Valence Primary were crowned Borough 7-a-side champions after they secured the Evans-Moore Cup.
Result: Valence Primary 0 v 0 Northbury Primary (Valence win on penalties)
The St. George’s Road based school held their nerve in a penalty shootout to edge out Northbury after the final had finished 0-0.
Valence started the day in Group B and were impressive in their opening group game against Ripple (3-0). They suffered a 2-0 reverse in their next game vs Monteagle but a 1-0 win over Hunters Hall in their final group game saw them go through. Monteagle were the 2nd team through after they drew their 2 games after the win over Valence.
Beaten finalists Northbury looked in good form in the group stages and started with 2 wins from 2. Successive 2-0 wins over Roding Cannington and Dorothy Barley saw them through. They did suffer a 1-0 loss to Richard Alibon, who topped the group, but that was enough to see them progress.
Group A saw George Carey and Valence Bonham go through after both sides beat William Bellamy before sharing the points with each other. However, George Carey finsihed as group winners, couresty of a superior goal difference.
Group C saw Roding Hewett top the group with 3 wins from 3 and they were joined in the last 8 by Godwin, who recovered from their defeat by Roding by winning their other 2 group games.
The quarter finals saw the 2 Valence sites face each other in the 1st knockout game and it was the St. George’s Road side who prevailed 3-0. Northbury booked their place in the last 4 after defeating Roding Hewett 2-0. George Carey edged out Monteagle 1-0 to go through, whilst Alibon completed the semi final line up with a 1-0 win over Godwin.
The first semi final was a tense affair between Northbury and George Carey but it was the former who booked their place in the final with a late goal. The 2nd semi final pitted Valence against Richard Alibon and normal time was unable to separate the 2 sides. Extra time saw very little goalmouth action and so penalties were needed to find a winner. Both sides saw penatlies saved but it was Valence who booked their place in the final.
The final was played at a frantic pace and both sides had efforts on goal in the opening stages. However, neither side could find a goal and the game would be decided by the lottery of spot kicks. Both sides saw their 2nd spot kick saved but the other 6 players from both sides scored. This meant that the shootout went around again but Northbury missed their 10th spot kick giving Valence the chance to win; a chance they took to secure the title.
Well done boys, a great result!
