On Wednesday Activ8, with a few additions to the team from Hollinwood Academy together with Patrick (who is on transition to Activ8 ready for next year) and Jermaine took part in the One City League at the New City Academy facility..
Our B team had a great day with stand out performances from Jamie scoring a brilliant top corner curler, and Charlie scoring from 1/2 way. For the A team there was a chance of winning the tournament as due to previous results the top 2 on the day would contest a final to decide who would take home the silverware!
The team settled into their rhythm, quickly winning the first 2 games 6-1 and 5-1. Great team spirit and determination was on show by our boys with lots of skill on top. A 3-0 victory followed giving the lads confidence for what was left to come..
The next game offered a different challenge with the team taking an early 2-0 lead only to find the score at 2-2 a short time later. More teamwork and determination (especially from Jack, stealing the ball off a defender’s toe and knocking into the bottom corner) led to a final score of 4-2. The last group game was a very tense affair and saw the team absorb an awful lot of pressure and the goal led something of a charmed life at times, with Patrick making some important saves and the woodwork coming to the rescue on more than one occasion, and even a missed penalty. Jack snatched another goal though and we triumphed 1-0.
The attitude and level of play that the boys showed on the day earnt them their well deserved place in the final, which was once again a nervy and tense affair for Mr Greenway and Mr Lawrence on the touch line. As a topsy-turvy game entered the last few minutes we found ourselves 2-1 up thanks to a few more goals from Jack, playing in his last tournament for Activ8 before leaving for college this summer.
With only seconds on the clock a penalty was awarded against Activ8 for a ‘questionable’ (insert ‘blatant’) handball. This would have been tough to take as the team had played fantastically and deserved the victory. The whistle blew and the striker stepped up, Patrick made his mind up early and sprung to his left, making a brilliant save. He was mobbed by his teammates and the whistle blew shortly afterwards to great celebrations from the team..
The lads deserved their celebrations from the defence of Matthew, Aaron and Tony, midfield of Lewis and Nathan and Jack up front, with goalkeeper Patrick. The team enjoyed being presented the trophy by Paul Kelly who organised the event and the celebrations continued on the tram on the way home..
Well done, lads!!!!
