Another exciting primary schools football meeting on The Bridge’s multicourts tonight with 12 year 3+4 teams from eight schools coming together for the second and final meeting after the first had sorted them into two ability-based divisions. Thankfully despite a few rain flurries the weather held sufficiently to get through the fixtures without any interruptions.

Heron Way A opened tentatively in the top tier beating Kingslea A by a solitary goal. They soon started to dominate though with Leechpool’s A and B teams being hit for three and four goal defeats respectively. Then came the big one, Southwater A and the match lived up to its billing with some tight play and few clear cut chances. However half way through the second half the ball broke loose in the Southwater goal area from some tackles and a Heron Way was on hand to despatch it for what proved to be the decisive moment. Although Southwater B scored the only goal the Herons conceded they ultimately became their fifth and final victim. So a full house of Heron Way wins seeing them through to retaining their title as year 3+4 champions.

Southwater secured the runners-up spot scoring a total of 25 goals, nearly double that of Heron Way and including nine against Leechpool A. The Leech Boys bounced back with some good vibrations however next up against Kingslea A with a 3-0 win that decided third spot in their favour over the Ks. Similarly Southwater B’s 3-1 success against Leechpool’s second string decided which of the two would come fifth.

High scoring Slinfold was the unstoppable force in Division B. Considering their dominance they also conceded quite a few, five, but who cares when you can bang them in at the other end with unstinting regularity. A nice mathematical escalation in their goalscoring endeavours too, with four goals in one match, five in another, six in another, seven in another and you’ve guessed it eight in another. Second placed Castlewood suffered the seven bit whilst third placed Kingslea B gave them their toughest test in a match that finished 4-2. So Slinfold finished as the highest placed small school within the process.

Castlewood will be delighted with runners-up position but had to endure a tense last match which finished 1-1 against nearest opponents Kingslea B to protect that status. Shelley weren’t far behind recovering from a slow start to finish fourth, just a point behind Kingslea B. Heron Way B enjoyed some close matches until Slinfold hit them with a bunch of five at the last, and their exciting 3-2 win over Northolmes guaranteed their fifth placing. Well done to Northolmes for although they ended up winless and drawless they kept on fighting with enthusiasm and spirit, and the fact that they scored at least one goal per match stands testament to their resolution.

Thanks to referees Darren, Izzy and Tom for their efforts on the night, and desk jockey Liam for compiling the results.

RESULTS

Division A fixtures = bolded;Division B fixtures = italics

Games 6 minute each way with a straight turnaround on 6 minutes

TABLES

Div 1

Div 2

*5 for win, 3 for draw, 1 for loss, 1 bonus point if lose but score 50% or more of opponent’s winning score in match