Woodley Saints was the next tournament for the Kestrels and with a few regulars unavailable there was space for a couple of Hawks. So the line up today Jake, Henry, Daniel, Yunus, Keir, Josh and Hawks Joseph and Nathan. A big thanks to the all the mums and dads for getting them there and all had arrived before me!
With 42 teams in the age group it’s one of the biggest tournaments we visit and play teams we never normally get to meet.
Although the five group games were very difficult and tight matches it’s the knockout stages when the competitive edge really shows. A quarter final against the only team I recognised and a familiar NEHYL opponent in North Warnborough Spitfires and as their coach put it “we’d become a thorn in their side this season”. Was this to be the game to change that?
With few clear cut chances from either side within the ten minute one way match the game headed into the inevitable penalties. With only three of the players there that experienced last week’s penalty heroics there were the obvious nerves and initial panic, but with a short chat and the “keep it low and hard” advice ringing in their ears the penalties began.
After five well taken penalties between the teams, Henry, Daniel and Keir on target for us, the Spitfires had to take their last spot kick to take it to sudden death, but the pressure got to their taker and he put it well wide. Another shootout successfully completed and another semi final place gained.
“Let’s try and get it won during the game” were the best words I could muster in the post match chat, as not sure we could take anymore of the stress of penalties.
Up next were Pinner in the semi final and I thought my words of “advice” had made a difference with us taking the lead and playing better than in the previous game with Nathan and Henry doing a solid job in defence, but Pinner had other plans and eventually managed a late equaliser leaving us to face the dreaded penalties once again!!!
Surely our penalty run was to come to an end soon? With both teams finding the net with their three nominated spot kicks each it was into sudden death, another first for our boys. With Henry, Yunus, Josh, Joseph and Keir having in turn taken and scored their pens it was Jake’s turn, which I was dreading, but as confident as his goalkeeping he buried it. Now he had to face their final penalty to decide if it went back to the start, but it wasn’t to go that far as he managed to get to it and keep it out and send us into the final!
Sherbourne St John were the other finalists and having lost to them in the group stage we were under no illusions as to how strong they were and knew we had to be better than in our previous meeting and surely it couldn’t be anymore stressful than anything upto now. How wrong could I be?
As the final kicked off the weather which had been good to us thus far decided to take a turn for the worse and the rain began. Sherbourne started well and looked sharp with some great football so we had to work hard to try to prevent an early deficit, but unfortunately we were our own worst enemies as in a desperate bid to clear a cross we turned it into our own net 1-0 down! Not a good start and with heads down a little vocal encouragement from the sidelines was enough to lift them to push for an equaliser. Sure enough with a few good passes and a great finish from Josh we were back in it. It wasn’t long though before we were again behind from a second own goal. Knowing if we wanted to get something out of this game after going behind for the second time, we had nothing to lose but to push everyone forward at every opportunity and set piece, eventually the chance came and for the second time Josh finished it which was greatly appreciated by players parents and coaches. As the final whistle sounded and the groans of realisation of a third shootout sinking in around the pitch, this is becoming the norm of the knockout stages!
A sixth successive penalty shootout!
First up Sherbourne, well taken and finished 1-0. Next up Josh with the accuracy of his two goals in the final it was never in doubt 1-1. Sherbourne’s second was another confident and well finished spot kick 2-1. Next for us was Daniel who if he managed to score would also have found the net three times in the final just a shame the previous two were in our own net! Low and hard and it was 2-2. Sherbourne’s last of the three nominated kicks could really apply the pressure on us to take it to sudden death, but a great save from Jake had lifted the pressure and now given us the advantage. Last up for us was our captain of the day Keir and the chance to win it. If he was feeling the pressure he certainly didn’t show it as he confidently struck the ball with pace and reeled away with delight to celebrate with his team mates as the ball hit the back of the net!
With the rain now heavy it was a quick handshake with the opposition and ref and a run for cover, but nothing was going to dampen the celebrations!!!
Well done boys so proud of you all, but seriously we need to have words about these penalty shootouts they’re not good for my health!
Craig