Mr Richard Ashdown, Head of P.E
The Yr 9 football team played their first competitive National Cup football game of the year away in Regents Park against Maria Fidelis School. It was a long journey but the boys were enthusiastic and ready to embark on their opening seasons game. After a rousing team talk from Mr Ashdown it was Maria Fidelis who kicked off, passing the ball back to their centre back, who played it square to his defensive partner and forward to start their first attack on the Goffs defence. However, this pass was intercepted and laid through to Henry Creer who duly dispatched to put Goffs 1-0 up within 10 seconds, it was going to be a long game for Maria Fidelis!!! The scoring continued and a confident Goffs played some excellent football leading at half time 5-0. Despite plenty of substitutions to ensure all boys played a fair amount of time due to the long journey, the scoring didn't let up and a final score of 13-0 was in no way flattering or deceiving, Goffs beat them 'fair and square', playing some very good football but remaining professional throughout. Goals came from Freddie Hill, Jaheim Kehinde, Henri Jackson, Stef Georgiou, Henry Paris Higgins (X3), Fabio Verciglio (X2), Henry Creer (X2), Stathi Theocharous and an own goal. The Yr 9's travel to Stratford to play Chobham Academy on Wednesday 11th October for the next round.
The Yr 10 football team have had two games in the National Cup so far, both being home fixtures and both ending in victory for Goffs despite two very different types of games. Our first encounter was against Queens School, a school well known for its footballing exploits. Goffs started the game well with some intricate passing from the central midfield of Vinnie Gidden and Sonny Chalkley and the dynamic Jack Standing. However, it was Queens who struck first with a well taken finish and they looked in the ascendancy. Goffs rallied back and forced a corner which caused havoc in the Queens box allowing Sonny to sweep home. Into the second half and Queens kept pushing with their tricky number 10 and was brought down in the box by the impressive James Green who made a valiant attempt to nullify the danger. Up stepped their number 10, looking calm and collected, to try and dispatch the penalty. Kai Edwards, who had started the second half in goal from Aston Bush, then started the mind games. taking off his gloves to stretch, do his shoe laces, read a book and anything else he could to make their number 10 that little bit more nervous. It worked a treat as the penalty was hit straight down the middle and cleared. It was then all Goffs who managed to go 2-1 with another for Chalkley and the game was put to bed by Jack Standing with a rasping half volley. James Green won man of the match for a disciplined and rugged display.
Their next round tie was against St Bonaventures and this game would require a much more disciplined display from the whole team. Their quick and strong approach was vastly different from the short, quick passes that Goffs use. In a game of few chances, it was St Bonaventures who went ahead when their rapid number 10 managed to round Kai Edwards to square a goal. Goffs seemed to grow in stature and were now winning challenges with their man like counter-parts rather than being concerned a challenge might ruin their boyish good looks. It was this bullish attitude that allowed Vinnie Gidden to win the ball back and play in sub Morgan Williams to equalise for Goffs, sending the crowd into bedlam. A disallowed goal for St Bonaventures was the only real notable incident for the rest of the game and so the tie went into extra time and then the dreaded penalties. Aston Bush had played well in goal but it was Kai Edwards who went in for the penalty shoot out after his excellent last penalty save. The five Goffs students who would take a penalty were ready. All three of Zain Moutawafiq, Harrison Featley and Freddie Brown converted there's well and Kai again showed his excellent form by saving two, leaving Morgan Williams to bury his high into the net to win it for Goffs. Harvey Marks showed what true sportsmanship is as rather than running off to celebrate with his peers, he went over and in a Freddie Flintoff/Brett Lee moment consoled the opposition players. We await the draw for the next round on Monday 16th October.
