English Schools' Football Association

Sponsor's website

Report by John Williamson

Trinity School from Nottingham, kicked off the ESFA Minute Maid U13 Schools’ Cup Final for boys at Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena against Poole Grammar School from Dorset looking to become the second Nottinghamshire side to win a national title this year.

Both teams underlined their attacking ambitions in the opening few minutes with the first chance falling to Trinity when a Joseph Dodoo header just cleared the bar following a right wing corner and then at the other end Trinity were lucky to escape as a Poole break down the right saw the ball beat the advancing keeper only to be cleared off the line.

Trinity gradually began to exert heavy pressure on the Dorset sides defence and another corner, this time on the left, led to a goal mouth scramble inside the six yard box that was somehow cleared and then a minute later Jamahl Salmon fired in a fierce shot from the right hand corner of the area that crashed against the bar and rebounded out.

The Nottingham side were now well on top with Louis Greenway-Tambini posing a constant threat to the Poole defence. After having a goal disallowed for offside in the fifteenth minute and another effort, when chesting the ball down with his back to goal and turning to hit a terrific volley only to see the Poole keeper make an excellent save, he fired the Nottingham school into the lead with a strong run across the edge of the penalty area and then turned to hit a great strike across the keeper into the far corner.

On eighteen minutes Greenway-Tambini once more tested the Poole keeper but he produced another great save to push the effort round the post for a corner. The Trinity goal however, seemed to fire determination into the Poole side as they came much more into the game and were unlucky not to find an equaliser before the break. Harry Cornick found himself in acres of space in a central position just inside the area but lifted his shot high over the bar as the ball took a nasty bobble at the crucial moment. A 24th minute free kick to Poole came to nothing but then a minute later the ball was somehow kept out of the Trinity netin a frantic goal mouth scramble.

The Trinity defence was now under severe pressure with Williams particularly on the left hand side having a great game for the Nottingham school. Poole unluckily hit the bar with a great 25 yard free kick and then had two clear chances in the dying seconds of the half as first Cornick produced a terrific turn and shot that flashed just past the post and then Michael Porter burst onto a beautifully weighted through ball but unfortunately saw his shot slide wide. Trinity were no doubt the happier of the two sides to hear the half time whistle and relieved to reach the break still 1 – 0 up.

Both sides began the second half in determined fashion and as in the opening period the initial chance fell to Trinity with Salmon cutting in from the left but putting his firm shot past the near post when a simple square cross to colleagues in space would probably have been the better option. Poole replied on seven minutes with a free kick from just outside the area that curled round the far post and Trinity then had their own free kick well saved by the Dorset side's keeper.

On forty minutes a good run by Jovan Mullings gave Michael Thomas the chance to put Trinity further ahead but again Poole’s keeper came to the rescue at the expense of a corner. Poole deservedly levelled the scores after 44 minutes following a mix up between the Trinity defence and their keeper. Callum Fox was brought down and following lengthy treatment from the physio, got up to slot home the spot kick and put Poole right back in the game.

Unfortunately, their joy was short lived as Trinity replied almost immediately with a goal of their own. An incisive run and cross by Mullings found Greenway-Tambini in the six yard box and he was able to bundle the ball home to restore the Nottingham school’s lead. They now began to look the stronger side and chances for Mullings and Thomas followed in quick succession. Poole were definitely not going down without a fight though and Edward Tierney, who had had an excellent match, brought out a great one handed save from the Trinity keeper in a one on one situation.

The title was effectively won by Trinity however eight minutes from the end when a superb mazy run by Mullings down the flank led to a corner. This was taken short and Greenway-Tambini, after beating two or three defenders, squared the ball across the middle to give Salmon the chance to accept the opportunity and he confidently stroked the ball home from 8 yards out. With Joseph Dodoo in commanding form at the back for Trinity the Nottingham side now looked comfortable as the clock ticked down.

Substitutions were coming thick and fast by now as players tired and both managers attempted to give as many of their squads as possible the experience of at least a few minutes on the pitch in a national final. Both teams were presented with their medals and Trinity with the Minute Maid Cup by Stuart Inger, the Vice Chairman of the English Schools Football Association.

U13 Minute Maid Cup Results
Minute Maid Schools’ Cup Website