Having been knocked out on penalties in the quarter final last year the boys were determined to go further in the first major tournament of the season. With Pearse being unavailable due to a school event we had 9 boys ready to do battle. The format was 4 groups of 5 teams playing each other, then the top two going forward to the quarter finals, then semi finals and final.
For us to progress we were going to have to do it the hard way as our group consisted of Altrincham Lions (Our Cup Final opponents on 15th), Mossley Hill from Liverpool, Great Moor County from Stockport and local side Timperley Villa. The results of which were as follows:-
Altrincham Lions0-0
Great Moor County5-0 Flynn (4) Thomas Da
Timperley Villa2-0 Flynn Thomas H
Mossley Hill0-0
The boys played really well in the group stages, adapting to the 6-a-side plus the two different formations (2-3-0 and 1-3-1) which enabled us to restrict our opponents and allowed us to break forward and score some excellent goals. With games being only 10mins you really do need to score first but at the same time dont go Gung-Ho and concede so you are chasing the game. It was great to secure second place in the group behind Altrincham by holding the side from Liverpool to a 0-0 draw and sending them home early !!!
We therefore progressed to the knockout stages and the results were as follows:-
Q/F Altrincham Panthers2-0 Flynn Thomas H
S/F Altrincham Lions2-0 Flynn (2)
Final Altrincham Leopards2-0 Thomas Da (2)
Altrincham Panthers in the Q/F, who had knocked our Roma team out by beating them 2-0 in the group stages, was going to be challenging, but again the boys showed their qualities in a 1-3-1 system, which we played at the start of every knockout game, and created many opportunities before we ran out comfortable winners.
How we managed to play Altrincham Lions in the S/F rather than Final was a mystery to us, but we certainly gained a morale boosting success for next week with all the boys dominating their opponents and although chances were few Flynn scored 2 of the best goals l have ever seen at schoolboy level. Both outstanding volleys with the second from a long diagonal ball from the back by Thomas M which Flynn struck right footed on the run as it dropped over his right shoulder !!!! UNBELIEVEABLE !! Everybody on the ground stood and applauded a truly magnificent goal.
After that performance there was no way the boys were going to lose the Final. The boys took 2-3mins to work out their opponents but then totally dominated and created many chances and it was great to see Thomas Da, who had worked tirelessly, score both goals, the second a tap-in from an audacious back heel by Ryan along the goal line. The boys (and coaches/parents) joy at the final whistle was clear to see. It was a magnificent achievement to play 7 games and score 13 goals whilst conceding 0 !!! Daniel, Thomas Dy and Thomas M were outstanding at the back, Ryan, Nathan, Thomas H and Max dominated the midfield and worked tirelessly up and down to support plus Thomas Da and Flynn performed superbly and critically scored the goals that eventually WON US THE TOURNAMENT !!!
Thomas H, Captain, led the team up the steps of the main stand to receive the Trophy and their individual momentos to a deafening round of applause !!! Well done Lazio !!
After a friendly on Wednesday against Sale Utd Storm (9v9) our attention will turn to our Final against Altrincham at Trafford FC, Pennybridge lane, Urmston, M41 5DL, kick off noew 10.30am.
