Football Match Report – CADE Tournament Review

After much encouragement from the opening league match, despite the end result, on a bright Thursday afternoon, Park Grove took to the field in the CADE Cup held at Lakeside Primary School. This competition pitted Park Grove against St Wilfred’s, Haxby Road, Knavesmire and of course Lakeside. In front of a packed and vociferous crowd, Park Grove opening fixture was against St Wilfred’s. The match started off quickly with Park Grove’s energetic and fast-flowing possession football a joy to behold for the spectators. Eventually in the second half, this excellent play was rewarded when a mesmeric run and through ball from Kyle Wilce allowed Robby Butler to dart around the last covering defender and bury the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net, past the despairing dive of the goalkeeper. The great solidity of the defence ensured Park Grove held on comfortably to win 1-0, allowing Harry Metcalf a first school clean sheet in the process too.

The next match involved another meeting with Lakeside. Like the home match last week, the match was keenly contested, with the trickery and pace of Lucas Torres proving a real handful for the Lakeside defence in particular. Despite Park Grove enjoying most of the possession, chances were few and far between and a lightning quick counter-attack resulted in a fabulous finish which allowed Lakeside to take the three points with a slender 1-0 victory.

The penultimate match was a local derby against Haxby Road. Containing two ex-Haxby Road pupils in the starting line-up, Park Grove were out of the blocks as fast as a cheetah with the strong pressing and possession game normally associated with the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester City clear to see for all spectators. Another jinking run from Kyle Wilce presented Robby Butler with space to unleash a perfectly placed pile-driver which nestled into the left hand corner of the goal, with the keeper barely having a chance to move such was the sheer ferocity of the strike. A very fortunate deflection off Cameron’s head allowed Haxby Road to draw level and the match looked destined for a stalemate. However with under a minute left and with rising Park Grove pressure, a delightful cross arrowed in from Louie Powell somehow found its way to the right boot of Kyle Wilce who finished with consummate ease. The score line remained 2-1 and took Park Grove to six points.

After a quick break, Park Grove took to the field for the final match of the afternoon against Knavesmire Primary School knowing a victory would guarantee top spot and a place in the finals at the expense of Lakeside. Such a tantalising prospect ensured the match begun at a rollicking pace, with Robby Butler and Jacob Martindale making many lung-bursting runs from midfield to keep this dream alive. Whilst knowing that top spot was beyond them, Knavesmire showed they were more than there to make up the numbers when a well-worked short corner ended with an opportunistic yet brilliantly improvised flick finish into the bottom corner of the goal, leaving Harry no chance to react. No further goals were forthcoming and there was a whiff of relief from the Park Grove support that half time had come along.

The second half was a different proposition altogether with the great fight and determination from the boys in blue to get back in the match made for an absolutely pulsating encounter. Wave after wave of Park Grove attacks was finally rewarded with a crackerjack of a finish from Jacob Martindale. Picking up the ball from nigh on 23 yards, he found a pickpocket of space and curled a marvellous left footed finish into the top right hand corner to set up a grandstand finish. And what a finish it was. Sensing an opportunity, Park Grove drove forward with greater intensity and with 49 seconds left, a sumptuous cross from Robby Butler eventually made its way through to Louie Powell at the back post who kneed the ball onto the underside of the crossbar and agonisingly over the line for the winning goal or so Mr Mastrelli and the Park Grove parents thought. The goal wasn’t given though as the referee decided it hadn’t crossed the line despite the aghast reactions to the decision on the sidelines and loud calls for goal-line technology to be implemented! Ultimately it wasn’t to be and the result ended 1-1 ensuring Park Grove finished in a more than respectable second place.

Star players were Lucas Torres, whose lively performances galvanized many of Park Grove’s excellent attacks. Robby Butler’s second and third goals in as many games were again well deserved and his never-say-die attitude rubbed off on the whole team. Jacob Martindale’s calmness and succinct passing was a huge positive as well as popping up with a much needed wonder goal in the final match.

A huge well done to all the children who represented our school and the excellent parental support we had throughout the afternoon!

Mr Mastrelli