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Under 14 Kent Cup Quarter Final

This was our third year in a row at the quarter final stage and that in itself is no mean feat. Our visitors were Holmesdale today and their results coming into the game indicated a strong team as did the presence of a Kent and Gillingham striker in their team as well as a number of other Gillingham academy players. Unlike the Senior game at the weekend conditions were perfect for football.

From the start of the game it was clear that the opposition's strength came from the wings as they sought out their right winger at every opportunity, this placed pressure upon Alfie Paxman and Alex Ives throughout as he was a powerful and skilful player. With the opposition looking to break quickly we had to be sharp and organised when we lost the ball in order to regain our shape quickly. It was from wide areas that we also looked to threaten as is often the case and we created a number of chances through Paxman and Thajahn Yogendran. The first of which saw Tom McGuirck and Todd Jordan sweep the ball out to the right where Yogendran skinned the fullback and his drilled cross just evaded a sliding Paxman at the back post. Then a break down the left saw Paxman beat two players, reach the byeline and stand up an excellent cross to the far post where Yogendran should really have done better with his header. We began to establish control with Alfie Foster's strength in central midfield to the fore whilst at the back we had to remain alert. The Holmesdale strikers dropped deeper to pick the ball up and run at Harry Holden and Dan Adams but by staying on their feet and showing composure they dealt with any threats to Tucker's goal.

We continued to create half chances around the opposition area but failed to capitalise on our possession until the 25th minute when a moment of fortune combined with a moment of outstanding technique led to our opening goal. A poor goal kick went straight to Todd Jordan 30 yards out and central to the target, his instant control was followed by a superbly struck shot which nestled beyond the goalkeeper in the left hand corner. This acted as a spur to our confidence and suddenly McGuirck, Jordan and Mileham emerged as more potent threats to the opposition. The remainder of the half was played out with relative control but little incident of note.

After the break Holmesdale upped their game and pushed forward at every opportunity, they changed tactics to hit long balls to their tall strikers in the hope of ruffling our defence and creating an opportunity to shoot. However, from open play we dealt with this threat comfortably but corners, free kicks and particularly long throw ins from around the box caused us more problems as their two huge centre backs also had the opportunity to join the attack. Henry Tucker made one outstanding save and a number of good interventions (one of which saw him punch Yogendran in the head) to thwart potential goal scoring deliveries into the area. Whilst the storm around our goal raged we looked jittery but skipper Dan Adams was immense during this period and along with Ives, Downer and Holden ensured that our goal remained intact. We were not devoid of attacking options during this time but our midfield were finding it more difficult to support James Mileham in attack as the game was stretched.

Our obduracy in defence visibly built confidence in the team as a whole and when awarded a free kick on the half way line near the left hand touchline we began a move that would seal the game and settle the spectators' nerves. Adams lifted the ball to Paxman in the left wing channel and his willingness to find the byeline was evident as he ghosted past his full back once again before delivering a peach of a cross right into the heart of the six yard box. Meantime the telepathic awareness of Todd Jordan saw him time his run perfectly to meet the ball with a downward header which gave the keeper no chance. Cue delirium from Wallace, White and Towe as their charges nailed the game. There was still eight minutes to remain composed and soak up more pressure but the fresh legs of Cook, VanHinsbergh and Cohen helped to keep us strong to the end. This was a tough game against very good opponents and we are delighted to be in the semi final once more.

Our next game is in the National Cup in the round of the last 16 and we play Brentwood School at home on Wednesday 16th January, 2.00 kick off. The Semi final of the Kent Cup is due to be at home on Saturday 25th February at home against Welling School. All support will be greatly appreciated.

Under 19 Kent Cup Quarter Final

This Saturday (7th January) saw our Senior Boys take on the Howard School and the game was as keenly contested as we had anticipated. The Howard had defeated us 5-2 during the season despite us having numerous chances before conceding two late goals, they had also won our league, beating us by a point, there was no need to motivate the boys for this Quarter Final.

The game was not aided by a strong wind which impacted upon the play throughout, playing into it in the first half meant that the team had to soak up pressure and look to hit the visitors on the break. With the wind playing a role and Howard looking for the early ball over the top it forced Griggs and Hubert to play deeper whilst Parker in goal had to ensure he was ready to sweep u. For the most part however we kept Howard quiet with set pieces causing us the most trouble, with good defensive headers from Weston Beckwith and Lewis Ray ensured that we retained a clean sheet at half time. Going forward the difficult conditions ensured that success could only be found by short passes on the ground, this suits our style of play well and we fashioned a number of chances to take a half time lead. Firstly, a well worked move down the left involving Beckwith, Taylor Day and Shane Mitchell saw Harvey Colston receive the ball on the edge of the box, his first touch set him up for a strike that beat the keep but crashed against the bar. A move down the right this time saw Colston deliver across the face of the box for the late arriving Lewis Ray to stretch for but unfortunately his ageing legs couldn't connect properly and the keeper saved. The final chance of the half fell to Mitchell who bundled the ball past the keeper only to see his volley hacked off the line by the defender. 0-0 at half time meant that the game was in the balance but we had been the better team.

The second half saw our dominance continue but our retention of possession was not as good and despite a degree of control we did not make the opposition keeper make a save of significance. Midway through the half we were made to pay for our lack of finishing, a quickly taken throw saw Howard break down the left and a ball to the backpost evaded Parker and Beckwith for the Howard winger to fire home. At one down we continued to control the game but chances came and went, somehow we managed to not finish an excellent corner from Jack Whitling (a replacement for Harvey Colston) despite there being three of our players and no Howard player in sight, Jimmy Cole lifted a one on one with the keeper wide of the post as the clock counted down to ten minutes remaining. From yet another corner the breakthrough finally came, the ball dropped to Shane Mitchell at the back post and his sliced volley found its way into the back of the net and saw Shane add yet another goal to his impressive haul so far this year. 1-1 with ten minutes to go. Yet more chances were spurned to win the game with crosses coming in from Miles, Day, Schulz and Whitling all failing to be converted. Extra time seemed inevitable but a simple ball over the top saw Jimmy Cole in a race for the ball with their keeper, his pace and desire were both greater than that of the Howard keeper and he flicked the ball around him as they came together ensuring a simple task of rolling the ball home to make it 2-1. Dan Reeves replaced the injured Taylor Day for the last two minutes and despite Howard driving the ball forward we held strong defensively to take a deserved victory.

The Semi Final sees us once again at home on a Saturday morning where we will be playing either Aylesford or Hayesbrook School on 28th January. It will be a 10.00am start; any support will be greatly appreciated.

Year 9 National Cup

Our Year 9 Football team who are current Kent Cup Champions this year entered the English Schools National Competition and thus far have had quite a journey. 810 schools entered this competition at the start; it is the biggest schools football competition in the country.

Our first game saw us drawn away against Canterbury High for the second year in a row, with the boys looking for a good run in the competition we travelled with high hopes. Canterbury always provides a stern test and having taken the lead through James Mileham they forced a quick reply. A goal before half time from Alfie Paxman made it 2-1. Shortly after the break Jordan made it 3-1 and we saw out the rest of the game with a solid team performance.

Onto the second round and once again we faced a familiar opposition in Dover Grammar School, we have also played them in the last two years, each game has been close and last year's Kent Cup match went into extra time before we came away 4-1 winners. This year was once again to prove a tight affair. A well worked move saw James Mileham lift the ball over an on rushing keeper to give us a 1-0 half time lead but the second half was very much a rearguard action as Dover sought to avenge two previous losses, a goal midway through the second half made it 1-1 and the game remained tight until the end. Neither team could force a winner and extra time also failed to produce a winner. Penalties made for a tense finale and Henry Tucker in goal was required to maintain his reliable form so far this season but we showed excellent calm under pressure to score all of our spot kicks and win 5-4 on penalties.

The draw now took us to a third consecutive away fixture but this time we travelled to William Parker Sports College in Hastings on a damp and cold Friday afternoon. A sports college of 1400 boys, William Parker have won the national cup previously and with tall strong strikers they would provide a tough challenge for the team. The first half was a scrappy affair where we failed to play our normal passing game, we remained strong and resilient defensively however. A moment of good football half way through the first half saw us take the lead, the ball was swiftly passed through midfield and on to Alfie Paxman who showed great composure to round the keeper and slot home. Half time allowed the boys a chance to recognise that by playing good football they would win the game and from the very start o the second half this is what happened. Intricate play on involving Paxman and Todd Jordan allowed Jordan to find space on the edge of the box and fire an outstanding left footed curler into the far corner. Taking control of the game we increased the pressure which eventually told as a move down the left led to a scramble in the box and Paxman was able to poke home the third goal in a 3-0 win. The long journey back from Hastings was made much more bearable by the quality of the performance and satisfaction in a job well done.

The next round once again threw up an old foe for the team. The Howard school had knocked us out of the Kent Cup in Year 7 and last year they were our cup final opponents as we ran out 4-0 winners and Kent Cup Champions. A home tie was a rarity and allowed the boys to play on a wide pitch which suited their style of play. The heavy winds on the day prevented this from being a free flowing game of football however and the boys had to play the conditions. Expecting a tough game we were quickly into the swing of things and Todd Jordan in particular. A twenty minute hat-trick saw us take a 3-0 lead into half time, the first of his goals was truly exceptional, a volley on the full from a high dropping ball that was drilled into the top corner. Second half goals from Paxman, Michael Cohen and Reece Cooke meant a comprehensive victory and one to further build the self belief of this team.

The 6th round took us to Chesham Grammar School in Buckinghamshire, the match report is below –

We travelled to Chesham Grammar School in Buckinghamshire in the last 32 and had quite a game. A very heavy pitch with long grass made the conditions difficult and made playing our usual passing game a challenge.

The task was made more difficult by us conceding an early goal. The boys responded well however and were level within ten minutes, an Alfie Foster free kick caused chaos in the penalty area, the ball dropped to James Mileham who was able to lift it into the net for 1-1. From another Foster delivery Dan Adams slotted the ball home only for it to be disallowed for offside but we were now asserting ourselves more on the game, our natural passing game forcing them further back and success coming down the wings led to us taking the lead. A fine move, starting on the left, the ball moved through midfield by McGuirck and out to Yogendran, he drilled the ball to the edge of the 6 yard box box and Paxman finished a move he had started 20 seconds earlier with a well placed right footed shot. 2-1 at half time reflected the balance of the game but a strong and determined opposition once again came into the game in the second half, a well worked goal 15 minute into the second half meant 2-2 and a tense finish in prospect.

Holden and Adams remained calm at the back and Downer continued to control a winger twice his size as we pursued a winner. An outstanding move involving Adams, Paxman and Mileham led to Cook (a replacement for Foster who had ran himself into the ground) one on one with the keeper, he took it round him and at the tightest of angles managed only hit the side netting. As the game drifted towards the final whistle we continued to push, Jordan worked the keeper from long range and Ives created several chances down the left but to no avail, with extra time looming we had a corner and one last chance, the original cross was cleared but the ball was again lifted into the box for the Chesham keeper to punch clear only for the ball to drop to the irrepressible Paxman 12 yards out with his back to goal, a hooked volley lifted over the goal keeper and defender on the line to nestle in the far corner! 3-2 and with about 90 seconds to spare! There was still time for a couple of last ditch defensive tackles before the final whistle which eventually came and the boys had won a game of good quality football that their attitude, work rate and skill meant they did deserve to win.

This now means the boys are into the last 16 in the country which is an exceptional effort and as a school we should be very proud of their achievements. They are not going to rest on their laurels however and the boys are looking forward to the challenge of progressing to the Quarter Finals of the National Cup along with the Kent Cup Quarter Final on 7th January against Holmesdale they know that they must continue to strive for success as a team.