The U16 Individual Schools Hawkins Cup
Trinity School 1 v 0 Becket School
One of the best Under 16 Hawkins County Cup Finals seen for several years was provided by Trinity School (Aspley) and Becket School (West Bridgford) as the finale to the second of the season’s ‘Schools Nights’ at Meadow Lane, home of Notts County.
The match got off to an explosive start with two early chances for Trinity, one being scrambled off the line and a second hitting the base of the right hand post. Becket had their first real opportunity on six minutes when a free kick from just outside the penalty area and to the left of centre clipped the angle of post and bar with Rocco in the Trinity goal beaten.
There followed a ten minute spell of intense Becket pressure towards the end of which they should have taken the lead. A quick break through the centre and good shot brought an outstanding save from keeper Rocco but the ball rebounded to a Becket player, who with an open goal from ten yards managed to balloon his shot high over the bar.
On nineteen minutes and slightly against the run of play, Trinity took the lead with what was to prove to be the winning goal. A good ball down the right found Klayton Carthy, who cut in to score with a fierce drive from ten yards out, squeezing it in at Calladine’s near post to send the Aspley school in at half time with a slender advantage.
The second half was as keenly fought as the first period with both teams pouring forward at every opportunity. Rocco in the Trinity goal made several fine saves to keep his side’s noses in front especially one particular reaction save from a firmly hit volley from only two or three yards out that he somehow managed to tip over.
Becket had the better of the last ten minutes of the game without ever really threatening Rocco’s goal again and in fact Trinity could have sealed the result at the death when a superb ball through the middle ended with a fine chase but very lame shot from the City school’s striker.
The two teams were presented with their medals and trophy by James Moran, the grandson of the donator of the Cup, Jim Hawkins.
