U11 S.Anselm's Primary Schools Tournament

S. Anselm's U11 Football Tournament 2009

 This year's tournament was blessed with a lovely mild sunny afternoon. No fewer than 24 teams contested a sporting fairly played series of matches in perfect conditions. Initially, there were six groups of four in which each team played three matches in a mini-league. The winners of each group, plus the two runners-up with the best records continued into the quarter-finals with the semi-finals and final to follow.

S. Anselm's "A"

Our "A" team began with two mediocre displays though beating Stanton 2-0 and S. Anselm's "C" 1-0. Fortunately, they were able to raise their game against the group's major threat, Great Longstone, to score a good 2-0 win and top the group.

Unfortunately, this brought a quarter-final confrontation with S. Anselm's "B" who had won their group and were quite desperate to beat the "A"s. The tightest, tensest and most hard-fought of matches followed. The "B"s took the lead and for several minutes looked like winning but a cracking equaliser took the match to golden goal extra time. However, it stayed at 1-1 so it was penalties, a lottery of heart-stopping cruelty. After three each the score was tied at 2-2. So, to sudden death: the "A"s scored, the "B"s missed and the "A"s were in the semi-final.

There, they met Brampton, a fast skilful side, clearly technically superior. They should have won in normal time or the golden goal extra time, but they faced an indefatigable stone wall. Not only did the "A"s lift themselves again after the draining tension and energy-sapping commitment of the quarter-final, but they battled with enormous heart and spirit. It was penalties again but just one step too far and we went down 0-2. It was certainly no disgrace; Brampton went on to comfortably win the final and we had given all we had to give.

No individual deserves to be singled out above any other; all eight of the squad contributed hugely. Ollie was a (rather small) giant in goal; Freddie scored 4 of our 6 goals in open play; Ed got the other two. Freddie, Elliott and Charlie stepped up with courage for the penalties, as well as contributing throughout. Jack M-M was a rock at the back; Jack H and Paddy played till they could hardly manage another step. Above all, they played together and for each other with unmatchable spirit.
MJS