Boys' Senior Football v Liverpool College

Date: Saturday 23rd January

Venue: Home. 1.30pm kick-off on San

Team: Carr, Fearn, Golding, Lewis, Sanderson (C), Moxham, Rees-Jones, Graham, Woodhead, Chilaka, Swann, Croft, Mcenery, Welch

Result: Repton 5-0 Liverpool College

Match Report:

This was an extremely strong showing against a highly committed Liverpool College outfit. We started the game strongly, stroking the ball around and playing lots of two-touch football. We went ahead early through CHILAKA, which always settles the nerves. Chilaka then set up REES-JONES for a second, before REES-JONES added a third to make it 3-0 within the first 20 minutes. This was a fantastic performance from the midfielder; in my opinion the best I have seen him play in five years at the School. We continued to pass the ball well and created further half-chances for Graham and Woodhead. Liverpool were dangerous on the break and forced a good save from Carr in the Repton goal. However, their most incisive attacks were dealt with by Sanderson, who captained for the first time today, and Lewis who put in a very pleasing performance.

At half-time we took the opportunity to rest some of the 1st XI boys like Fearn and Graham and to give some of the younger players a run. I couldn't have been more pleased with the way they slotted into our pattern of play. Welch, in particular, did some excellent work in the competitive midfield area whilst Mcenery showed the potential he has at full back. A wonderful team move, which switched from right to left, saw Josh Golding release Scott Woodhead on the flank. The ball found its way into the area where Harry CROFT was on hand to finish impressively. Further goals could have followed for Chilaka, Woodhead and Croft with all three being denied by the Liverpool 'keeper, who had a fine game today. A burst by Woodhead saw him clipped in the area leaving CHILAKA to stroke home the penalty kick for the final goal.

I was absolutely delighted with this performance today. This may not be the 1st XI, but many of the players on show today aspire to be there in the future. They need to realise the traits that we are looking for in a Repton 1st XI Footballer and I'm pleased to say that they really stepped up to the mark. We played some wonderful football at times, but never at the expense of our discipline and work rate, which were first class today. The clean sheet is, to me, something to be prized and for every bit of inventive attacking play we produced I'm just as pleased that our defensive standards were so high.