Year 3 and 4 Football Tournament

With our Year 4 pupils away at the residential, the responsibility fell to our Year 3 pupils to try and bring the trophy home at the Broxton Year 3 and 4 football tournament. Pre match briefing focused on enjoying playing football, score the odd goal and hopefully win a few points from our matches. With a team a year younger than everyone else, we had to be realistic. But the children had other ideas......

Our first match was a real test against Bickerton A team. Right from the start, we played with confidence and were on the front foot. The odd break from Bickerton was met by our defensive wall of Henry and Nathan. Their tackling was strong, but not only that, their distribution was fantastic, making sure the ball was played to the feet of our midfield. Jemiah broke through and finished strongly. Then, he turned provider for Niall who finished confidently. The game finished 3 - 0 and next up was Tilston. 

They proved to be a strong team and their early pressure led to a penalty. A tall Year 4 boy stepped up, and Flo stared him down. The whistle blew, the ball was struck and Flo dived low to her left and saved it! The crowd went crazy and her team mates raced up to her to congratulate what was a top save. This shook us into action and Nathan raced away, but pulled his shot wide. Then, came the goal of the day. Jemiah linked up with Evelyn, then the ball was flashed across the box and there was Niall once again, sliding in at the back post. A 2 - 0 win and a confidence boosting victory before taking on tournament favourites Malpas. 

We started well, but Malpas were so dangerous on the break. Early in the game, Malpas fired a shot at goal. Flo managed to get a hand on it, but it squeezed in off the post. It was tense! Another Malpas strike hit the post and for the first time we were under pressure. Blake was finding space down the right side and raced clear but his shot found the side netting. Some tactical substitutions made the difference. Jemiah came off the bench to score what proved to be an important equalizer. We pushed for a winner and looked the more likely to score, but 1 - 1 it finished. 

Bickerton B followed. This was the match where it all clicked! Some of the football was absolutely superb! Harriet had some important touches in midfield, sniffing out any threat of a Bickerton counter attack. Several early chances were well saved by the Bickerton keeper, but we were not to be denied for too long. After Jemiah and Niall had added to their goal tallies, Henry, who had been our rock at the back, raced down the entire pitch and scored with a thunderous strike. Jonah was playing wide on the right, and raced clear, cut inside and unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner! An impressive 5 - 0 victory. 

Last up was Tushingham. We knew only a victory would be good enough to stand any chance to win the tournament. They were a big strong side and for most of the game the two teams cancelled each other out. Our pressure led to several corners. Rory came off the bench and got on the end of one ball put into the box only to see it saved at the far post. A draw looked inevitable. But then.....

GOAL! Jemiah burst into the box, having taken on two Tushingham players and calmly finished into the bottom left corner. A tense couple of minutes followed, but with great relief the final whistle sounded. 

With Malpas and Farndon each winning 4 and drawing 1, it meant goal difference would decide who would finish on top. With Flo's 4 clean sheets and the 12 goals we scored, Farndon were crowned Champions!

I could not have been more proud of the team. Not just because they won, but also because of the style of the football they played, their wonderful optimistic attitude and how they supported one another as a team. 

As for player of the tournament, that's a tough one as there were so many worthy candidates. Jemiah and Niall were key, scoring several goals between them and Flo saved a penalty and kept 4 clean sheets! But my Player of the Tournament was Henry. He played in the back two and never moaned once. He had such an engine, getting up to support our attacks, then racing back, making crucial tackles and blocks to protect our goal. Well done Henry. And well done to the whole team - you can be very proud of your achievement; now you will just have to go and do it all again next year!