U18 BoyS' Football

Through to last four of the Somerset Cup!

Churchill’s Sixth Form Football team travelled to Wellsway school on Wednesday in the quarter-final of the Somerset Schools' Cup. The squad of 13 boys were Charles Lovell, George Brafield, Will Pearce, Luke Collier, Dan Tyrrell, Woody O’Regan, Ben Griffith, Joseph Couling, Archie Anderson, Tom White, Ciaran Murphy (c), Shoji Leach, and Sammy Clements.

The game started tensely with very few opportunities being created in a cagey affair. The deadlock was finally broken by Anderson who put Churchill 1-0 ahead after 10 minutes, following a good passage of play between Murphy and White. However, the hosts were quick to respond when a ball was flashed across the box leaving a tap in for the Wellsway striker at the back post. The wet and windy conditions were proving difficult to deal with for both teams, and this was shown when a strike from Anderson was misjudged by the Wellsway goalkeeper, resulting in him eventually palming the ball into his own net. Churchill looked comfortable with the score line at 2-1, until Wellsway levelled the match following a fast break down the right-wing.

The second half began with the winds still making it difficult for both teams to put passages of play together. Churchill started the second half the brighter of the two teams, and were rewarded when O’Regan found the net with a looping finish to lob the Wellsway goalkeeper and put Churchill 3-2 ahead. As the second half continued, Churchill grew into the game more and more, looking comfortable in possession and giving away few chances. A late stoppage time corner saw a Wellsway player manage to get free of his man and find the bottom corner with a powerful header, leaving the tie all square and sending the match into extra time.

Extra time was a period of few chances as both teams cancelled each other out with gritty performances being shown across the pitch. The game finally came to an end with the scores equal at 3-3 and heading for penalties.

Churchill came out victorious in the penalty shootout with a 2-1 victory, Couling and Anderson scoring the penalties. This gave the away side a well-earned quarter-final victory which now sees them progress into the last four of the competition.    

The semi-final sees Churchill travel to Millfield school in hope of reaching the final of the competition.  Good luck lads!

Mr Doel