Winchester College hosted the 2019 Complete Sports Solutions ISFA Sixes as 24 schools participated in the traditional ISFA season opener. The teams were split into four groups with the top two in each group going through to the cup and third and fourth in each group qualifying for the plate competition.

Despite losing their first game to Hampton, Bradfield woke up and dominated group A, wining their remaining four fixtures to top the group. Hampton had a mixture of results but three wins and one draw saw them progress to the Cup competition as group runners-up. Westminster and Queen Ethelburga’s qualified for the plate competition.

City of London and Millfield were the strong contenders in group B. Their first fixture saw them face each other with the fixture ending a 2-2 draw. Both teams then went on to win all their remaining fixtures so had to be separated by goal difference. Millfield progressed as group winners with City of London second and St Columba’s College and hosts Winchesterboth qualifying for the Plate competition.

In Group C Repton started strong, going into the lunch break top of the group after two wins and one draw. Alleyn’s and Forest were also looking strong, going into the lunchbreak unbeaten with 5 points. After the break Alleyn’s came out fighting and upped their goal tally with two solid final games against Oldham Hulme and St John’s Leatherhead pushing them to the top of table; Repton finished second on goal difference amd Forest and Charterhouse progressed through to the Plate competition.

Group D saw Royal Russell, champsions for the last three seasons, get off to a strong start by winning three out of three before the lunch break. However, after lunch Bede’s ended Royal Russell’s unbeaten run with a single goal. This put Shrewsbury School, Brentwood and Royal Russell on nine points each going into the final group game. In the final round of games Royal Russell beat Chigwell 2-0 to win the group on goal difference, while Brentwood faced Shrewsbury School in a qualification nailbiter, with Shrewsbury winning 2-1 to progress. Brentwood and Bede’s both qualified for the plate.

The Cup quarter finals saw group winners Bradfield concede territory but still triumph over Shrewsbury while Royal Russell progresssed comfortably into the semi-finals. A London derby between City of London and Alleyn’s was decided on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with City of London coming out on top. Millfield and Repton was also decided on penalties with the latter going through. In the semi-finals City of London knocked reigning champions in an extraordinary match – a tactical masterclass as City drew their opponents onto them and then hit them with two late goals.  In the other semi-final, Repton could not recover from conceding two early goals to Bradfield.

In an impressive Cup Final, which saw some tremendous link up play, neither side were able to break the deadlock until extra-time.  City of London again drew their opponents onto them and appeared to have clinched a crucial lead in the first half of extra-time.  However, with only second remaining, Bradfield scored a fine equaliser and the game went to penalties with City of London winning the tension packed shoot-out to lift the trophy for the first time.

In the Plate competition Queen Ethelburga’s, Charterhouse, Forest and Westminster were all triumphant in the quarter-finals. Charterhouse came through in the semi-final against Queen Ethelburga’s while Westminster defeated Forest.  Thus the Plate Final brought together historic rivals, Westminster and Charterhouse, who have been playing each other since The FA was founded in 1863.  A single goal was sufficient to give victory to Westminster who also thus enjoyed success in this competition for the first time in its 62 year history.

FULL RESULTS AND LEAGUE TABLES

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