U18 Boys Team County Plate Finalists – Match Report

Our U18 Boys Football Team reached the prestigious County Plate Final for the second year in a row and took on Chesham Grammar School at Arbour Park, the home of Slough FC.  Joe Tulleth, who is studying in our Football Academy, and a key member of the team brings us the match report.

MATCH REPORT: Denbigh School v Chesham Grammar School in County Cup Plate Final

After a convincing win against Princes Risborough in the semi-final of the County Cup Plate, Denbigh School made their way to Arbour Park, home of Slough FC where they would face Chesham Grammar School.  Denbigh went into the game with their heads held high after a great 3 – 1 win against Chesham in the group stages of the competition.

Chesham started off the better team and because of this scored in the first 10 minutes of the game. Denbigh re-grouped and went again playing good football but never threatening Chesham’s goalkeeper.  Chesham then had a free kick outside the box which hit the crossbar and went in.  Denbigh went into half time 2 – 0 down. The wind blew and the clouds cried. The sky was dull like the atmosphere in the changing rooms, but Mr Lay told us to ‘galvanise’ and the spirits were immediately lifted.

Denbigh went back out and started off much better than they did in the first half with good patterns of play and link ups, with plenty of shots.  Denbigh were putting pressure in Chesham’s final third and you could sense a goal coming.   But no, Chesham’s goalkeeper kept them in the game.  It was getting close to the end of the game and Denbigh needed to find something special to win.  Chesham were on the attack when Denbigh gave a silly foul away. They crossed the ball in, and Denbigh were caught napping with Chesham’s striker getting a foot to it.  Denbigh came again but it was too late, and the final whistle blew.  The match ended 3-0 to Chesham for a well-deserved win.

The result was disappointing for those team members in their final year at the Football Academy who were looking to retain the County Plate they won last year.  However, it is inspiration for our first year Football Academy students to push on and achieve more next year.

Joe Tulleth

Football Academy Press Officer

Team (in alphabetical order)

Abdubasit Agberemi, Riley Aldridge, Owen Cardwell, Kian Clifford, Gus Coulson, Vincenzo Di Giorgio, Junior Guerreiro, Joseph Kabeya, Michael Kidane, Jake Martin, Brayden Millard, Fareed Olubodun, Oceane Parker, Joe Tulleth, Troy Williams