Year 6 Mixed Football Events

In the final two weeks of the spring term, selected year 6 children took part in two mixed football events. Read below for details from both events.

On Wednesday 27th March 2019 O.L.I. played host to Grand Avenue and Malden Parochial in a triangular mixed football festival. After watching their two opponents play each other, it was O.L.I’s turn as Grand Avenue awaited. The first half was an even affair and ended in a deserved score line of 2-2. However, after a quick team talk, O.L.I. controlled the second-half and were able to attack more fluently which resulted in three excellent goals. O.L.I. went on to win the match 5-2 and were ready for their second and final match.

 

The match against Malden Parochial started with O.L.I. passing the ball around with confidence and having several long shots on goal. The team scored two early goals; one a superb long-range effort and another a well-sequenced team goal. While the team conceded a counter-attack goal, they went into the break with a 2-1 lead. In similar fashion to the opening match, O.L.I. dominated the second-half and were unlucky to not score more than the two goals in which they did. They won the match by a score line of four goals to one. 

On Tuesday 4th April 2019, eight children took part in a Mixed Year 6 Football Qualifier at Chessington School. Following success in the previous week’s festival, the team were excited to get the event underway. The event started with a tough opener against a strong Lovelace outfit. O.L.I. battled admirably in defence blocking several shots and making crucial clearances. Additionally, the team had at least three excellent opportunities to score a goal. Unfortunately, O.L.I. were unlucky to concede a late goal to lose by the narrowest of margins: 1-0. While playing well in the following two matches, O.L.I. suffered close defeats against the two teams who would go on to qualify for the Finals: Latchmere and Corpus Christi. 

Heading into their fourth match against Robin Hood, the O.L.I. squad were committed to register their first victory. The team certainly didn’t disappoint as they were unlucky to not win by more than the 2-1 score line that was secured. The children brought this confidence into their next fixture versus Christ Church Surbiton. Despite bizarre weather conditions (rapidly descending hailstones), O.L.I. controlled possession of the ball for virtually the whole match showing great accuracy in completed passes and dribbles. The team were deserving of the final result: winning the match by seven goals to one. The final match of the event put O.L.I. against a familiar foe… Malden Parochial. Once again, the team controlled the match and had the majority of possession inside their opponent’s half. O.L.I. had a strong overall performance and won the encounter 4-1.  

As the results suggest, the team showed great determination and team spirit going from match to match. Additionally, the attacking skills that the team showcased was great to see; I was particularly impressed with the unselfish passing inside the attacking third of our team, which resulted in several goals. With an overall record of three wins and three defeats, coupled with an impressive 14 goals scored, the squad should be very proud of their team performance.

I would like to congratulate Davut, Ciara, Harry, Keir, Rhiannon, Annie, Ollie O and Holly for excellently representing our school. Many thanks to the parents and carers who assisted the team at these two events in terms of providing transport and supporting the team.