Our Federation team
On Friday the 16th of October 2015, children from Gedney Drove End and Holbeach St Marks joined together to compete in the annual Elite Sport Academy Year 5/6 Football Tournament at Pinchbeck United FC.
After arriving, we began our pre-match warm up with some passing skills and penalty practice. Our coach, Mr Davies, joined in and gave us a team talk to make sure we were ready and on top of our game.
Warming up
Pre-match pep talk
Our first match was against Surfleet. We started strong, with Jake defending excellently and Callum tackling confidently, and it looked as if we had the other team cornered. Unfortunately, a couple of minutes later, the tables turned and we lost 2-0.
“Our play was a bit dubious,” said Jake. “We seemed to be attacking the same ball and made some mistakes. We’ll do better in the next match.”
A fierce face for a fierce tackle
Our goalie in action
Excellent defending
However, Jake was wrong. Despite excellent play from George and Max, and some awesome saves from James, our second game against Market Deeping resulted in a 3-0 defeat. Team captain, Max, said, “We let the team down by letting those goals in on the corners, but we’ll work on that at the training ground. We’re really fired up for the next game.”
Going in for the ball
Always first to the ball
Keeping up the pressure
Our final game of the morning was the most exciting yet! Ayscoughfee were a tough side, but we were nippy, and both teams looked to be fairly evenly matched until the opposition scored three devastating goals in quick succession. A cracking goal from Callum wasn’t enough to win us the game, but we did do well enough to qualify for the Silver Cup.
Eyes on the ball
A cracking save
Perfect tackle
The quarter final against Spalding Primary was fast paced and fierce, with an accidental own goal by the other team, a direct result of our continued pressure on their players, putting us in the lead early on. The win was solidified by Charlie scoring a neat goal just a couple of minutes later. Victorious and elated, we couldn’t believe how our luck had changed. Finally, everything was coming together!
Playing fair but hard
Speed and determination
Taking aim
Triumphant!
In the semi-final, against Westmere A, Callum again scored two extraordinary goals, making him the tournament’s top goal scorer. There were lots of other opportunities for both teams to take a shot, but the score stayed low. Westmere managed to claw one back but it wasn’t enough- and we were through to the final!
Goal celebration
Going in for the ball
Total focus
The whole crowd gathered to watch us battle Ayscoughfee B. Frankie tried his best but narrowly missed an early goal, while James fought off a couple of chancers with some fantastic saves. The tackling was brutal: neither team willing to give up control of the ball.
Keeping control of the ball
Moving in
Heads up!
Breaking away
However, our team dominated and only the clock running out prevented us from scoring a decisive goal. Groans erupted around the field when we realised this exciting final would be ultimately decided on penalties…
Luckily (or unluckily) we weren’t in agony for long. An Ascoughfee save followed by a low, hard goal ended the game abruptly. However, second place in the Silver Cup felt like a win- especially after how the morning had gone!
Disappointed…
… but still proud!
“It was a super turnaround for a super team,” said Max. “It could have gone better but we all tried our best and in the end their goalie was just too good.”
“Today proved you should never, never, never give up,” agreed Callum.
Collecting our certificates
Coach Davies had this to add: “First and foremost, I am immensely proud of every single one of those boys who represented our schools today. They were warriors who battled to the end. We were the underdogs throughout but determination, effort and team spirit meant we lost only by a single kick. Those boys deserve the utmost respect and the other schools should be hoping to avoid us at future competitions. We are hungry- so watch out!”