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Our Year 10 boys football team travelled to a very strong Saint George's School in Gravesend on Tuesday for a Portex Kent Cup fixture

We started the game up against it and the strikers from St George's caused our defence major problems, and we were 2-0 down within about 20 mins of the start.

Powerful run

Changing the defence and putting four at the back settled us down and the star of the show Dorian controlled their tricky and pacey winger. We moved Samuel into the midfield and on the 30 minute mark he produced a powerful run directly at the opposition's defence and was taken down just outside the box. We had just made a substitution and brought  Taufeeq on in the midfield to keep more shape and it was Taufeeq that hit a low free kick into the bottom corner to bring us a goal back before half time.

At 2-1, the boys were still in the game and it lifted spirits throughout the team. The team talk at half time seemed to have really got the boys going and it was against the run of play that St George's caught us on the break and their pacey striker calmly tucked the ball away to make it 3-1 to them.

Fantastic saves

Heads did not drop throughout the team and we continued to push forward and with about 10 minute’s remaining Seun pulled one back for us to make it 3-2. I have to mention Eimantes who was superb in goal and made some fantastic saves to keep us in the game throughout. With three minutes to go we got the equaliser 3-3 with Jessie hitting a low strike which the goalkeeper could not hold onto. Jessie then broke through on goal and was one-against-one with the goalkeeper and had to score, but he panicked and fluffed his shot into the goalkeeper's arms.

In the last seconds of the game Ayo the captain made a mazy run-through the defence and was very composed to hit a wonder strike towards the top corner only for the St George's goalkeeper to make a unbelievable save. That was the final kick of the game and we then had to face seven mins each way extra time and myself and Trevor thought this was now our game to win as Saint George's looked very tired.

However this was not the case and again they broke down the left hand side to put them 4-3 up. The boys looked deflated and again lifted their heads up as we went into the second period of extra time. We had seven minutes to save this game and it was our lucky day when Abdul hit a rocket of a shot from just inside the box straight into the back of the net. Overall I felt the boys deserved the win against a really strong team who are always one of the strongest football schools in Kent. 

Penalty shootout

The game ended with a penalty shootout and it was our amazing goalkeeper who made two fantastic saves to win us the game 4-3 on penalties. Our penalties were scored by Eimantes, Jessie, Taufeeq and Shane, who had a lot of pressure to finish the last pen to get us through to round three of the cup.

Trevor and myself would like to congratulate the boys on the character and determination and positive attitudes to win this game. A great achievement and a very proud moment for the Harris Garrard Academy. Onwards and upwards. Well done boys.

Mr Button