On Thursday afternoon, the Year 8 football team played host to a local school in Round 2 of the PEDSSA Cup.
Attempting the build on the momentum of their first round win, Magna started positively and were playing some really lovely football early on. This started at the back, with James H, Sam H, Dolton L and Dylan M keeping things simple and effective by playing the way they were facing and taking 2/3 touches maximum. This threaded nicely through to midfield pair Lewis B and Harry B who worked well to transfer the ball up the pitch to our forward players. Frustratingly, Magna were finding the final third rather unfruitful and the final pass or shot was the last piece in the jigsaw. Towards the end of the half, Magna finally broke the deadlock, with ‘fox-in-the-box’ striker Harley R getting on the end of a superb Noah B corner to nudge Magna into a 1-0 halftime lead.
Magna went about their second half very maturely, controlling the flow of the game whilst maintaining a solid and resolute back line. This approach was rewarded when winger Bailey D pounced on a goalkeeper rebound to smash high into the net and double Magna’s lead. Substitutes Olie V, Mason W and Lucas A all played their part in ensuring a comfortable and assuring 2-0 victory. Goalkeeper Kieran I was also particularly impressive, acting as a cool and collective presence when handling the ball to help bring home a clean sheet. However, today’s man of the match has to go to Ben H who put in a phenomenal attacking display, causing all sorts of problems for the opposition defenders and creating many attacking opportunities with his simmering pace and blistering ball control, delighting the Magna support.
Well done boys, a good solid and mature 2-0 win that puts us in the hat for the quarter final draw. Keep working hard in training and the rewards will continue to come.
Mr Ginger and Coach Neil