Boys' 1st XI v Bradfield (Boodles ISFA QF)

Date: Thursday 3rd December

Venue: Home. 2pm kick-off on The Square

Team: Jones, Fearn, Golding, Sanderson, Evans, Moxham, Byas, Graham, Chilaka, Duggan (C), Gorman

Subs: Rees-Jones, Lewis, Mullen

Result:

Repton 2-0 Bradfield

Match Report:

Repton made the Semi-Final of the Boodles ISFA Cup with a hard-fought win over a tough Bradfield side. The match got off to a perfect start with Repton taking the lead inside two minutes. Ndu Chilaka controlled the ball on the edge of the area and played a neat one-two with Sam GRAHAM who slotted the ball home for his tenth goal of the season. Bradfield then began to fight their way back into the match, winning good possession in midfield and bringing their pacy wingers into the game. However, it was Repton who continued to make the better chances, with a stinging shot from Chilaka fingertipped brilliantly round the post by the Bradfield goalkeeper. As half-time approached the game was relatively well poised.

The second half saw Repton make some minor tactical adjustments which helped to wrestle control of the midfield a little more. The next goal was always going to be crucial and both sides had chances with Bradfield only finding Neil Jones in goal and Chilaka firing just over. The second goal did arrive after a great ball from Sanderson was chased by Chilaka. He managed to wriggle free and lay a perfectly weighted ball into Johnny GORMAN who struck it first time into the top corner; a fine goal. This seemed to spur Repton on further and a third goal looked likely when Gorman fired over from six yards. Bradfield still had the fight to come back and when Jones brought down a Bradfield player in the area with 15 minutes to go it looked like the game was going to come alive again. The drama continued as Jones atoned for his error with a wonderful save, he is certainly becoming the penalty saving hero in this cup run! Despite the fact that there was still time left in the game you got the feeling that their chance had gone. They continued to press but struggled to carve out a chance as the miserly Repton defence seemed determined to keep a clean sheet.

And so we go onto our 5th Boodles ISFA Cup semi-final. We have been drawn away at Manchester Grammar, which will be tough, but I suppose it would be foolish to expect anything else at this stage in the tournament.