Year 10 Progress To Round 3 Of London Cup After Hard Fought Win
On Thursday 15th January, our Year 10 team travelled to play City of London School (COLS) in some very testing conditions.
Mr Edwards and Mr Cassells knew that this would be a great test for the current Harris Cup holders, with rain howling across the pitch and temperatures barely above freezing.
COLS dominated the early proceedings with some very slick and well organised interchanges. As the half went on, the forward line of HBAED grew into the game. Abdul showed great signs of maturity to keep his head and put the boys 1-0 up with a neat finish. His physical presence and ability to break the lines petrified their centre backs throughout the match and he nearly doubled HBAED’s lead before a soft free kick was conceded on the edge of our own box. The ball was hung up in the swirling wind and someone how it was bundled over Natan’s line to equalise for the hosts.
Despite being uphill and playing into the wind, HBAED dominated the final 15 minutes of the half and were unlucky to not retake the lead shortly before halftime.
As the boys headed back out for the second half they knew that conditions were on their side. They used this to their benefit and started to pass around the opposition at ease and Abdul slotted the ball in from the edge of the box to make it HBAED 2 – 1 COLS. From here the team grew in confidence and started to assert themselves both physically and in terms of possession in the opponents third. Some huge tackles from Zain at centre back and Archie in midfield set out HBAEDs stall that they would not be intimidated in the middle of the pitch.
Nathan was a constant threat from the midfield and richly deserved his goal to put HBAED in the driving seat with a 3-1 lead. With the rain now so heavy that Mr Cassells called for the umbrella (see picture below!), it was a matter of managing the game for our Year 10s. They did just this despite some decisions going against them in the last ten minutes. When the full time whilstle loomed the referee found an extra eight minutes from somewhere. COLS managed to craft a well worked goal within the extended injury time to make it 3-2 to HBAED. With darkness looming and a place in the 3rd round of the London Cup awaiting, HBAED stood firm and managed the last few minutes of the game very well to secure victory.
In the second half the rain was so heavy that Mr Cassells called for the umbrella!
