ESFA National Finals, Match Reports

Match Report: ESFA U18 ‘B Team’ Schools’ Cup National Final 2019

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.

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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)
1Joe Whiter13Jon Acton  
14Ethan O’Kelly36Jason Harris
17Callum Rofle ©21Joshua Garrington
20Kaylum Barlow4Ethan Tiernan-Spratt
30Luke Donville12Joseph Byrne
25Denis Haxhiu6Joseph Richards
34Hassan Jibreel22Jamie Bolderston
35Kian Leahy18Steven Nicholson ©
48Nicky Heffernan14Joshua Smallwood
54Will Okine-Peters19Josef Pratt
56Richard Colley45Ryan Knott
Substitutes
18Joe Waight15Jahmaal Mclntosh
28Earl Amaglo24Joel Hodnett
23Haseeb Ali28Nathan Goodfellow
32Jack Charles1Luke Payton
40Muneer Fakih17Dante 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.

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PLAYER OF THE MATCH Interview – Joe (up the Ascot Utd FC)  Whiter, John Madejski Academy  

POST MATCH MANGER INTERVIEW – John Polston, John Madejski Academy

You can relive all the action again via the ESFA’s YouTube channel, ESFA TV!

ESFA National Finals

Match Report: ESFA U18 Boys Schools’ Cup National Final 2019

Repton School 1 – 1  Hampton School (AET)
Hampton School win 3 – 0 on penalties

On Tuesday 2nd March the ESFA headed to Shrewsbury Town’s Montgomery Waters Meadow to feature the two Boys’ U18 National Finals, which showcased some of the best U18 schools footballing talents from around the country.

After 8 previous rounds and over 300 exhilarating cup matches, the finalists were confirmed as Derby & District’s Repton School and Richmond District’s Hampton School. With just the National Final remaining, the two teams battled it out to become National Champions.

Repton School (Maroon/Navy) Hampton School (Amber/Goald)
1 Milan Stanojevic 1 Tim Wallace
2 Matty Bowman © 2 Tom Waring
5 Oliver Hickman 4 Noah Hanley
6 Tom Whitwell 6 George Maxwell ©
7 Eno Nto 7 Shaun Joash
10 Jake Ranie 8 Louis Instrall
11 Tom Buffin 10 Harry Short
13 Will Hobson 11 Louis Rhodes
18 Elijah Sawyers 12 Tom Hudson
24 Charlie Cottis 14 Samir Omaar
25 Tom Jones 19 Fred Hodgson
Substitutes
1 Guy Waterhouse 1 Ollie Roach
8 Mike Ostermann 3 Omri Nolan
9 Harrison Birch 5 Lucas Boyle
16 George Fynn 9 Rohan Hobbs
20 Max Barnes-Batty 16 Stathis Kalathias

Watch the FULL MATCH HERE –  

Kick off – Repton School  v Hampton School

The game got off to a lively start with Repton’s N’to (7) and Hampton’s Joash (7) both showing their ability to turn a player and get at their opponent’s defence with terrifying close control and pace. Throughout the opening ten minutes the 700+ strong Hamptonian Army made their presence felt around the stadium, roaring on every Hampton attack, resulting in some early Hampton efforts at goal with Rhodes (11) at the heart of everything good.

With the final moving deeper into the first half, Repton began to demonstrate why firstly they were the 2017/18 champions and secondly why they had reached  a final once more, fighting to retain their title. Repton’s Jones (25), described by spectators as a “mini Messi”, was getting himself on the ball in the pocket, committing defenders and pulling strings to make  Repton look the  more likely team to break the deadlock.  

Just on the brink of half time, the opening goal of final came from Repton. The move was started by some good individual play from captain Bowman (2) down the right wing. Bowman (2) bobbed and weaved, creating space to whip a dangerous cross into Hampton’s box. The ball was met by Jake Raine (10) and his shot was well saved by Tim Wallace (1), but when the ball dropped to top scorer Buffin (11), he made no mistakes firing a shot past the player on the line, 1 – 0 Repton (43rd minute).

Half time – Repton School   1 – 0 Hampton School

After the half time interval Hampton came back out to cheers of encouragement with the Hamptonian Army’s full support, in hope that the Hampton boys would make a come back in this national final. It was clear to see the Hampton squad resonated with the many travelling fans as they looked hungry to get next crucial goal; with Hodgson (19) coming close, Short (10) blasting just wide and Joash (7) hitting the post, all within the first ten minutes of the second half.  

Repton had their chance to make the final a whole lot more comfortable with Sawyers (18) breaking the line and bearing down on the  goal, but his shot fired just agonisingly wide.

In the  last 5 minutes of the 90 minute regulated time, it looked like Repton were going to hold on to a historic title defence, but come the 86th minute Hampton were given their last chance to get back into the running with a late penalty after a foul in box on Hobbs (9). “And it’s Louis Instrall who has the job and HE SCORES!” with Instrall (8) penalty, Hampton were back in the game!

Full time – Repton School   1 – 1 Hampton School  

With the scores tied at one a piece that meant we were in for extra time and a penalty shootout, should the score continue to remain even.

Penalties

Extra time and Penalties – Repton School   1 – 1 Hampton School  

Throughout the entire extra time period, both teams defended with everything they had and without any clear cut opportunities, that meant only one thing… penalties!  

First up was Hampton’s Instrall (8) and having already scored a penalty earlier in the game, it could’ve been risky move but Instrall (8) wasn’t fazed – firing low and hard into the side-netting.  

Next up was Repton’s N’to (7) who looked confident as he struck a strong penalty, but it cannoned back of the crossbar.

Hampton’s next penalty taker was Player of the Match, Joash (7), scoring a huge penalty to give Hampton 2-   0 lead…player of the match Joash (7) delivered.

Repton, in need of penalty conversion, sent forward the number 11 Buffin. However, Keeper Wallace (1) reads the shot perfectly for a save.

Kalathias (16) stepped up and just like the previous Hampton penalties he too delivers.

Repton had to score to stay in the tie but with one penalty already saved, Wallace (1) arises the hero saving yet another shot and winning the final alongside the rest of the Hampton squad.      

Commiserations to Repton School who played a fabulous game but it was Hampton School’s day. It has to be said Hampton’s twelfth man played a huge role in the national final triumph, from start to finish their incredible supporters were behind the team as they claimed the title from the reigning champs.

Hampton School are National Champions!

The penalty shootout at Montgomery Waters Meadow finished Repton 0 – 3 Hampton School. Congratulations to Hampton School on earning the title of 2018/19 ESFA U18  Schools’ Cup for Boys  National Champions!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Interview – Shaun Joash, Hampton School

 

POST MATCH MANAGER INTERVIEW – Carlos Mills, Hampton School