Thank you to all colleagues in the Sports faculty for providing the students with a wide range of opportunities throughout the Spring term.
Moving towards the business end of the season and all of our football teams are at the latter stages of various cup competitions:
Year 7
Our Year 7s have grown from strength to strength since the start of the academic year and are the only football team still in two cup competitions.
After a comfortable 6-0 win in the last 16, the Year 7s faced familiar opponents, William Ellis, in the quarter-finals of the London Cup. In the first half, both sides squandered good chances, including Central missing a penalty after a fantastic one-handed save from the William Ellis goalkeeper. Otambul, Chilard-Martin & Ismail all going close without making the cutting edge difference. It was the former, who took the game by the scruff of the neck, as he raced through on goal before firing into the far corner. A fantastic finish by the number 9, who has made progressed into playing in the Year 8 team due to his recent excellent performances. A well deserved lead but a long way to go. Mr Lloyd has used set-pieces to gain an advantage over the opposition all year and it was a corner that doubled Central’s lead. Degirmenci whipped the ball to the far post and Miah nodded in from 3-yards out. William Ellis fought hard to get back into game but a stubborn and well-organised Central defence held strong to keep a third consecutive clean sheet and progress into the semi-final of the London Cup.
Full time
CFBS 2-0 William Ellis
Otambul (62)’, Miah (78’)
In the Islington & Camden Cup, a semi-final against Acland Burghley proved to be a stern test. The first half’s main talking points were centred around two penalties, Chilard-Martin was brought down on both occasions after some quick feet. Otambul took the first, Chilard-Martin took the second, both with the same outcome as Central led 2-0 at the break. Into the second half, and the next goal was always going to be huge. Could Acland Burghley get back in the game or could Central pull further clear? Thankfully for us, it was the latter as. Krasniqi turned provider for Logan who smashed a half-volley past the goalkeeper to send the boys into the final. We face either Haverstock or SMMA in the final on Tuesday 23rd April.
Full time
CFBS 3-0 Acland Burghley
Otambul (16’), Chilard-Martin (28’), Logan (64’)
Year 8
After beating SMMA, last year’s champions, in the quarter-finals, our Year 8 football team were full of confidence heading into their cup semi-final against Highbury Grove. Despite this, Central found themselves 0-1 down after a passive opening 10 minutes. Priding ourselves on set pieces, Shirley’s in-swinging corner was met by Dednica to slam home at the back post to put us on level terms. The goal sparked a Central revival as Shirley turned provider again two-minutes later, as his fantastic run down the wing resulted in an inch-perfect cross for Abakpa to poke in. A quicker counter-attack 10-minutes later saw Senya end up through on goal and chipped the keeper from around 30-yards. The vision, delicacy and composure of the finish was simply sublime. A terrific 10-minute period for the boys in red meant we led 3-1 at the break.
The goals kept coming in the second half as Chandler’s fantastic strike from 35-yards flew into top corner with the keeper rooted to the spot. Another set-piece and another corner resulted in Central’s 5th, but this time it was Dednica who whipped the ball into Buttleman who couldn’t miss from a yard out. Despite SMMA scoring a second goal with 8-minutes to go, the goal of the game came from the left boot of Dednica. Straight from kick-off he noticed the goalkeeper on the edge of the box, this was enough of an invitation as up he stepped to fire the ball over the keeper and into the top corner. A phenomenal strike to earn him the Player of the Match Award. We face Acland Burghley in the final on Wednesday 24th April.
Full time
CFBS 6-2 SMMA
Dednica (25’, 82’), Abapka (27’), Senya (37’), Chandler (63’), Buttleman (74’)
Year 9
A fantastic run in the London Cup came to a halt on Friday as our Year 9’s were edged out at the quarter-final stage. The game was centred around three penalties decisions as Dhoot saved a penalty to keep us in the tie. Despite a late flurry of chances, we succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fulham Boys. A fantastic run and certainly a platform to build on for next year.
SMMA were the opposition for the Year 9 Islington & Camden Cup semi-final and after getting knocked out of the London Cup only three days ago, the boys were certainly keen to make amends.
After a tense and nervous opening first 10-minutes, it was Buckingham who managed to steal possession on the edge of the SMMA box and then calmly slotted past and on-rushing goalkeeper. One-nil swiftly become two-nil as Shirley managed to lob the keeper after a well struck free kick from captain Hutchins. A lapse of concentration allowed SMMA back into the game before Bryant’s well struck free kick crept in at the near post just before the break. Back came SMMA just before half-time, however, a precise finish past an on-rushing Dhoot made it 3-2 at half-time.
A few words of encouragement from Mr Allen but it was SMMA who started fastest in the second-half and 3-2, soon became 3-4 and time for the boys to dig deep. That they did and after some great feet on the edge of the box, Ramsey got brought down allowing Hutchins to step up and calmly slot home. Both teams pushed for a winner but after an essential tackle from Dhoot who was quick off his line, up step Hutchins, who with the last kick of the game, smashed a 40-yard free kick in off the bar to spark jubilant scenes. Fantastic courage, reslience & teamwork from our Year 9 football team, who set-up a cup final against St Aloysius on Wednesday 24th April.
Full time
CFBS 5-4 SMMA
Buckingham (12’), Hutchins (65’ 94’), Shirley (23’), Bryant (36’)
Year 11
With only one more chance of lifting silverware as a squad at Central Foundation Boys’ School, our Year 11s had extra-motivation to get through to final of the Islington & Camden Cup. Alike our triumphant Year 8s, Highbury Grove were the team standing in our way. Setting up in 5-3-2, Highbury Grove were well organised and proved difficult to break down in the early stages. Neither side managed a shot on-target until Notaro squared the ball to Wright, who curled the ball magnificently into the top corner. A moment of individual brilliance, which turned the game in Central’s favour. One-nil soon became 2-0 as some fast feet on the edge box from Myrtaj lured the defender into the tackle and brought him down. Up step Notaro, who placed the ball into the far corner, despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball. In the second-half, Central missed early chances to put the game to bed before a wonderful through ball from Emhazion sent Notaro through once again to fire past the goalkeeper. We managed to control the rest of the game and, in the end, were comfortable 3-0 winners. We face SMMA in the final on Tuesday 23rd April.
Full time
CFBS 3-0 Highbury Grove
Wright (24’), Notaro (33’, 67’)
Our Year 10s have the chance to make it a clean sweep of finals, as they play against William Ellis in the semi-final of the Islington & Camden Cup after the Easter Break.