House football is an integral part of the boarding life at Eton College. Every year, 25 Boarding Houses compete for the glory to be crowned House Football Champions in both junior and senior competitions. This article outlines the final of this year’s senior competition.
The match kicked off at 2:30, with supporters from both ends piling up on the sidelines ready to watch another historic Senior Ties final. DMT (Penn House) came into the final having won three matches, including a tight 2-1 victory in the semi-finals. JD (Farrer House) required four victories, including a massive upset against the first seed, to progress into the final.
A very technical Penn side was hoping to put their passing football on the pitch that day, which was difficult due to Farrer’s defensive strength. An early chance came five minutes into the first half with a brilliant cross from the left side. The Penn winger very nearly met the cross but it just slipped by him to keep the score at 0-0. A couple of beautiful passages of play boosted the confidence of the Penn team, however, Farrer began to cause trouble too. A fast-paced counterattack, led by the Farrer striker, caused confusion within the Penn defensive line, and a looping cross to the back-post saw a narrow miss from the Farrer right-winger. Shortly after, Farrer managed to play a through ball to their left-winger, who calmly guided it past the goalkeeper, only to see his effort drift wide of the goal by mere inches. After a half of intense football, the whistle blew, and neither side were able to break the deadlock.
HT: 0-0.
The second half began with early Penn House pressure. The boys in blue and white found an opener five minutes into the second half through an audacious shot by their captain (deflected in by a Farrer defender’s back). The mob of blue and white celebrated passionately on the sidelines – putting them a foot ahead in the final. The Farrer team reacted quickly. They started winning duel after duel, tackle after tackle, piling pressure upon the Penn defence, until it was too much to fend off. A brilliantly taken free kick from the Farrer captain saw a pack of green and black shirts flooding the Penn penalty box, creating mayhem for their defense. The Farrer striker moved behind the Penn House back line and headed in a gorgeous equaliser. The Farrer supporters erupted in jubilation. Farrer had pulled off another classic comeback, but could they now find a winner?
The last ten minutes of normal time was tightly matched, and with players beginning to fatigue the whistle blew.
FT: 1-1.
Extra-time saw injuries and heroic tackles, but neither side were able to find a winner. Both sides trudged off the pitch. The winners of the Cartwright Cup would be decided on penalty kicks.
Farrer started and exchanged early goals with the Penn takers. With penalties being rifled in left and right, the tension grew. At 3-3, a Farrer taker saw his penalty saved by an impressive dive from the Penn goalkeeper. Penn House then had the chance to win it, on the fifth penalty…denied! The Farrer goalkeeper skilfully parried the taker’s effort and kept his side alive. After both sides scored, and even exchanged misses, another chance arose for a Penn win. A slow walk up to the spot saw hundreds of people watching a moment which could be engraved in history. The Penn taker placed the ball, took a quick run up and…into the bottom corner it went!
They had done it. The whole team, boys in the House, and House staff ran onto the pitch in celebration to rejoice a maiden Cartwright Cup victory. It was beautiful, the trophy, the moment, the win. Then, a respectful moment between both teams commemorated an honourable campaign from both sides. Unfortunately, only one could march on victorious.
The Cartwright Cup is blue and white.
