Match Report: BU14 Seals vs Girls U16 Pioneers

Boys U14 Seals 1 - 2 Girls U16 Pioneers

With the boys' and girls' U14 and U16 Tier 1 cup opposition both unable to fulfil their ties, an all Surbiton-affair replacement fixture was hastily arranged; the girls claiming bragging rights with a second goal five minutes from time to secure a 2-1 victory. 

Coach Frankie pushed midfielder Ollie into one of the full back roles and his composure and assured passing lead to the boys zipping the ball around confidently around the back and into midfield. Toby and Geering were impressive operators in midfield as they received the ball under pressure and were linking well with their inside forwards. Although Geering turned one year older on the day of the game the age differential was marked – the girls  looking old enough to attend a University Freshers' week, Geering himself looking fresh out of Prep school leavers' week. 

Toby, seemingly on the high protein shakes over lockdown, showed strength and great distribution in midfield with most of the good forward play coming through him. However, the boys were not quite able to take advantage of their opening purple patch and it was the girls who opened the scoring. 

Half time quickly came and it gave the opportunity for Dexter's dad to take in the sporting facilities at KGS. However, when he asked one of the other parents how long had KGS had use of the historic looking building with the ornamental gardens on the other side of the river, one could only hope that he wasn't in charge of checking Dexter's Tudor history homework. 

Shortly after the break some neat play in midfield led to Toby finding some space on the top of the D. Players and spectators alike, used to seeing him rifling home forehand strikes into the backboard expected to see an equalizer - unfortunately he failed to get a clean strike on the ball. 

Jude, another who seems to have been smuggling his brother's whey protein shakes during the summer, was carrying the ball strongly down the inside right channel showing good dribbling skills. Ben and Wabi worked tirelessly in midfield and eventually the boys forced a penalty corner. Although the injection and trap were not the slickest, Ollie found space for himself and dragged flicked the ball through the post player on the pads side to make it 1-1. 

But in the end, it was the Pioneers who, five minutes from time, found some space in the central midfield area and then made use of an overload to execute a nicely taken goal. 

The players tapped sticks at the end and the parents were grateful that they hadn't had to use half their petrol tanks to play in a far-flung game that would have been half as useful than one played on their doorstep.