ESFA Rep. Team pictured before kick-off
In the first trial match held on Saturday 03 December at Lilleshall for the under 18s the ESFA squad were convincing winners by 4 goals to 1. While the ESFA were slow to settle the Navy began the game with real pace and determination with front pairing of Royal Marines Mike Scott and Olly Kennedy looking threatening, and long throws from captain Dave McLoughlin of HMS Vanguard keeping centre backs Nathan Bertram-Cooper and Ben Robertson busy. It took 8 minutes before ESFA set up their first real attack but Jack Pounce’s shot was lacking in pace and easily saved. A minute later Pounce forced a much better save from keeper Craig Mulholland (HMS Collingwood) at the bottom of the left hand post from a free kick about 20 yards from goal.
After 25 minutes Adam Tomasso broke down the right and drove in a cross which was deflected for a corner. Paul Fahy took the corner and drove it hard to the near post where Nathan Bertram-Cooper rose like a salmon and headed the ball home, 1-0. With the ESFA confidence rising, Paul Fahy wriggled his way down the left avoiding four challenges before setting up Andrew Venning who sadly shot straight at the keeper. The ball was returned immediately down field and when ESFA central defenders failed to clear with enough distance Danny Brookwell (RNAS Culdrose) hammered a shot from 30 yards out which fizzed just over Connor Adams bar.
ESFA were moving the ball with much more conviction and David Sobers pulled away from his marker on the top of the box, laid the ball square to Venning who made no mistake this time by crashing the ball venomously into the top corner from 15 yards out, 2-0.
As the ESFA relaxed the Navy were able to break down the right and Ashley Evans (HMS Northumberland) played in Olly Kennedy who rounded the keeper and shot for goal only to see right back Tomasso appear from nowhere, touch the ball onto the bar and then scramble it clear. The Navy were not to be denied though and after 40 minutes Evans got free again on the right and this time his low cross was hammered home by Brookwell, 2-1.
The Navy introduced a few subs at the start of the second half but were soon pegged back and a 20 yard free kick by Peter Glenn-Ravenhill rattled the bar in the 47th minute. Just 2 minutes later the Navy had a similar opportunity but Sam Scott’s free kick was straight at goalkeeper Robert Brown. Then after 69 minutes a fine through ball from James Goldby sent David Sobers away, he was challenged in the box and from the rebound Glenn-Ravenhill shot over the bar.
Poor defending in the 73rd minute saw Michael Sweet on the top of the box receive a bouncing ball which he effortlessly volleyed past the Navy ‘keeper, 3-1. Just 10 minutes later a cross into the box had the goalkeeper pressurised by Michael Sweet and the ball rebounded out into the path of Glenn-Ravenhill who obliged with a direct shot into a more or less empty net, final score 4-1.
Photo courtesy of www.rwt-photography.co.uk
