Sunday 23rd March witnessed the conclusion of the U10s Blue League Cup, with the final being played between Haddenham/Aylesbury FC and Beaconsfield Holtspur. This was the culmination to a hard fought series of matches for both teams against the other six teams that make up the Blue League.
For those of you not familiar with youth football at U10s level we play 7-a-side games with each team entering two teams for each fixture; therefore four matches are played with the combined results being calculated to determine the overall result. Standard points are awarded; 3 for a win, 2 for a draw and 0 for a loss. Due a dearth of players Haddenham and Aylesbury FC have joined forces to form a 'Buddy' team, each of us enters a team for the fixtures.
Haddenham/Alesbury FC have played Beaconsfield twice previously during the league with honours being shared across the matches – we knew that this would be a tough challenge!
The final commenced at 12pm with the first matches, 15 minutes each way. The Haddenham team took an early lead 1-0 into the half-time break but a spirited second half saw Beaconsfield emerge victorious 2-1. However the team had played very good football, the interval between matches was taken up by lots of praise and encouragement and the instruction to play the same for the second game.
Aylesbury FC had won their match 2-1 so at the end of the first games points were even and so was goal difference.
The second games kicked-off, Aylesbury FC earlier than ourselves, and again they were competitive but good natured with good football being played by all. At the end of the Aylesbury FC game they had drawn 2-2. Players and coaches then joined our supporters to witness the end of our game; again a finely balanced fixture with the score at 2-2. We were heading for level points and level goal difference; a penalty shoot-out beckoned.
'The last kick of the game' is a well used football cliché – quite apt though: with literally the last kick of the game Haddenham scored their third and winning goal to emerge victorious for the match and the Final overall.
Haddenham have a small squad of 16 players all of whom contributed equally to getting to the final and winning the games. The photographs attached show the 9 players that played in the final but all players will receive praise and recognition at training on Saturday – this truly was a team effort and all players should be rightly proud of the achievement.
U10s Blue League Cup Winners.
Playing Squad: Harry Hodges, Mathew Lister, Sanjit Mallya, Hunter Crossley, Joe Pulic, James Turnham, Sebastian Shah, William Grout, Jonah Enticott, Jack Bulimore, Jake Morley, Toby Goddard, Elijah Tibbs, Louis Whelan, Dylan Changer.
Manager and Coaches: Tony Lister, Andrew Hodges, Martin Power
Photos (click on either to see an enlarged version):
Upper photo: Haddenham/ Aylesbury FC (Coaches and Players)
Lower photo: Haddenham (Players)
