Last Minute Thriller
Birkenhead
School Snatch Victory from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield
Captain leads from the front as goalie saves the day
Birkenhead School 2: QEGS Wakefield 2 Birkenhead win 3-0 on penalty flicks
In a display of sheer determination and backbone, Birkenhead School U-18 XI snatched victory thanks to a last-minute strike from captain, Chris Littler, which led to penalties. One down at half time, and two down after that, Littler’s men simply refused to accept defeat, and in a period of sustained pressure the captain scored with ten minutes to go. Spurred on by this, they piled on the attacks and, once again, it fell to Chris to score with 20 seconds left on the clock. The sudden and total reversal of fortune left QEGS on the back foot, and their penalty takers seemed to lose heart. So it was that Birkenhead won 3-0 on penalty flicks, with Chris Littler, Tom Boys and Sion Owen all hitting the spot.
In
a true team performance, mention must be made of the exceptional contribution of
Goalkeeper Cameron Frazer, who more than once kept his team in the contest with
some exceptional and decisive agility, not to mention his Jerzy Dudek
impersonation. (Well, Cam was there in Istanbul on that memorable night… so he
knows all about comebacks!)
This was the latest step on the road from the Cheshire Cup final, via the North-West final, in which they beat a very physical Cockermouth School 3-0, with goals from James Boumphrey, Josh Allen and Chris Littler.
The U-16XI came to the end of their run despite a tremendous fight back: four goals down at half time they swept back into the game which ended 4-4. However on this occasion the penalties went against them. They can be rightly proud on a tremendous run, which included a thrilling 4-3 victory over a very skilful Merchant Taylor’s XI. A hat-trick from Andrew Clarke was a notable high spot of this match.
So, to the victor the spoils. Birkenhead School, North of England Champions, now enter the last 8 nationally to fight for the ultimate accolade: the National Championships. Never one to let success go to his head, Team manager Dennis Topping said: Both teams have played really well: they show backbone, and support each other. The first XI will need to draw on all the experience of the competition so far to steel themselves for the next stage. We wish them well in the National Finals taking place month.
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