Last week, Eton had the privilege of playing in the Independent Schools Football Association’s U15 Final at the home of Burton Albion. Press Officer, and player, Guy S told us about the game.
After hard fought victories in previous rounds against the likes of Aldenham, Haileybury and Buckswood, we arrived at the Pirelli Stadium with huge levels of excitement and a clear game plan. We knew that Cheadle Hulme would be a tough opposition, having analaysed their results and past performances. We were ready, however, to give our all.
With the stadium music blaring and the Eton faithful in fine voice, the team ran onto the pitch. From minute one, it became clear that the opposition was both skilful and equally hungry for the win.
Throughout the first half, Eton dominated and created more clear cut chances, but all that was missing was the end product. This momentum led to us taking the lead shortly after the half time interval. The roar of the crowd matched the elation felt by us as all in the team.
As the game wore on, many expected the pace to drop but this was not the case. It was evident that both teams were giving it their all.
Unfortunately, Eton’s resolute defence was broken a few minutes after the opener, with Cheadle Hulme’s number 9 converting from a tight angle.
This setback didn’t dent the enthusiasm of the crowd, nor the effort levels of the players. The tiring and hard fought battle could not be determined in normal time, and so 20 minutes of extra time began.
The crowd grew louder and the desire to win continued to rise. Despite Eton initially looking the stronger team, Cheadle Hulme managed to snatch it at the close, with a low driven shot across the keeper into the bottom right corner.
Despite a 2-1 defeat, we were proud of the passion and skill demonstrated by the team. Playing under the floodlights at a professional stadium will be an experience the U15 team will never forget.
You can read more about Eton’s journey to the final here.
