Easter 7s Football Tournament
Against all the odds, Vigo Village School football team returned from the Easter 7s tournament at St John’s R.C. School clutching the winner’s trophy. Bearing in mind that the team had yet to register a draw, let alone a win all season, and had accumulated a grand total of one goal all season, this really was a remarkable achievement.
Things did not start particularly auspiciously – despite a sterling effort and a missed penalty, the team played out a goalless draw in their first match against Convent A team. Things did not improve. The next match was against Kings Farm, whose superior passing and finishing saw them cruise to a 2-0 victory, despite an excellent performance by Joseph at left back.
The ten teams had been divided into two groups, with the top two schools qualifying for the semi finals. Having registered just one point from the first two games, the third match against Cobham was particularly important. Mid-way through the second half, a familiar story appeared to be recurring – a couple of good chances had been missed, and the time was ticking away. As was to be a theme for the morning, the defence, led by Kabi, was holding up well, and when they repelled another Cobham attack, the ball found its way to Christopher. Gaining a few yards, he passed to Adam who took the ball down the left wing. As the defender advanced on him, he slipped it to Mitchell, who hit it first time and watched it sail over the goalkeeper’s head and into the back of the net.
The next few minutes saw the team do something they had not been required to do all season – defend a lead. It was therefore with some relief that the final whistle went to signal their first victory.
The team presumed that only a victory in the last game, against Holy Trinity, would give them a chance of progressing. They moved to the ‘sloping pitch’, which appeared to suit their style. Defending deeply, they trusted in the attacking players’ ability to use their pace and skill. However, they could not have predicted the goal that was to prove to be the winner. Collecting the ball well in his own half, Adam embarked on a mazy dribble that took him through the defence and score a genuinely spectacular goal. A few nervous moments, during which Ryan excelled himself in goal, preceded the final whistle.
Vigo now had to rely on other results to determine their destiny. If Kings Farm won their final game, they would have progressed at the team’s expense. Their 0-0 draw therefore was greeted with some joy by the team and their families.
Being second in their group meant that Vigo would have to play the top team in the other group. St Botolph’s, who had one three, and drawn one of their four matches, had every reason to be confident. However, once again, the team used the slope to their advantage. Kicking down hill in the first half, the scores were level, but soon into the second half, Adam was back to his old tricks, storming through the defence and, following a save from the goalkeeper, flicking the ball into the back of the net.
Incessant pressure on the Vigo goal followed. The post was struck, Luke got in some excellent tackles, and corner followed corner. With a minute to go, Adam once again picked the ball up on the left, advanced on the goalkeeper, and calmly rolled the ball into the back of the net. There was barely time for play to be restarted when the referee’s whistle blew to signal full time and Vigo’s advancement into the final, and a re-match with Holy Trinity, who had seen off the runners up of the other group in the semi-finals.
From the start of the game, it was clear that the five games that had preceded the final had taken its toll on both teams. Try as they might, neither team could re-discover the form that had taken them so far, indeed it was Holy Trinity who looked most likely to score, with a corner count running into double figures. However, Vigo held firm, with Cameron once again putting in a strong performance in defence. Ten minutes rapidly elapsed, and the prospect of extra time was realised. Two minutes each way would follow – if the teams remained level, the trophy would be shared.
The first half of extra time saw Vigo’s best chance. Adam’s pace once again took him clear of the defence, but an act of desperation from Trinity’s goalkeeper saw him handle the ball just outside the area. Christopher was entrusted with the responsibility of the direct free kick. His left-footed contact was good, but the ball failed to swerve sufficiently into the corner of the net, and the chance was gone.
The rest of the game was played out without a goal, and the whistle confirmed that the Devenish trophy would be shared. Cameron collected the shield on behalf of Luke, Cameron, Joseph, Adam, Ryan, Christopher and Mitchell. Some very tired, but happy footballers made their way back home for a well-deserved rest. They had represented the school with distinction – we are all very proud of them.
Things did not start particularly auspiciously – despite a sterling effort and a missed penalty, the team played out a goalless draw in their first match against Convent A team. Things did not improve. The next match was against Kings Farm, whose superior passing and finishing saw them cruise to a 2-0 victory, despite an excellent performance by Joseph at left back.
The ten teams had been divided into two groups, with the top two schools qualifying for the semi finals. Having registered just one point from the first two games, the third match against Cobham was particularly important. Mid-way through the second half, a familiar story appeared to be recurring – a couple of good chances had been missed, and the time was ticking away. As was to be a theme for the morning, the defence, led by Kabi, was holding up well, and when they repelled another Cobham attack, the ball found its way to Christopher. Gaining a few yards, he passed to Adam who took the ball down the left wing. As the defender advanced on him, he slipped it to Mitchell, who hit it first time and watched it sail over the goalkeeper’s head and into the back of the net.The next few minutes saw the team do something they had not been required to do all season – defend a lead. It was therefore with some relief that the final whistle went to signal their first victory.
The team presumed that only a victory in the last game, against Holy Trinity, would give them a chance of progressing. They moved to the ‘sloping pitch’, which appeared to suit their style. Defending deeply, they trusted in the attacking players’ ability to use their pace and skill. However, they could not have predicted the goal that was to prove to be the winner. Collecting the ball well in his own half, Adam embarked on a mazy dribble that took him through the defence and score a genuinely spectacular goal. A few nervous moments, during which Ryan excelled himself in goal, preceded the final whistle.
Vigo now had to rely on other results to determine their destiny. If Kings Farm won their final game, they would have progressed at the team’s expense. Their 0-0 draw therefore was greeted with some joy by the team and their families.
Being second in their group meant that Vigo would have to play the top team in the other group. St Botolph’s, who had one three, and drawn one of their four matches, had every reason to be confident. However, once again, the team used the slope to their advantage. Kicking down hill in the first half, the scores were level, but soon into the second half, Adam was back to his old tricks, storming through the defence and, following a save from the goalkeeper, flicking the ball into the back of the net.
Incessant pressure on the Vigo goal followed. The post was struck, Luke got in some excellent tackles, and corner followed corner. With a minute to go, Adam once again picked the ball up on the left, advanced on the goalkeeper, and calmly rolled the ball into the back of the net. There was barely time for play to be restarted when the referee’s whistle blew to signal full time and Vigo’s advancement into the final, and a re-match with Holy Trinity, who had seen off the runners up of the other group in the semi-finals.
From the start of the game, it was clear that the five games that had preceded the final had taken its toll on both teams. Try as they might, neither team could re-discover the form that had taken them so far, indeed it was Holy Trinity who looked most likely to score, with a corner count running into double figures. However, Vigo held firm, with Cameron once again putting in a strong performance in defence. Ten minutes rapidly elapsed, and the prospect of extra time was realised. Two minutes each way would follow – if the teams remained level, the trophy would be shared.
The first half of extra time saw Vigo’s best chance. Adam’s pace once again took him clear of the defence, but an act of desperation from Trinity’s goalkeeper saw him handle the ball just outside the area. Christopher was entrusted with the responsibility of the direct free kick. His left-footed contact was good, but the ball failed to swerve sufficiently into the corner of the net, and the chance was gone.
The rest of the game was played out without a goal, and the whistle confirmed that the Devenish trophy would be shared. Cameron collected the shield on behalf of Luke, Cameron, Joseph, Adam, Ryan, Christopher and Mitchell. Some very tired, but happy footballers made their way back home for a well-deserved rest. They had represented the school with distinction – we are all very proud of them.
posted by Vigo Village Primary School at 2:50 pm
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