After two training sessions, it was straight into the first round of the English Schools FA Cup (ESFA) versus Congleton High School at home. Two superb goals could not prevent the game going to extra time as the boys failed to defend their lead. However, with the score tied at 2-2, the squad showed their nerves of steel by coolly stepping up to the penalty spot, entering round two in convincing 4-2 fashion.
Over the next two games the boys could have been forgiven for thinking they were untouchable with a 4-1 win over William Hulme's Grammar School (a goal from Obeid, a hat trick by Shahid and outstanding defending from Derrick) followed by an incredible 7-0 result vs Chesterton Community Sports College in round 2 of the ESFA cup, with goals well distributed between Keyon, Ali, Sayid, Obeid and Benny. However, two weeks later we were brought back down to earth with a hard-fought 4-5 loss to Trinity High School - aided by a high wind!
After half term it was straight back into the national cup. Ibrahim Jalloh opened the score-sheet after 5 minutes with a wonder goal from the half way line, but despite a hat trick for captain, Keyon Hanley, we kept conceding to level the score. In the full time break, Year 10 decided they wanted to win, and another goal from Keyon closed Tytherington School out 5-4 AET.
Beating Loreto High School in the league five days later was not as assured as the 6-0 score-line looked, although Driece played out of his skin. The cup run had to end somewhere, and West Derby School thought they were the team to do it. After a 1 hour journey to Liverpool, they entertained us on a sloping home pitch, with bumpy turf and almost invisible side-lines! Their jaws dropped when Mansour Al Dhufairi set up Benny Lopo to put us ahead after barely 5 minutes.
We dominated the first quarter of the game with superb passing football, but when we conceded after simple defensive errors, heads dropped and the opposition gained the upper hand. The first half finished 2-3, and a disappointing 2-6 at full time, despite some incredible shot-stopping by goalie Chakib Chelbi which won applause from the opposition supporters.
Poor form in away games continued vs Fred Longworth High School in R2 of the Manchester County Cup (after a R1 bye). Injuries meant we were missing four key starting players. Year 10 fought hard, in an aggressively physical contest which saw ‘vigorous’ play from the opposition (including a broken nose sustained by heroic goalie, Ali Jaffar). However, the boys had to concede they were well beaten 2-3.
This was followed by an extremely frustrating home loss to St Bede’s School on 9th December, 2014 during which the last-minute stand-in referee (our coach) came in for some stick for controversial decisions! Year 10 played with incredible talent (including some dazzling displays of skill from captain, Ali Ali) and our heroic squad of now only eleven dedicated players arguably still deserved to win. So it was only right that they responded the following week by reclaiming ‘bragging rights’ for a year from Year 9 in an exciting end-of-term friendly which saw end-to-end action, but ultimately finished 3-1 to Year 10 – again with a heroic squad of only eleven and no substitutes!
Despite some disappointments and injuries, Year 10 sit second in the South Premier League and have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in Manchester and beyond. The squad and coaches learned a lot this term about the potential for success when discipline, togetherness and dignity are observed both on and off the pitch.
Congratulations on a hard-fought season so far, don’t lose sight of your successes, and good luck for the rest of Year 10 and Year 11!
Mr McIntosh
Manchester Academy