English Schools' Football Association

Played at Lilleshall

9^th February 2014

This game gave England manager Andy Buckingham the opportunity to try out new systems and players, and it was indeed a completely new look back 4 which started. GK Tom Hadler, LB Mark Onyemah and RB Tom Devitt, all getting their first starts for the team.

Playing into a strong wind England started well, keeping the ball and looking to develop play in a forward direction. The first clear opening, a long through ball from Charlie Russell in the 11^th minute, gave Ryan Charnley the opportunity to show his pace against a cumbersome defence and he streaked into the box to slot home. 1-0

Dominic McGiveron kept the pressure on and won a corner after 15 minutes which he took from the right. Danny Haille met his corner perfectly and headed down towards the bottom corner of the net only for his effort to be scrambled clear.

Michael Hampson with his terrifying pace kept the Keele defence on the back foot and from one of his runs he set up Dean Briggs for a thunderous 18 yard shot in the 25^th minute. The Keele keeper had no idea what hit him but was happy that the ball deflected for a corner.

With such a tall side England were bound to be difficult to defend against at set pieces and Keele finally cracked when Tom Devitt rose in the 33^rd minute to majestically head home a Joshua Woolley corner. 2-0

It was in the 39^th minute when Keele mounted their first real attack, when their centre back burst past Adam Curry but his shot lacked power and didn’t trouble Hadler.

The very next attack England showed the visitors just how to do it – McGiveron slipped the ball inside the full back to Charnley on the right, he crossed to Hampson and the result yet another goal. 3-0 and half time.

Lots of changes for the second half gave England a slight bedding in period and that allowed the Keele centre forward to beat new CB pairing of Devitt and Curry, but he panicked in the face of Kieron O’Hara and fired wildly over.

In the 55^th minute the inevitable happened; Tyler Lyttle started a move on the half way line, the ball passed through Paul Braithwaite and Brady Hickey to Oliver Brown-Hill, who saw the advancing Lyttle and put through a perfect ball to allow him to slot home from 15 yards. 4-0.

Despite the score line Keele were still pushing forward and in the 59^th minute their no.11 thought he had reduced the deficit when his goal-bound 20 yarder was tipped over the bar by the outstretched left hand of the diving O’Hara.

Coach Buckingham then produced an unexpected secret weapon – defender Onyemah put back on as a centre forward. It was only a minute from his inclusion that he received the ball on the top of the box, span onto his left foot and hammered a ferocious shot past the stunned goalkeeper who was probably relieved that he was too slow to have to get in the way of it. 5-0

Keele through their captain and centre forward did press a little but England were really in total control and able to vary their play with ease. In the 85^th minute a huge and perfectly struck cross field ball from Andrew White was met at pace by Hampson on the right, he took it on and placed the ball neatly across into the path of Hickey who made it 6-0 with aplomb.

Straight from the kick off England rubbed salt into the Keele wounds by Hickey stealing the ball and passing to Briggs who strolled past the centre back and goalkeeper to tap home for 7-0, and a very convincing victory.

Keele were a good team to have for a practice match and a real confidence booster but when the international season begins in earnest the opposition will be much faster, more physical and more determined to win so England need to be on their guard.