John Madejski Academy 2 – 0 Thomas Telford School
On Tuesday 2nd March the ESFA headed to Shrewsbury Town’s Montgomery Waters Meadows to feature the two Boys’ U18 National Finals, which showcased some of the best U18 schools footballing talents from around the country.
After 5 previous rounds and over 7 months of exhilarating cup matches, the finalists were confirmed as Reading’s John Madejski Academy (JMA) and Telford & Wrekin’s Thomas Telford School. With just the National Final remaining, the two teams battled it out to become National Champions!
| John Madejski Academy (Sky/White) | Thomas Telford School (Gold/Burgundy) | ||
| 1 | Joe Whiter | 13 | Jon Acton |
| 14 | Ethan O’Kelly | 36 | Jason Harris |
| 17 | Callum Rofle © | 21 | Joshua Garrington |
| 20 | Kaylum Barlow | 4 | Ethan Tiernan-Spratt |
| 30 | Luke Donville | 12 | Joseph Byrne |
| 25 | Denis Haxhiu | 6 | Joseph Richards |
| 34 | Hassan Jibreel | 22 | Jamie Bolderston |
| 35 | Kian Leahy | 18 | Steven Nicholson © |
| 48 | Nicky Heffernan | 14 | Joshua Smallwood |
| 54 | Will Okine-Peters | 19 | Josef Pratt |
| 56 | Richard Colley | 45 | Ryan Knott |
| Substitutes | |||
| 18 | Joe Waight | 15 | Jahmaal Mclntosh |
| 28 | Earl Amaglo | 24 | Joel Hodnett |
| 23 | Haseeb Ali | 28 | Nathan Goodfellow |
| 32 | Jack Charles | 1 | Luke Payton |
| 40 | Muneer Fakih | 17 | Dante Bradley |
Kick off – John Madejski Academy v Thomas Telford School
The second featured match at Shrewsbury Town’s Montgomery Meadows started as a rather cagey affair, with both teams defences’ coming out on top. Around the twenty minute mark, the game began to open up with JMA’s Heffenan (48) and Thomas Telford’s Pratt (19) causing the most danger with the ball for their respective teams.
Thomas Telford’s Nicholson (18) put in a brilliant first half display, playing the box to box midfielder role expertly. He helped to Thomas Telford retain ball control, moving the ball around and then winning it back quickly once play turned over.
The first half Interval might have come a little too quickly for Thomas Telford, since they were dominating the ball, working some good areas and beginning to carve out some chances.
Half time – John Madejski Academy 0 – 0 Thomas Telford School
After the break JMA made a few changes and two minutes later Ali (23) whipped in a deep cross and, causing confusion in the Thomas Telford box, the ball fell to Amaglo (28) who fired it into a corridor of uncertainty where Waight (18) was waiting to tap it home…1 – 0 to JMA (47th minute).
JMA were looking strong after the break, causing the Thomas Telford’s back line real problems with chances falling to Waight (18) and Okin-Peters (34). An opportunity emerged for Pratt (19) and driving into the JMA box, he unleashed a shot but Whiter (1) utilising the modern day hockey style keeper technique, sprung his legs laterally preventing a good chance to equalise and keeping JMA in the driving seat!
Thomas Telford kept the pressure on in the search of the equalising goal, but come the 75th minute Okin-Peters (34) put JMA into a commanding lead. Okin-Peters (34) caught Thomas Telford trying to play out of the back after some good harrying, Okin-Peters (34) pounced on a loose ball, rounded the keeper and passed it into the net making it 2 – 0 to JMA.
Full time – John Madejski Academy 2 – 0 Thomas Telford School
While Thomas Telford pressed and probed for a goal to give them a glimpse of hope of retaining their 2017/18 title, the JMA defence held strong and looked dangerous on the counter. John Madejski Academy as a team managed the game out well and with the help of a standout performance from keeper Joe Whiter (1) JMA claimed the ESFA U18 ‘B Team’ Schools’ Cup for Boys title.
John Madejski School are National Champions!
The final score at Montgomery Waters Meadow finished John Madejski Academy 2 – 0 Thomas Telford School. Congratulations to John Madejski Academy on earning the title of 2018/19 ESFA U18 ‘B Team’ Schools’ Cup for Boys Champions.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH Interview – Joe (up the Ascot Utd FC) Whiter, John Madejski Academy
ESFA U18 Boys Schools’ Cup for “B†Teams @JMAcademy1 National Champions | Player of the Match Interview 🎙🥇
— English Schools' FA (@SchoolsFootball) April 2, 2019
Let’s hear a few words on the today’s national final victory from the Player of the Match, Joe Whiter. 🗣âï¸ #ESFA ðŸ”´ðŸ”µâšªï¸ #ESFAFinal #PlayeroftheMatch 🎙 pic.twitter.com/dkTkvcruoi
POST MATCH MANGER INTERVIEW – John Polston, John Madejski Academy
ESFA U18 Boys Schools’ Cup for “B†Teams @JMAcademy1 National Champions | Manager Interview 🎙
— English Schools' FA (@SchoolsFootball) April 2, 2019
Here’s what Manager John Polston had to say on today’s national final game and what it means to the squad! 🎙🆠#ESFA ðŸ”´ðŸ”µâšªï¸ #ESFAFinals pic.twitter.com/tbvSY1ppjL
You can relive all the action again via the ESFA’s YouTube channel, ESFA TV!
The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.