The Year 8 boys football team started their 2022 schooling with a series of tests. Covid first, they passed, all negative. Second test a quarter final cup replay against St Edmunds after a 3-3 draw before Christmas.
A poor start saw us go 2-0 down early on. With not much being created and a well organised St Edmunds side it didn’t look good for the boys.
At half time the boys were told they needed the next goal as 3-0 was curtains. Good work from Ceejay and Year 7 Issac saw a flurry of chances being created. Harrison Holmes began the come back scoring a tap in from good play out wide.
The goal was quickly cancelled out as Mebest karate kicked their striker in the box. The penalty saw St Edmunds go 3-1 up. This woke the boys up who dominated large spells of the second half. Sure enough captain Harry Jones stepped up and responded scoring direct from a corner kick. 3-2.
Chances were coming and it was only a matter of time. Eventually with 2 minutes remaining a well delivered corner from Harry saw Mebest score (with a header similar to the one Drogba scored in the 2012 Champions League final, YouTube it) 3-3.
Mebest got hacked down in the box in the final seconds which even VAR would find hard to overturn, but the ref bottled it sending the game to extra time.
St Edmunds started extra time brightly scoring first 4-3, but with the next attack Ceejay Nicholls cancelled the goal out 4-4. Tense atmosphere, tired legs and a mistakes creeping in you couldn’t call it. St Edmunds broke and made it 5-4 with 5 minutes to play.
With 30 seconds left to play St Matthias threw everyone up into the last attack. Somehow Jimmy Joyce found the ball at his feet outside the box, with Mr Turner barking shooooot he duly obliged and saw his shot beat the keeper equalising with the last kick of the game.
Penalties.
New goalkeeper Harguleen saved a penalty putting pressure on Chaviv’s match winning penalty. Pressure got the better of him as he converted a try. Harguleen saved another penalty in sudden death leaving Ceejay to complete the comeback. St Mathtias won 7-6 on penalties.
Man of the match – Jimmy Joyce.
St Matthias are now into the Semi Finals where we await either Colton Hills or Coppice.
Thank you to Mr Mincher who ran the line and supported the boys. Mr Smalls and Mr Turner for covering the 9s.
Good start to the term for the boys!
