Football: Review for 2004-05

An excellent season culminating in a 78% win/draw ratio.

1st XI
This season was always going to be one for rebuilding and consolidation.From a rather shaky start in September the team finished playing competitive, flowing football winning the last four games in tremendous fashion.

The opening match against Marlborough House was a tentative affair, with neither team getting the upper hand, and it was a fair reflection that the game finished 2-2.One bright note was new boy, Adam Pollard, running at the defence and his ball-crossing ability.

In our second match, a good hat-trick, the only one of the season, scored by Rupert Harbig saw us beat strong opponents from Ashdown House. This was a far better game, with Yardley winning the midfield contest.  We then met the 'team' of the season - St Michael's. They controlled every department of the game and, though we competed well, we were beaten by a better team. Defeats against New Beacon 0-3, and a desperately unlucky 0-1 result against Holmewood House were then recorded. The H-H goal was scored in the last minute of a game that we had dominated and in which we played our best football of the season.

This defeat appeared to inspire us and from this point on we won every match. A rather indifferent performance against Hawthorns, but nonetheless managing to score five goals, and an easy win against Vinehall led us into well-contested matches against Hilden Grange, and finally Dulwich Prep.

The basis of our success in the last four games was solid defence, this area being superbly marshalled by Charlie Maitland, the 1st XI player of the season.  In the last four games we scored a total of fifteen goals. We finished our season by coming runners up in the Sevenoaks Prep five-a-side tournament, losing to St Michael's n the final having won all of our other matches. This only goes to prove how much the team improved over the season; having started as a group of individuals we certainly finished it looking, and playing, like a team.

We were fortunate to secure the refereeing services of Mr Andrew Leale of Tonbridge School on several occasions this season and I would like to thank him for giving up his free time to referee for us.  We look forward to welcoming him back next year.

2nd XI
This was a great season with the boys remaining undefeated, a wonderful achievement at any level. The most pleasing aspect of the season for me as coach, was the attitude that developed through the team: from initially starting as twelve individuals, the boys gradually became a coherent and supportive team in the true sense and showed a maturity above their years.

As captain, Sam Spencer was fully committed to the game and showed the attitude which was to serve us so well through the season. The decision to put oneself into the firing line, to commit fully to the tackle and to put one's body on the line takes real courage and confidence. Each game I could count on many players to do this whether in attack or defence. The record of goal scorers for the season makes interesting reading with twelve players featuring on the score sheet!

Colts A
Being new to the school, I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the standard of football played here at Yardley Court.  Moreover, there is no doubt that I was very fortunate to inherit a strong A team squad with its rich variety of skills, abilities, strengths and, of course, characters,

Our very first game at Marlborough House resulted in a fine 6-2 victory.  This performance 'raised a few eyebrows' so to speak with many of the players on the day playing very neat, attractive and attacking football.

Mid season we took two teams to the St Michael's five a-side tournament.  The A team narrowly lost 1-0 to eventual winners Caterham in the A group semi-final. The B team stormed their group stages then despatched Kingswood in the B group semi-final. In the final they were convincing 4-0 winners against Sutton Valence.

We saved our best eleven a-side team performance until the final game of the season. Playing at Dulwich Prep, the team was 1-0 down at half time despite playing some excellent football. Things were about to change!  A magnificent effort in the second half saw us net no fewer than six well-worked goals. It was quite simply a stunning performance and one that lingers most in my memory.

Other well-earned victories came against Ashdown House, St Michael's and Vinehall. Our drawn games were against New Beacon, Holmewood House and Hilden Grange. Our two defeats were recorded at Sevenoaks Prep and at Hawthorns, the latter, in my opinion, being by far the best team we played all year Top goal scorer was Alex Holder with seven goals including two classy hat tricks. Alex was also named man-of the-match on two occasions. Eddy Atkin weighed in with six goals. Ben Williamson captained well and led by example picking up two man of-the-match awards and scoring four goals from midfield.

It just remains for me to say what a privilege to was to work with such a talented and nice group of boys and I wish them continued success and happiness in football.

Under 10A
The U10A team had a highly successful, unbeaten season. With a strong Year Five group of boys there was plenty of competition throughout the term for places.

Chris Karg, who started in the Cs, proved the real find of the year and emerged as our most dominant player controlling the defence with both strength, skill and quiet assurance. His moment of glory was a goal from a 30 yard free kick a minute from the end of our final game of the season that earned us a 3-3 draw with a strong British School of the Netherlands team.

Barnaby Hodgkins and Shem Raveh worked tirelessly in midfield and Toby Forward proved very reliable in a slightly deeper position. Up front, George Skeath scored with great regularity and is a skilful player. Felix Harding was rarely tested in goal but proved alert and able on those few occasions when the defence was breached. Other boys who played an important part in our success included Elliot Helm, Alex Woodmansee, Lexi Galanis and George Miles.

Our unbeaten season included winning the A and B events at the St Michael's six-a-side tournament.

Under 10C
We had a lot of fun in the Under 10C team, and this is especialy pleasing as the season went very well – undefeated over our four matches and the boys reckon we'd have won all four had it not been for the referee in the final game against DCPS, which we drew (Oh, Mr. G!).

Our first game was against Hawthorns.  They came out strongly, but we gained possession and scored n the first two minutes through some quality passing and playing. This was the best part of our game and resulted in each of the five goals – thinking and passing accurately.

Hazelwood was next. This was a cracking game. Within the first minutes, Harry Rugg took the pressure off for us by curling a corner off a defender straight in to goal! We used the slope to good advantage in the first half and the few times Hazlewood got close, Sandy Hills, our secret weapon in goal, took care of things. Goals followed from Harry again, Cameron Lewis and Joshua Laybourne. This was a fine team effort.  We challenged very well and were not afraid to attack.

Holmewood House was another most exciting game of football. Our defence in the first half was outstanding, but we defended more than we should have because ball retention up front was not too good, even though the boys up front showed a lot of skill in beating opponents. The second goal was one of the best I have seen this season – a classic cross from Oscar Page, nicely deflected past the keeper by Robin Dooley who had scored the first – only to score another for his hat-trick! The final game was fittingly the closest encounter for us. We were skilful and determined, but also lucky, as DCPS hit the bar lots of times. A great end to a smashing season.