Tuesday 4th December: YEAR 10A BOYS FOOTBALL

ETC 1 HILLCREST 1
After Extra time and Penalties

ETC 3 HILLCREST 1

ETC started the game under pressure, but then a hand ball by hillcrest just outside the box gave ETC a free kick. Will Skillton hit it but the ball smashed into the Hillcrest wall. Not long after this ETC get another free kick and this time Will made the keeper make a good save. Just after this Hillcrest put pressure onto ETC but Owen Francis made a last ditch clearance, Hillcrest pile on the pressure with a shot just passing the post. Soon after Hillcrest score, a mistake from Chris Whiteman allows Hillcrest through to score.

ETC shot to put some pressure back on when Seb Dell played a ball to David Baptista, but Hillcrest defended it well. Hillcrest break on the attack, but Craig picks up the loose ball, Hillcrest then create another attack from a defensive error from Ryan Mills, but he recovers well to win the ball back. At half time the score was ETC 0, Hillcrest 1.

The second half began with a good ball from ETCs midfield that found Harry Nealey, but unfortunately he was offside. Just after this Hillcrest win a free kick but Craig Collins easily punches it away. A lot more attacking play now came from ETC, forcing the Hillcrest defence into mistakes, but nobody from ETC could punish them for it.


A break came from ETC as Ferhat Ozcan plays the ball over the top for Harry, who then returns the favour and picks out Ferhat, who could only direct his header over the bar. Captain Ryan Harris then skipped pass the Hillcrest Midfield, only to see his effort blocked by a Hillcrest defender. Next Will Skilton makes the goalkeeper pull off a good save, and finally ETC score a goal. A fantastic ball from Ryan Harris gives Harry Nealey the opportunity to equalise for ETC, with a well taken shot that beat the keeper. Another free kick came at the closing stages of the game, the initial strike from Harry was blocked by the Hillcrest wall; the rebound fell to David Baptista who then drove the ball to the back of the net; only for the Hillcrest keeper to make another great save. This now takes the game to extra time.

The start of extra time was not the greatest of starts for ETC, with a free kick for Hillcrest. Fortunately for us Ryan Mills was able to clear, and ETC regained composure now showing good attacking form and putting Hillcrest on the back foot. A good cross from Luke Bridger flew past the goal keeper, but no ETC player was able to connect. Tension heated as Ryan Mills took a bad challenge from a hillcrest defender too far and squared up to him.

With no goals scored in Extra time, the game now went to penalties with Hillcrest electing to go first. Hillcrest scored, David Baptista put the ball down on the spot and placed his into the bottom corner. Hillcrest missed, Will Skilton then finished his. A great save from Craig Collins denied Hillcrests 3rd penalty taker, goal scorer Harry Nealey saw his attempt sale wide of the post making the score after 3 penalties each 2-1 to ETC. Another great save from Craig Collins stopped Hillcrest, then up stepped Ryan Harris (Captain) who kept his cool and safely placed his shot into the corner winning the game for ETC 3-1.
Craig Collins, Owen Francis, Chris Whiteman, Ryan Harris, Ryan Mills, David Baptista, Seb Dell, Will Skilton, Aaron Norwood (Cameron Stevens-Grant), Harry Nealey, Ferhat Ozcan (Luke Bridger).
Subs not used: Kyle Norman, Tom Mason.
MOM: RYAN MILLS “All round good defending”.
Match report by Jason Thornton