the national final at Coventry’s Ricoh Stadium as part of the E.S.F.A. Minute Maid Finals Day which also includes the girls final in the morning. Trinity’s game kicks off at 2.00pm.