The 2019 ISFA U16 Shield Final saw two new finalists battle for the title as Buckswood faced Brooke House College at the prestigious FA National Football Centre at St. George's Park.
Both teams took a while to settle into the game and let their nerves settle resulting in some frantic decisions in the opening stages. However, as the half progressed it was Brooke House who dominated possession, creating numerous chances but Buckswood defended well. The deadlock was broken after 27 minutes when Ryan Edwards calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner for Brooke House. Brooke House had opporunitites to extend their lead before half-time but some fantastic goalkeeping from Farouq Adebola kept the opposition at bay.
In the second half both teams came out fighting with Buckswood looking for the equaliser. However, Brooke House's confidence grew and they dominated the attacking play. Islesanmi Oluwaseun extended the lead with a thunder strike from outside the box. Buckswood fought to get back into the match but Brooke House proved too strong as they increased their lead further through Aaraon Nuttall, after some tremendous build-up play from Deniche Hill, and Lazar Boyanoy added a fourth in the final minutes of the game to see Brooke House crowned the 2019 champions.
All photographs of the Final are courtesy of RWT Photography. These and other photographs of the match along with the match DVD, can be ordered from www.rwt-photography.co.uk or by ringing 01733 204445.
CHANGE IN ENTRY RULES FOR SEASON 2019-20
ISFA has decided that, with effect from Season 2019-20, the criteria for entry into the ISFA U16 Shield will be that schools should have "no more than 60 boys in Year 11". This increases the entry level from 55 in past years.
SEMI FINALS
Brooke House made the long journey north to play Moorland School in a highly competitive semi-final fixture. Moorland started strong and put early pressure on Brooke House, but Brooke House settled into the game and from some clever work out wide delivering a ball into the box for a smart finish from a Brooke House wide player making Brooke House go 1-0 up. However Moorland consistently looked a threat especially on the counter attack and got a goal back by Brooke House not being able to clear their lines and the Moorland wide player took full advantage with a great finish across the keeper to make the game 1-1. For the rest of the second half Brooke House had more spells with the ball and looked to control the game and quick combination play through the Moorland defence led to Brooke House taking a 2-1 lead into half time. The second half started more as the first half did with Moorland looking dangerous and as the second half settled both teams had shots testing the keeper but Moorland levelled the game with 20 minutes to go with a good delivery out wide being finished through a strong header near post making the game 2-2. As both teams piled on the pressure in the last 20 minutes of the game Brooke House came close on numerous occasions, before a ball played through the Moorland defence led the Brooke House right wide player to finish the chance in the bottom right hand corner to give Brooke House a 3-2 lead in the last 10 minutes. Brooke House then looked to see the game out in the last 10 minutes to end any chance of a Moorland comeback which sees Brooke House through to the final after an end to end game of football.
Buckswood started by trying to control the midfield and play in the wings, but the Harrodian team started very strong and creating many chances and corners. However, Buckswood defended well and scored from two counter attacks. In the second half, Harrodian continued to push up and after a few chances saved by Farouq they scored a goal by Penalty. Buckswood secured their victory capitalising on two more counter attacks.
THIRD ROUND
Moorland raced into an emphatic three goal lead, thanks to strikes from Ryan Muldoon, Ethan Squires and the tireless Jacob Holgate. Newcastle Schools for Boys were struggling to stem the tide at times, as Moorland pinged the ball around with precision and efficiency. Despite this, Newcastle were proving to be determined opposition and managed to pull one back via a set-piece. It was via set-piece deliveries that Newcastle were finding some joy, and they persisted with peppering the Moorland box at every opportunity. As the game moved towards the closing stages, Moorland dug deep to keep Newcastle on the back foot and carved out a few half-chances. With minutes to go, Newcastle pulled another goal back via a long-range effort that just beat the despairing dive of Moorland's custodian Jack Howard. The nerves were evident now as the game entered stoppage time. Despite Newcastle's late efforts, Moorland hung on to claim their place in the semi-finals.
Buckswood started trying to control the midfield and play in the wings, creating chances to score but failed to capitalise. Ibstock Place scored in the first opportunity they had to take the lead going into half time. In the second half Buckswood adapted their play and pulled a goal back through a Park header. This spurred both teams on but it was Buckswood who took the lead through Prince. Buckswood started to settle and where rewarded with another goal through a free kick.
In a very competitive match where both teams had early chances, an excellent save by Jack Gordon, denied Bournemouth Collegiate taking the the lead on around the 25th minute. This seemed to spur on Harrodian and they started to control the game from this point. Harrodian looked dangerous from set peices and it was from a corner that they took the lead. The goalscorer was Shaan Kanani with a glancing near post header. The 2nd half started with Bournemouth attacking and they could have equalised, once again a mixture of good defending and goalkeeping kept Harrodian in front. The game was won with a wonderful goal, curled into the top corner by Gonzalo De Campos. Bournemouth sent every player forward trying to score, Harrodian were good enough to hold out though.
NO REPORT SUBMITTED:
Brooke House v. Priory
SECOND ROUND
Bournemouth Collegiate School welcomed Frensham Heights for a cold but entertaining fixture. BCS started quickly scoring early on through Will Kernan. Jacob Gibson added a second after the Frensham keeper saved a powerful shot and Gibson followed up to score the rebound. Both teams were trying to get in behind the defensive lines but it was BCS who finished the half stronger, adding a third from the corner by captain Brendan WIllson. Frensham started the second half quickly and found their striker a number of times early on but BCS defended well. Willson added a second from the corner before Frensham got their reward from some direct forward play making the score 4-1. The game opened up and the next goal could have come from either team but it was Willson again, completing his hatric to end the tie with a 5-1 win to the home team. A great cup game by all.
A dominant performance from Brooke House started from the first whistle seeing them take a 2-0 lead in 10 minutes. After the first 20 minutes Finborough started to have a spell and put Brooke House under some pressure. However, Brooke House remained strong and finished the half with two further goals. The second half was more one sided and Brooke House moved the ball very quickly with quick combination play leading to Ryan scoring a further three goals to take his game total to 5 for the game. Further goals were added for Brooke House as they advance to the quarter finals with an 11-0 away in.
A game of two halves in the second round between hosts Priory School and Abbey Gate. The away team were unable to capitalise on opportunities in the first half, including a penalty which was well saved by Priory keeper Toby Bishay. The home team created several chance in the second half, but it was well placed Priory free kick that ended up being the difference between the two sides. Priory 1 - 0 Abbey Gate.
NO REPORT SUBMITTED:
Buckswood v. Chigwell
Lingfield v Ibstock Place
Meoncross v Harrodian
Newcastle School for Boys v Bootham
Oldham Hulme v. Moorland
FIRST ROUND
Ackworth v Bootham on Thursday afternoon saw the two Quaker Schools playing out a very close game of football. Neither side could put away some good chances created in the first half with the game 0-0 at half time. Ackworth then scored a deserved goal mid-way through the second half to go ahead. Bootham however showed great spirit to come back into the game in the final twenty minutes and clinched the victory with two very taken goals. The second goal was a fantastic long range strike from George Bristow which took Bootham into the next round.
Peterborough started well in possession but fell behind to a Matt Tamani strike for Finborough. Raiyan Mahmood for Peterborough brought the game level after a one and one before goals from Tom Churchill and Fernando Lopez Gonzalez made it 3-1 at the interval to Finborough. The second half saw the visitors, Peterborough, start brightly again but a great long-range strike from Theo Kingsbury made it 4-1 and somewhat killed the game. Fernando Lopez Gonzalez went on to add two more fine goals to complete his hat-trick and seal the victory for Finborough.
An early onslaught from the visitors St. Bede’s could not produce an opening goal despite numerous chances due to last ditch defending and some agile saves from Will Borders in goal. It was therefore rather against the run of play that Abbeygate took the lead as Euan Mackay confidently slotted home a 27th minute penalty. The home team were instantly two up as within a minute Solomon Harvey chipped the keeper after bringing down a long through ball. Despite still dominating play St.Bede’s could not break down the home team and a long free kick was headed over the visiting keeper by Harvey Solomon for a third Abbeygate goal just before half time. The second half was more even but Abbeygate extended their lead when a cross come shot was deflected and bundled in at the far post. St. Bede’s finally opened their account with a swift turn and finish, but Harvey Solomon restored the four goal advantage with a stunning left foot shot from 25 yards into the top corner. St. Bede’s never gave up and two late finishes were just reward for their attacking play in the last ten minutes as the home side won through 5-3.
Frensham went 2-0 up but Bedales drew level just before half time. In the second half Frensham quickly went 5-2 up with some good attacking play. Bedales clawed one back and could have got a couple more if it wasn’t for a couple of good saves from Sammy Goodman in Frensham’s goal. Frensham then added a sixth from the penalty spot. Bedales kept pressing and got another goal but Frensham scored a very good team goal right at the end through Jack Rigg which completed his hatrick.
Brooke House started the game strong with early shots testing the Kimbolton keeper. However, Kimbolton took the lead through a defensive error gifting the ball to the Kimbolton striker. Brooke House recovered quickly pulling a goal back. Brooke House continued to dominate but failed to capitalise until just before half time where a smart corner saw a deflected shot find the back of the net. Kimbolton continued to look dangerous on the counter in the second half however, Brooke House dominated the ball and made chances pay by three goals in quick succession in the second half to make the score 5-1. In the final 10 minutes quick footwork around the box led to a penalty to Brooke House which they scored; with a further late goal being created from a wide player providing a cut back cross for the striker to place Home in the bottom corner resulting in a 7-1 finish to Brooke House.
NO REPORT SUBMITTED:
Bishop Challoner’s V Harrodian
Farringtons V Buckswood
Hall School, Wimbledon v Chigwell
Ibstock Place V St. James’s Senior School
Lingfield College V Thorpe House
Oldham Hulme v Westholme
Oswestry v Moorland
Scarborough V Newcastle School for Boys
St. John's, Southsea V Meoncross
Twycross V Priory
All photographs of the Final are courtesy of RWT Photography. These and other photographs of the match along with the match DVD, can be ordered from www.rwt-photography.co.uk or by ringing 01733 204445.