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The Year 7s started off their cup run with the hardest fixture to date away at Bishop Thomas Grant (BTG).

Playing on grass for the first time as a unit and it being the 3rd game in a week, HBAED got off to an unusually bad start to which BTG made the most of. 1-0 to BTG very early in the game.

The boys begin to work together and with some quality play down the wing from Nana, we won a corner kick. Gody put a beauty into the box which fell to the one and only Captain Cosmo (yes, his 8th goal of the season) to make it 1-1.

Trying to get used to conditions took time for HBAED and it wasn’t long before a second easy goal was handed to BTG for them to take the lead to 2-1. The half time whistle couldn’t come soon enough for us.

Motivation

A big half time chat and some strong motivation from the coaching staff brought out a great start to the second half. HBAED kept possession of the ball early and an attempted clearance from Allan found Idris on the right wing. He took on a few players to put in a good delivery to which Gody somehow managed to get a shot away with at least two players on his toes. 2-2 and all to play for.

BTG then had the better of a 10 minute period and were all over HBAED but Joshua really stood up at the back ensuring his defence was in shape and defending with everything they had. A superb strike was all that could get past Edward who had made some cracking saves in the second half. 3-2 with seven minutes left in the game. BTG carried on to press but a quality clearance from the ‘Mr injury’ Allan created a great play to which Idris and captain Cosmo linked up well to put a ball in good cross into the middle. BTG’s big centre half managed a header but it only fell to the superb right foot of Dexter who thumped a volley into the back of the net. 3-3 with five minutes to go.

Tactial genius

Again on the back foot for most of the final quarter, a tactical genius decision from the coaching staff led to Gody being left alone up top. The solid back three managed to stop the force of BTG with a big boot up field. Gody took a superb first touch turn to beat his first man to only find another two men in front of him. He skimmed past the final man with being fouled several times to be 1-on-1 with the keeper. Gody with his class, calmly chipped the keeper to give HBAED the lead for the first time.

There were two minutes to go and the boys put everything behind them to ensure that BTG couldn’t get anywhere near our box.

The final whistle went and it was all over. HBAED through to the second round of the national cup. A great game played by BTG and a real step up from HBAED in the second half.

Captain Cosmo (8 goals from 4 games) was extremely humble in his post match interview ensuring he is “just the drummer in the band”.

Onwards and upwards!

Mr May