HEROIC REPTON - BUT BRENTWOOD LIFT THE CUP

In a truly magnificent final, Brentwood finally defeated Repton 3-1 in the closing moments of extra-time but only after a titanic struggle between two fine teams.

The game produced high quality football from the start and an exciting first half produced goalmouth action but no goals. Brentwood perhaps shaded that opening period but Repton made an excellent start to the second half and increasingly took control. After 15 minutes Will Hughes waltzed through the Brentwood defence with a mazy dribble and then finished with a clinical shot to open the scoring and complete an outstanding individual goal. However the lead lasted just 7 minutes before Elliott Lee's rasping drive bounced off the Repton goalkeeper and Austin Lipman reacted quickly, nipping in to score from the rebound.

There was plenty more action, with Repton playing the more composed football but with Brentwood's lethal strikers always a lurking threat.

In extra-time legs tired and it looked as though penalties would decide but, with just two minutes left, Brentwood won a corner which sailed over to the far post and was turned into the net for a own goal. Then, in injury time, Lee burst down the right and crossed for Peter Brooking to bundle the ball home

So the glory went to Brentwood who lifted the Cup - but there was every sympathy for an outstanding Repton team who had contributed so much to a memorable match.









All photographs of the Final are courtesy of RWT Photography. These and other photographs of the match and the post-match presentations, along with the match DVD, can be ordered from www.rwt-photography.co.uk or by ringing 01733 204445

SEMI-FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

Hampton started the better in their tie at Brentwood but the home side’s ruthless strike force pounced to score twice in the 8th and 9th minutes. First a right wing cross was headed against a post by a defender and Elliott Lee tapped in. Then another right wing cross was not dealt with by the defence and this time Austin Lipman scored after a goalmouth melee. Hampton hit back on 28th minutes when a long kick from the goalkeeper eluded the defence and Mark Parsons ran through to slot the ball home and make it 2-1 at half-time. However, 10 minutes into the second half, a long clearance was controlled by Lee who played in Lipman and he cut inside and hit a 20 yard strike in off the underside of the bar and complete a 3-1 win.


Brentwood (white) v. Hampton (amber)

Repton finally made it through to their first ever ISFA Final when they overcame Midlands rivals Shrewsbury in a tension packed penalty shoot-out after the two sides had played out a 1-1 draw. Repton went ahead after 30 minutes when Patrick Tuffy burst down the left and cut inside to score with a fine strike. However, Shrewsbury were level just 90 seconds later when a through ball eluded the Repton defence and Max Pragnall rolled the ball into an empty net. Both sides created chances in the second half but Repton had the better of extra-time and Shrewsbury were indebted to goalkeeper Ben Gould for some fine saves - but it was Repton who won through in the shoot-out.


Yellow shirted Repton defenders are quick to snuff out a Shrewsbury attack

FOURTH ROUND HIGHLIGHTS - BRENTWOOD MARCH ON

The match between two of the favourites, Brentwood and Millfield, always looked likely to be the tie of the round. Millfield created several good chances in the first half but had to be satisfied with just Ollie Smith’s well worked goal. Brentwood tightened up in the second half and turned the game round in the final 20 minutes. First Austin Lipman hammered home a 20 yard shot, then it was Lipman again with an excellent cross from the left which was finished off at the far post by Louie Grainger. 3 minutes from time Elliott Lee was brought down outside the area and he got up to take the kick himself, curling it round the wall to make the final score 3-1 – but how Millfield must rue those first half missed chances.


Millfield (blue) defend a Brentwood attack

Goals from Michael Eldridge, Max Roche and Dec Ryan gave Hampton a narrow 3-2 win at John Lyon in an action packed game. Hampton took the lead after 15 minutes but John Lyon then took control and scored twice in as many minutes. However, Hampton equalised before half-time and the second half was full of chances and also some glaring misses! Hampton's winning goal came just 5 minutes from time.

In a scrappy first half Eton gained a 1-0 advantage against Repton thanks to an early goal from Charles Courtenay. However, the game sprang into life in the second half when Repton scored twice in 2 minutes, first Will Hughes gliding through the Eton defence to equalise and then Kieran Fenton finishing after good work down the right by Patrick Tuffy. Eton then enjoyed their best spell of the match and Harry Miller-Stirling scored an excellent equaliser from 20 yards. With five minutes left a goalmouth scramble led to a fine save by Eton keeper James Warrington but the ball fell for Andy Martin who lashed home Repton's winner.


A Repton forward (yellow) is tightly marked by the Eton defence (sky blue)

In blustery and wet conditions Shrewsbury and QEGS Blackburn served up an entertaining and high scoring quarter-final. George Ellery gave Shrewsbury an early lead but QEGS turned the game around in the space of 4 minutes when goals from Louis Cross and Lewis Blaylock gave the northerners a 2-1 lead. Matt Gregson equalised right on half time with a fine strike from 20 yards and Shrewsbury took the initiative in the second half, Ellery and Gregson both scoring again and an own goal making it 5-2. QEGS were indebted to Alex Gunn for some fine saves but, despite converting a late penalty, were unable to fight their way back into the game.


Shrewsbury (navy/sky) on the attack against QEGS (blue/red)

THIRD ROUND HIGHLIGHTS

QEGS Blackburn completed the quarter-final line-up when they clinically disposed of Birkdale 8-0, with hat-tricks for Cross and Brindle.

Brentwood, who won the U13 Cup two years ago, are strongly fancied to go all the way again this season but they were given a real fright by Dulwich College who took a 1-0 half-time lead and went further ahead early in the second half. However, Brentwood responded like champions, quickly scoring twice to level and then adding a winner to complete a superb comeback.

In a game affected by the blustery conditions, Repton took the lead against King’s School, Chester after 10 minutes when Will Hughes drove through the King's midfield to score. The King's work rate kept the match tight and it wasn't until Kieran Fenton headed in a second goal that Repton started to look a little more comfortable. The victory was rounded off as Fenton scored his second after some wonderful play from Ryan Binns.


Repton (sky) v. King's (green)

Tiago Diaz twice gave City of London the lead at Millfield and the Londoners came within 3 minutes of a shock away victory before a late equaliser forced extra-time and Millfield scored twice in the extra period to go through 4-2.

Shrewsbury's pacey forwards proved too hot to handle for the Oldham Hulme defence and they rattled up three first half goals. Hulme pulled a goal back in the second half but any hope of a comeback was soon extinguished as Shrewsbury added four more to win 7-1. Max Pragnall hit a hat-trick for Shrewsbury, George Ellery scored twice and Sean Lim and Matt Gregson hit the others. Tom Brooks replied for Hulme.


Oldham Hulme (royal) v. Shrewsbury (navy/sky)

Another side to hit seven was Hampton who showed no mercy to Ardingly, winning 7-0.

In a see-saw encounter, Bradfield came from a goal behind to lead 2-1 against John Lyon. However, John Lyon equalised at 2-2 to force extra-time and then grabbed the winner in the extra-period. Medcraft scored both Bradfield’s goals while the game’s outstanding player, Jeffrey, scored twice for John Lyon.

Eton were soon in charge of their match with Chigwell. Bertie Collins and Arthur Mancroft (penalty) put them 2-0 up at half-time. The outstanding Darren McQueen pulled a goal back early in the second half and Chigwell were back in the game. However, Alastair Lyon nipped the comeback in the bud with a third goal for Eton and then Mancroft and Riccardo Codacci-Pisanelli added further goals to give Eton a 5-1 victory.


Eton (sky blue) v. Chigwell (navy)

SECOND ROUND HIGHLIGHTS

A goal after 10 minutes from Sam Mellor gave Oldham Hulme GS a 1-0 win in a closely fought contest against St. Bede's College, Manchester.

Millfield strolled into the Third Round with an 8-1 victory over Licensed Victuallers. Shaun Okojie scored twice with the other Millfield goals being shared around the side, the pick of the goals being the second, a great team move finished off by Oliver Smith.

In a humdinger of a cup-tie, Highgate looked set for an excellent result when they took a two goal lead against Hampton. First Kiran Sharma nipped in at the near post to meet a cross from the left and then, right on half-time, it was Sharma again, finishing clinically from the edge of the penalty area. Mark Parsons pulled a goal back for Hampton in the second half but, as the game wore on, it looked as though Highgate would hold out. Then, with 3 minutes left, Parsons smashed home the equaliser and, in the extra-time, there was only one winner. Parsons completed his hat-trick and Matt Lane and Tom Turnbull completed a deserved 5-2 victory for Hampton.


Highgate (maroon) v. Hampton (yellow)

In a tense and tight affair between King’s School, Chester and Bury Grammar School, goals always looked likely to be few and far between. Bury took the lead early in the second half and it looked as though this would be enough, especially when a twice taken penalty was missed on both occasions by King’s. However, right at the death, as the game moved into injury time, George Kaye struck an equaliser. King’s looked the more likely in injury time but penalties looked on the cards until two very late goals from Ben Sawney and Nathan Evans secured victory for King’s.

City of London, inspired by an excellent display from Alex Conning, disposed of injury hit St. Bede’s School, Hailsham. Ben Rennie, Tiago Diaz and Daniel Hannam added to Conning’s goal in a 4-0 win.

The game between Brentwood and Westminster started evenly and the deadlock was broken after 15 minutes by a smart finish from Brentwood’s Olumayowa Olubowale. Westminster equalised soon after with a 30 yard screamer from Milo Johnson. An unfortunate own goal and a composed left footed finish from Austin Lipman meant that Brentwood went into the break 3-1 up. In the second half, Brentwood began to open up the hard working Westmister defence and two goals from Dan Scawthorn, a second from Olubowale and one each for Kishen Velani and Peter Brooking sealed an 8-1 victory for Brentwood.

All the goals at Crosby came in the first half as Shrewsbury quickly ran up a 5-1 lead against St. Mary’s College, Crosby but neither side could add to their tally in the second half

A ruthless Repton side scored six times in the first 25 minutes against a shell-shocked Wolverhampton Grammar School. The Derbyshire school went on to win 10-1 with Kieran Fenton scoring six and Will Hughes adding two.

Eton made the long overnight trip to Cornwall to face Truro but came away delighted with a 7-1 win, Bertie Collins and Ali Lyons both netting hat-tricks.

Ardingly were another team in the goals as they disposed of Lancing 6-2 with an impressive performance. Ardingly were 4-0 up before half-time they Lancing did pull a goal back from the penalty spot before the break. Lancing improved in the second half and had more of the play but never looked like rescuing the match. Matt Cammish scored a hat-trick for Ardingly.

Bolton went ahead against QEGS Blackburn in a tight and keenly fought game. QEGS equalised with a well placed penalty by Louis Cross and went ahead just before half time when captain Charles Reeves shot through a crowded penalty area. Daniel Birchall made it 3-1 mid way through the second half before Louis Cross scored the goal of the game - top corner from 25 yards – to make it more comfortable for the home side. In the closing minutes Bolton made it 4-2.

Chigwell ran out 5-1 winners against an Aldenham side who were much better than the scoreline suggests. Andrew Haddon opened the scoring for Chigwell with a free-kick but Aldenham quickly replied before half-time. Taylor Bedworth put Chigwell back in front with a fantastic header from a corner and they further extended their lead through Darren McQueen. Aldenham did have a number of chances but the tie was put to bed with Flynn Prevost scoring with a great left foot strike and Darren McQueen rounding the keeper to score his second of the game.


A Chigwell goal against Aldenham

Bradfield came safely through their tie at Sherfield. Bradfield led 4-1 at half-time but, when Sherfield scored first in the second half, a fight-back looked on. However, Bradfield scored twice more to complete a 6-2 victory. John Gasson scored both Sherfield’s goals.

Birkdale School enjoyed an outstanding 7-1 victory over RGS Newcastle, with Jordan Bethel scoring a hat-trick, Harry Warnock gettting two.

Dulwich College came from behind to defeat Forest. Forest led 1-0 at half-time but two second half goals from Ajisebutu and another from Akinlotan saw Dulwich safely home 3-1. Meanwhile, Anthony Jeffrey hit a hat-trick as John Lyon, beaten semi-finalists last year, defeated Charterhouse 5-3.

FIRST ROUND HIGHLIGHTS

Manchester Grammar School had never lost a match in the Rensburg Sheppards U15 Cup, having won the tournament for the last two season. However, their reign came to an end at Bury Grammar School when, following an exciting 3-3 draw, they were defeated 3-1 on penalties.

Grammar School at Leeds and St. Bede's College, Manchester fought out a 1-1 draw with plenty of chances at both ends. David Swarbrick's opener for GSAL was equalised 5 minutes later from a corner. With no decider in extra-time, the tie was decided by penalties and St. Bede's were decisive 4-1 winners.

Wolverhampton Grammar School were two goals up after just 10 minutes against Kimbolton but Kimbolton pulled a goal back and appeared back in the game at half-time. However, Wolverhampton took control in the second half, playing some fine passing football and scored 5 times to run out 7-1 winners, Jonathan Crawford scoring two of the goals.


Wolverhampton GS (in white) take on Kimbolton (purple)

In an evening floodlit match Licensed Victuallers played very well in disposing of KES Witley 4-0. Meanwhile two other schools enjoyed a First Round goal glut. City of London won 11-0 at Dover College, Dominic McLaughlin scoring 4 times and Tiago Diaz, Edward Wax and Alex Cummin all adding two goals apiece. Meanwhile Westminster travelled to Stanborough and were kept at by for 20 minutes but eventually hit nine goals without reply, despite some heroics from the Stanborough goalkeeper.

There was a very close game at The Grange with some excellent goalkeeping. QEGS Blackburn took the lead early in the second half through an excellent strike from Daniel Birchall but Grange equalised near the end to force extra-time. A clever flick from Lewis Blayclock secured victory for QEGS in the extra-period.

Aldenham started very strongly against Latymer Upper and Jordan Campbell opened the scoring in the first 20 minutes. The goal galvanised Latymer but Aldenham scored a second from a breakaway just before half time. Latymer came back strongly again and Melchi Emmanuel-Williamson scored to make the game 2-1 but Aldenham held out to win.

Last year's finalists Eton began their campaign with a 5-0 win over Frensham Heights - though Frensham Heights were always in the game until Eton scored a third in the second half. Alastair Lyon, who played in last season's Final, scored a hat-trick

QEH Bristol were unfortunate to come up against a strong Millfield team and went down 8-1. Shaun Okojie and Harry Farmer both scored a brace for Millfield.

Ardingly won the opening Rensburg Sheppards U15 Cup match of the season when they defeated Ibstock Place 5-0.