THIS WEEK'S COUNTY AND CITY NEWS - 10 May 2008

County News

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.

Trinity had already won the Nottinghamshire Cup and last week took the Midlands title with a 4-1 win at Meadow Lane 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 next Friday 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.

South Notts Schools’ F.A. held their Cup Finals this season at the new West Bridgford Colts ground on Regatta Way and with two exceptions, all the games proved close affairs. West Bridgford School were the most successful school, winning the Under 19 Cup with a 3-1 success against Rushcliffe after the latter had scored first, the Under 12 competition 5-0 against National from Hucknall and in the best game of the day, defeating Rushcliffe 3-2 after extra time.

Rushcliffe gained some revenge in the Under 13 Girls’ final in which they crushed Bridgford 8-1. Two of the other matches ended in draws with the teams sharing the trophies; the Under 16 girls final between Chilwell and Gedling ending at 1-1 while the score was the same in the Under 15 boys’ game between Arnold Hill and Toot Hill (Bingham). Another close match was the Under 13 final in which Wheldon (Carlton) defeated near neighbours Carlton-le-Willows 3-2.

Honours were even when two Nottinghamshire Finals were played at the Under 13 and Under 14 age groups at the Nottingham Forest Academy Ground on Wednesday. In the Under 13 Intermediate Cup, South Notts beat Nottingham 3-1, their first victory over the City in the Secondary age groups.

South Notts went ahead with a scrambled effort from Greg Simmons but Nottingham equalised when Louis Greenway-Tambini broke clear down the right and crossed for Kyle Dixon to hammer the ball home. Both sides missed several chances while both keepers made good saves until 10 minutes from time, when a long kick downfield by Poland found Greg Simmons and although under pressure, he controlled the ball well and laid it off cleverly to Will Coutts whose shot was deflected past Ryan Swift.

South Notts made sure of their first win in this competition for ten years when Simmons again laid on a chance for Couttts who finished well to make the final score 3-1.

The Under 14 Norris Cup between the same two Associations seemed to be over before half-time as two quick goals from Ashleigh Read, the second a superb drive into the top corner and a third from Daniel Jackson made it 3-0 at the interval. South Notts fought back well after the break and goals from Joe Wells and Greg Tempest also with a superb shot left the game on a knife edge but the City managed to hang on to take the Cup which was presented by Nottingham Forest Academy Director, Nick Marshall.

Several of the Nottinghamshire finals which were postponed because of waterlogged pitches last week have been rearranged for next week. The Reprotec County Primary Cup Final between Nottingham and Bassetlaw will be played at Highfields on Tuesday (6.30pm.) while West Bridgford and Magnus will meet in the Under 12 Reprotec Cup at Burton Joyce on Monday (5.30pm.). The Poplars Playing Field in Burton Joyce will also be the venue for both the Under 14 Cup finals, the Chaplin Shield between Becket and Wheldon.and the girls’ Active Sports Shield between Redhill (Arnold) and Col. Frank Seely (Calverton).

City News

Nottingham Forest’s Academy was the venue for another of the Nottingham City Schools FA Finals nights.

The Under 10 Forest 6-a-side Tournament attracted an original entry of nineteen Nottingham Primary Schools with Fernwood and St Teresa’s battling their way through to the final.

Fernwood took an early lead after four minutes, Uhan Elliott scoring with a powerful shot. Elliott almost increased his team’s advantage a few minutes later with another good shot which was headed away. St Tersea’s fought back bravely in the second half and created several goal scoring opportunities but Fernwood always looked in control.

Fernwood also had a team in the final of the Under 11 knock out competition for which the prize was the Nottingham Forest Chairman’s Cup. Fernwood this time were up against Seely Junior School from Sherwood whose pace and strength soon began to stretch them.

After having one powerful shot deflected for a corner, Kasheme Walton was brought down in the area just before half time and got up to competently dispatch the spot kick to give Seely a slender lead at the interval.

Fernwood began the second half brightly and the Seely keeper was called on to make to excellent saves. Seely confirmed the outcome of the Trophy with Walton scoring a wonderful second goal for himself and his team.