So close to pulling off a great cup upset

The U13A team were beaten in the cruellest of circumstances on Friday when they lost to a last minute goal from Whitgift in the ISFA Semi-Final. The opposition, who have won the cup for the last 5 seasons, had the advantage of a strong wind and slope in the first half but despite a few half chances did not look like breaking through Josh Roach’s goal.

Unfortunately we switched off in the final minute of the first half and Whitgift took the lead from a simple header from a corner. Even more frustrating was that we had wasted a good chance to take the lead ourselves just before. However, considering the conditions being just 1-0 down at half time was a great effort. With the conditions now favouring us we poured forward and went close a number of times before Oscar Boateng latched onto a through ball by Daniel Oyegoke to equalise. At this stage Whitgift could barely get out of their own half and we had a number of chances to take the lead, which ultimately cost us the a place in the final. The final 10 minutes saw the game become more even as the wind dropped and both teams tired on a big pitch.

With just a minute or so to go Whitgift scored from a corner which eluded everyone and was poked home at the far post to give Whitgift the lead. In order to try and find an equaliser we pushed everyone forward, including GK Roach, for a corner which gave us one chance to take the game to extra-time. A Patino corner went over everyone and fell at the far post for Tom Barrett but he could not keep his effort down and the final whistle was blown. It brought a cruel end to a fantastic season for the team, who up to then had won all 14 games they had played. To put into context how unlucky the boys were Whitgift were choosing their team from around 380 boys compared to our 90 odd.

The squad now go onto play another semi-final, this time in the County Cup. As holders of the Cup from last year, they will be looking to retain the trophy.