ISA London North Football Finals (Under 11 Tournament), Thursday 19 January 2017

20th January 2017

Twenty-eight teams competed in the London North finals. There were 4 Leagues of 7 teams with the winners and second place qualifying for a place in the quarter-finals.

League C				Scorers
Normanhurst A	1	Gateway	1	Ross M
Immanuel B	0	“	13	Kieran Mc 4, Jayme H 4, Ross M 3 Jonty W, George C
Windrush Valley A	1	“	1	Ross M
Swamingnarayan A	1	“	2	Ross M, Jonty W
Southbank A	3	“	2	Kieran Mc 2
Abercorn B	1	“	5	Kieran Mc 2, Sam B, George C
Gateway has entered some strong B teams, over the last few years, whilst developing some year 5 players by giving them the opportunity to gain valuable experience in preparation for next year’s competition. This year’s squad rose to the occasion by winning three matches, drawing two with just 1 narrow defeat. The team scored 24 goals and conceded 7 which is a great achievement as they were playing several A teams in their league. The team accumulated 11 points, during their campaign, but narrowly missed qualifying for the quarter-finals, by one point; particularly frustrating as the boys knew they could have qualified had a couple of decisions and chances gone their way! The boys were disappointed not to reach the quarter-finals but proud of their performance and exemplary behaviour. HJ Squad Fred H (Y5) George C (Y5) Sam B (Y5) Kieran Mc, Jayme H, Ross M, Jonty W

League B				Scorers
Normanhurst B	0	Gateway	7	Ollie (3), Adam (20, Will (2)
Windrush Valley B	0	Gateway	4	Dom, Adam, Ollie(2)
Snarebrook A	0	Gateway	9	Harry (4, pen), Joss (2), Ollie, OG, Adam
Avon House A	0	Gateway	4	Ollie (3), Adam
St James A	0	Gateway	2	Joss (2)
Dwight A	0	Gateway	2	Will, Adam
This year saw many of the boys in the A team return to the competition after playing in the B team last year. They knew the competition and knew the standard of play which helped settle their nerves but in no way dulled their excitement. After the team briefing we were on the pitch and ready to start our campaign. Going into lunch we had played 4 games and scored a total of 24 goals without conceding. After lunch, our fifth game was against St James, who looked particularly strong and had won all their games so far. After a rather sluggish start, Joss managed to break the deadlock with St James and put us to 1-0 up. Soon after Joss scored again. Stan had to make some great saves to keep us in the lead and eventually secure another victory. Dwight ‘A’ were the only team to stand in our way of a clean sweep in the group stages, and it was the game that showed the first signs of tired legs, and more individual play rather than the fast team game we had played to that point. Gateway won 2-0 win but this could have been more, if not for some great saves from the opposition keeper. A Quick break to find out who had gone through to the finals and the opposition and we would be back out on the pitch with a team talk from Mr Clark before the quarter finals against Gatehouse B
QF v Gatehouse B	2	Gateway	6	Will, Ollie (3), Joss (2)
Gatehouse have always been a formidable opponent with some good teams. Last year their A s beat our A team in the final. This year we faced their B team in the quarters. Another sluggish start meant we were soon 1-0 down. A new feeling for the boys having finally conceded a goal. We equalised immediately only to be put on the back foot again by conceding another. With another equaliser fired home a change of pace was needed. Now we seemed to be waking up properly after lunch and quick fired another 4 past the keeper to make it 6-2
SF v Gatehouse A	1	Gateway	2	Ollie, Joss
Having just put Gatehouse B out of the competition we drew Gatehouse A in the semi’s. We knew they would want revenge and they always bring a very strong A team. It was a 50/50 call to say which team would score first but it was Gateway boys who found the net first, only to concede an equaliser soon after. Such a tense game from end to end could have gone either way, however our boys knew they needed to go up another gear and soon were peppering the goal trying to find a way past a superb keeper. Joss was the man for the job finding the gap and capitalising on it sending Gateway to the finals.
Final v St James	1	Gateway	7	Joss, Ollie (2), Will, Harry (2), Adam
Who knew that a joke about meeting again shared between the managers after the group game would come true in the final of the competition. We knew they would come out fighting and want to get revenge for beating them in the group stages. Joss made an early impact by finding the net quickly followed by Ollie and suddenly the floodgates opened. St James were tired and Gateway boys capitalised on the space they were given by putting another 5 past the keeper. Late in the game we conceded but we all knew the result and were only waiting for the final whistle to celebrate. Every single boy in the team gave 110% and individually they are fantastic footballers, and as a team, they were exceptional. KC Squad Stan C, Dominic H, Will SC-B, Adam Y, Ollie L, Joss K, Harry N