Competition News
U13 Coca Cola Cup: Wiltshire Finals
The top under-13 school teams from Wiltshire met in the recent "Coca-Cola" Wiltshire County Cup Finals, staged at Ballards Ash Playing Fields in Wootton Bassett.
Hreod Parkway (Swindon) celebrate with
the U13 Coca Cola Wiltshire Cup
Boys' Final : Hreod Parkway School (Swindon) 5, 1 George Ward School (Melksham)
Weather conditions were fair, cold and crisp, and both teams managed to string their passes together to play some tidy attractive football throughout the encounter.
However, it was Swindon side Hreod Parkway that dominated the opening twenty minutes, with their expansive wing play and intricate one-touch passing exposing the George Ward defence.
Parsons scored within 10 minutes and only last gasp tackles and some fine saves from the Melksham's sides goalkeeper kept the score down.
After a period of George Ward pressure, where they pushed valiantly for an equaliser, Hreod broke to score again before the break.
In the second half it was largely one-way traffic towards the George Ward goal as the Swindon side exerted control on the proceedings. On the occasions that the Hreod back line was put under pressure, their goalkeeper Jeffries proved more than equal to the task, snuffing out any threats on goal.
As the match ran into its final quarter Hreod further extended their lead through strikes from Elliot and Skeates. In the final minutes George Ward managed to net a consolation effort before Hreod sealed the win with their fifth goal through Miller, a delightful close angle strike from the edge of the area.
Final score, Hreod Parkway 5, 1 George Ward School
After the match, Hreod Parkway team coach Mr C Irwin commented:
"It was a well contested game, played in good spirits and well refereed, an advert for the game."
Ridgeway Girls' lift the U13 Coca Cola Wiltshire Cup
Girls' Final: Sheldon School (Chippenham) 2, 5 Ridgeway School (Swindon)
In another high scoring encounter, Swindon's Ridgeway School triumphed in the U13 Girls' Wiltshire County Final against Sheldon School from Chippenham.
Initially the game ebbed and flowed as both sides battled for dominance in the middle of the park. As the first half progressed Ridgeway established a commanding lead with a brace of goals from striker Georgia Walters and a strike from midfielder Abbie Ballard. However, Sheldon School clawed their way back into the match with a goal of their own to make the score 3-1 at half time.
The pattern of play in the second half was largely similar to the first, with Ridgeway just edging Sheldon across the park.
Ridgeway's first half goalscorers Georgia and Abbie swapped positions in second half, and this certainly didn't have an adverse effect on the Swindon side's attacking play. Both girls netted another goal apiece to put the game out of sight, but not before Sheldon netted a second consolation effort.
At the final whistle the Swindon team celebrated their decisive County Final victory and their thoughts quickly turned towards further success in the Regional and National rounds of the "Coca-Cola" English Schools' Cup.
Ridgeway team coach Rachel Clarke was quick to praise her squad, stating,
"The hard work that the girls have put in this season has been rewarded with this result."
December 2005 News
16th :: N.U.T. Trophy - Round 4 Update
Darlington overcame north-east rivals Sunderland 4-3 on Tuesday evening in what proved to be a classic cup-tie in the Under 15 Inter Association Trophy.
09th :: U14 Schools Cup Draws - Round 5
The draws for Round Five of the English Schols' FA U14 Cup have been made this week and can be viewed by clicking on the appropriate link below.
