Close call for Y4 Foxes at Thornbury 22nd May 2011

A warm and dry Sunday afternoon saw the gathering of two squads of Foxes for the Thornbury six-a-side tournament. Unlike many other tournaments the group stages are small but lead to everyone going into a knockout stage –either for the consolation plate, or the more prestigious cup. The question was which would our teams end up in?

Green Squad: Billy, Brody, Caston, Eddie, Josh, Oskar, Sam and William W.

League Match 1 – Stoke Lane A
A great start against a team that is historically very strong. Josh scored to give the Foxes a well-deserved win.
Result: Foxes 1: Stoke Lane A 0

League Match 2 – Southmead Community Sp
Southmead were the team of the tournament last year, but the Foxes were stronger this year. Despite some good chances we went down by two goals.
Result: Foxes 0: Southmead Community Sp 2

League Match 3 – Thornbury Town Red
A close match that could have gone either way. The difference was a wonder strike from Josh, a spinning volley that looped over the keeper and brought back memories of David Platt’s goal against Belgium in Italia 90.
Result: Foxes 1: Thornbury Town Red 0

With 6 points we qualified for the cup quarterfinals as group runners-up.

Quarterfinal – Shire Colts B
The Foxes just could not hold out against one of the strongest teams in the tournament and despite fantastic play from everyone, we went out by a single goal.
Result: Foxes 0: Shire Colts B 1

White Squad: Harrison, Henry, Joseph, Ludo, Matthew Y, Rohan, Matthew W and Tee-Jay.

League Match 1 – Stoke Lane B
A great start against what we expected to be a strong side. Goals from Ludo and Harrison topped an impressive team performance.
Result: Foxes 2: Stoke Lane A 0

League Match 2 – Thornbury Town Red
For some reason we never got going – was it tiredness from last week’s efforts? Despite creating some good chances we went behind against a team we would normally beat with ease.
Result: Foxes 0: Thornbury Town Red 1

League Match 3 – Minchinhampton Rangers A
The Foxes upped their game but were still not playing as well as they could. Despite that, we dominated the match, missed our chances and “murdered them” 0:0!
Result: Foxes 0: Minchinhampton Rangers A 0

Again we qualified for the cup quarterfinals as group runners-up.

Quarterfinal – Shire Colts A
Players that last week were playing for Stoke Lane re-appeared in Shire Colts colours for another close match. Again the Foxes were mis-firing and went behind. But we fought back bravely and controlled the match towards the end. Harrison latched on to a through ball to rocket us level. With the clock ticking down, the team conjured another opening and Harrison was away again. This time two players combined to scythe him down. The ref waved play on and blew for full time.

In the penalty shoot-out both keepers did well – Rohan saving a shot to keep our hopes alive. But it was not to be. The penalty curse hit the Foxes once more.
Result: Foxes 1: Shire Colts A 1 (Foxes lost on penalties)

Footnote: Shire Colts A went out in the semi finals after another penalty shoot-out. Shire Colts B went on to win the Tournament 1:0 in the final.

For some, the efforts of last week’s tournament were still on their minds and in their legs. For others, this was a chance to show just how good the Foxes have become. Both teams made it through to the quarterfinals. Both teams were very close to going further. Both teams can take comfort in the knowledge that there was nothing between them and the team that won the tournament. And both teams played with skill, pride and passion. Next time the results might just go our way…Well done to all!