Glenmoor & Winton Academies 3 – 4 Hurstmere School
Wednesday 26 May 2021
A fantastic game of football was served up as Schools’ Football Week reached a fitting peak on a sunny afternoon at Selhurst Park. The odd goal in 7 gave Hurstmere School the crown despite a fantastic second half display from Glenmoor & Winton Academies.
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Both teams set out to push forward at every opportunity, giving us an end to end encounter with Hurstmere’s Marcel Gordon the first to test Charlie Vicary in the Glenmoor goal, with the keeper denying him on two occasions. It was the 12th minute when the deadlock was broken, as confusion in the Glenmoor rear guard allowed Louie Jordan to nick the ball past Vicary and give the Kent school a 1-0 lead.
This following moments saw a sustained spell of pressure from Hurstmere and they doubled their advantage when Glenmoor cleared a corner – only for Sam McClaren-George to hit a first time shot from 35 yards out that looped over Vicary and into the net – maybe one of the best goals seen at Palace this season!
Two minutes later, it was 3-0 as Jordan scored his second of the game; a loose clearance from Vicary was pounced on by the striker and he coolly slotted it home as the trophy looked destined for Kent with just a quarter of the game gone.
Isaac Greenaway, in the Hurstmere goal, was called into action to snuff out a Glenmoor attack as the Bournemouth school looked for a way back into the tie. Charlie Thomas was causing all sorts of problems, coming close to adding to the lead on numerous occasions, but Vicary was showing no effects to his confidence and pulling off a couple of smart saves.
As the first half seconds ticked away, Glenmoor came closest to scoring as Greenaway made a fine save to deny Rob Taylor and the resulting corner was headed just over by full back Cohen Ellement. The score remained 3-0 going into the interval.
Within two minutes of the start of the second half the south coast side were back in it as Harrison Marsh connected with a corner and the ball crossed the line – making it 3-1 and sparking hopes of a comeback.
Just five minutes later and a foul on Harry Stevenson gave Glenmoor a free-kick 25 yards out. Jack Frankland’s strike was too hot for sub keeper William Hackett to handle and Bradley Walker knocked the loose ball home to reduce the arrears to 3-2.
With just ten minutes to go, Hurstmere looked to have sealed the title as they scored a 4th. Charlie Thomas bundled home a rebound after Vicary had made an excellent save to deny Jake Beaumont’s header from a free-kick.
Vicary denied Thomas a second shortly after, making a superb save with his feet. A minute left on the clock and Glenmoor reduced the deficit to 1, after Charlie White intercepted a pass out from keeper Hackett and hit a first time shot back over the keeper’s head and into the net.
Despite a huge effort from Glenmoor, they could not find a way through to take the game to extra-time and Hurstmere held on for a dramatic 4-3 win in a truly excellent display of schools’ football.
Congratulations to both teams for a game played in a manner deserving of a schools’ cup final with impeccable behaviour on and off the pitch, from two teams who were a credit to their schools and their families watching from the stands – well done boys!
All that remained was for Louie Jordan to pick up the Man of the Match award for his hard working two goal display and for captain Charlie Seguin to lift the trophy for Hurstmere School – Under 13 PlayStation F.C. Schools Cup for B Teams winners for 2019/2020.
The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.
