Report

Early Bank Holiday Sunday Morning in Hereford

Up with the lark and on with the football boots. This was the first tournament of the 2011/2012 season for the Juniors and what a cracker it was. Probably the best organised tournament I've been to for a long time, and because it was out of our area, completely different teams from around Hereford to play. Before I start, a word about Dylan. He badly twisted his knee in the warm-ups and it began to swell quite quickly. Putting on an extremely brave face Dylan sat out the Tournament, but he watched every match supporting his team mates all the way. I know he was extremely keen to play and was devestated when the injury prevented it. However his attitude and behaviour when faced with missing the tournament was exemplary. Well done Dylan and we all hope you recover quickly.

There were 16 teams at U9, split into two groups, before Quarter Final, Semi Final and Final matches. Here's the Group matches we played:

1. Eckington vs Milkwall Youth WON 1-0 (Jacey)
2. Pegasus Colts vs Eckington WON 0-2 (Jacey, Tristan)
3. Bewdley Town vs Eckington LOST 2-0
4. Eckington vs Lads Club Terriers WON 3-1 (Aaron, Jacey(2))
5. Eckington vs Worcester Colts WON 2-0 (Tristan, Aaron)
6. Eckington vs Sudbrook WON 1-0 (Aaron)
7. Eckington vs Mardy Juniors Colts WON 4-0 (Ben Tyson, Jacey, Aaron, Tristan)

We finished worthy Winners of the Group with 18 pts, Bewdley Town came 2nd, Sudbrook 3rd and Milkwall Youth 4th. In the other Group Pegasus Juniors came top with Monmouth Town 2nd, Ludlow Town 3rd and Weobley 4th. So onto the Quarter Finals. We played Weobley.

• * QF : Eckington vs Weobley WON 3-1 (Jacey, Tristan, Basty)

So through to the Semi-Finals. The tournament was set up nicely with Pegasus Juniors vs Bewdley Town and Eckington vs Monmouth Town.

In a tense and well fought match against a very good team from Monmouth Town, the Juniors lost 0-1. It was a balanced match with several close calls at both ends. That was the end of the Juniors' run.

I'd just like to say that the team played extremely well, not just winning, winning with real style. We built up a reputation in the tournament, even though they had never heard of us before ! A big thankyou too to the long suffering fan club that got the boys there and supported us all through the long competition - thanks.

The final word goes to the boys who gave everything from the KO at 9:15 through to mid-day, playing 7 group stage games, a QF and a SF on what turned out to be quite a hot May day bank holiday in Hereford. Well done boys you did yourselves and the club proud!