Gravesham Schools' Football Association U12s 2015 / 16
KENT CUP AND FRIENDLY FIXTURES
The team entered the Kent Cup which was played on a League basis. The first two teams from each group will qualified for the semi-finals of the A.B. Taylor Trophy and the next four teams will qualified for the quarter-finals of the Holy Cross Cup.
Saturday 3rd October. KENT CUP
Elite Venue 10.00 kick off
Gravesham 1 Medway 8
Gravesham U12's first home match was against a strong Medway side. Both teams showed great attitude and motivation during the pre match warm up, looking ready for an exciting first match of the campaign. Medway started strongly and showed that they were comfortable and had played together as a team before. Gravesham battled hard against the early wave of attacking play and Medway came very close to scoring on a number of occasions. Then the defensive seal was broken and Medway went ahead. Once the first went in the second and third were not far behind. It was not all bad news though, Gravesham showed signs of great teamwork and had some great passing possession just missing out on the final pass through on goal. Medway then scored a fourth, despite this the Gravesham boys kept their heads up and managed to finish a great passage of play with a goal from David Falaho.
At half time Gravesham stayed positive and were raring for the second half. Sadly during the second half the Medway attack didn't let up. Four more goals went against Gravesham and the game was well and truly in Medway's favour. Some great effort and attitude was shown by the Gravesham team and it has shown that there is a good starting point to improve going forward to the next match.
Saturday 17th October. KENT CUP
East Sussex 5 Gravesham 4
Gravesham U12s were away to East Sussex in the AB Taylor Trophy. In what turned out to be a close enthralling contest, East Sussex came away with all 3 points from the game. The home side started the better and raced to a 3-0 lead. Gravesham made 2 key substitutions and this turned the game into their favour. A well taken goal by David Falako and an own goal from a well directed corner brought the score back to 3-2. Another quick break away produced another well taken goal by the sensational David Falako and Gravesham were back in the game at 3-3. After the break the game ebbed and flowed and was a great spectacle for the neutral. East Sussex scored to make it 4-3 but another spirited fightback from Gravesham produced a goal from Joe Matthews. Spurning many chances to win the game Gravesham paid for the misses as East Sussex scored in the last minute to make it 5-4. A much improved performance and the boys should be proud as they enter a period without a game until November.
Saturday 28th November. KENT CUP
Bromley 0 Gravesham 1
On a very cold and blustery day Gravesham U12s produced a 1-0 victory ovr a team that was previously unbeaten during this season. The game started with an initial upper hand for the home team. They were passing the ball quickly on their home 3G pitch.
However after surviving the first exchanges Gravesham began to ease their way into the game. Gravesham took control of the midfield with Mack Reilly breaking down the play in the middle of the pitch and distributing the ball with precision. This culminated in a hatful of chances which Gravesham failed to take advantage of. These missed opportunities energised Bromley who had some chances of their own but a good defensive display from Lewis Granger stopped them in their tracks, which resulted in the scores being level at 0-0 at half time.
The second half started with Gravesham again in the ascendancy. Their exceptional hard work was stifling the home side and their persistence was finally rewarded with a goal from David Akinyode after good work from Archie Tucker. Gravesham continued to press for the rest of the game and were unlucky not to score again. Although Bromley showed some good counter attacking football, they found the gravesham goalkeeper (Ieuan Ferris) in great form with a particular 1 handed save really standing out.
This was a victory that rewarded the hard work from the entire team on a new surface in difficult conditions.
Saturday 12th December. KENT CUP
North Kent 7 Gravesham 3
On a cold wet miserable day Gravesham arrived on the back 2 wins. The opposition arrived with what appeared to be some physically stronger boys and this was to be the main difference between the 2 sides. The pitch was in awful condition and had a substantial slope. The home team won the toss and elected to kick down the slope in the first half. Graveshams defence held out well until the 11th minute when the physical prowess of the home team prevailed and they broke away and scored. Graveshams best form of attack was on the counter and chances were being made at either end. However with 7 minutes to go until half time fatigue seemed to set in and gravesham conceded 2 more goals resulting in a 3-0 scoreline at half time.
The second half started with Gravesham attacking constantly with the help of kicking downhill. This came to fruition when David Akinyode was fouled in the box and Gravesham were awarded a penalty. Birthday boy and skipper Mack Reilly stepped up and cooly slotted the ball away. More pressure from Gravesham produced a corner and this time after a good delivery from Joe Matthews, David Akinyode headed home. With Gravesham in the ascendancy North kent began to feel the game slipping away from them. They produced 2 quick counter attacks which resulted in 2 goals. Gravesham replied with another David Akinyode goal late on but this could not stop the home scoring again with another well judged counter.
Saturday 6th February. KENT CUP
Gravesham 0 West Kent 5
Saturday 13th February. KENT CUP
Dover v Gravesham. Holy Cross Quarter- Finals
Gravesham were unable to field a team so Dover were awarded a 2-0 victory.
Monday 29th February. FRIENDLY
Sittingbourne Community College.
Gravesham 3 Kent Schools U11s 5
PATRICK HAUGH TROPHY
The team entered the Patrick Haugh Trophy which was played on a knock out basis and was open to associations in the South East area.
Saturday 5th December. Round 1
King's Farm Primary School. 10.30 kick off.
Gravesham 4 Shepway 0
With the fringes of Storm Desmond causing difficult windy conditions Gravesham U12s continued their winning ways against a dogged Shepway side. The game started with both sides passing the ball well on a wide pitch. Chances came at both ends, but as the game entered the second third Graveshams pressing game began to tell culminating in them scoring only to be ruled out for offside.
With both teams beginning to show signs of tiring before half time in a bruising encounter Gravesham made a change with David Falako entering the fray. His impact was immediate as his undoubted pace and tenacity caused mayhem in the Shepway defence. Chasing down what looked like a lost cause David forced the defender into a mistake and slotted the ball past the Keeper. Several chances came after that with Shepway only troubling Gravesham on the counter attack, but the defence was well marshalled by Daniel Vine and Lewis Granger. The real goal threat was coming from Falako who shortly before half time pressed the defence again and executed a neat finish into the top corner.
The second half started much as the first had finished with Gravesham on top and within 2 minutes of the re start Joe Matthews had put Gravesham 3-0 up with a strike from just inside the box after more good work from David Falako. Shepway caused few threats to a confident Gravesham defence and with 7 minutes to go the result was put in no doubt as David secured his well deserved hat trick.
Saturday 20th February. Round 2
Maidstone v Gravesham.
Gravesham were unable to field a team and conceded the match.
The team entered the Patrick Haugh Trophy which was played on a knock out basis and was open to associations in the South East area.
Saturday 5th December. Round 1
King's Farm Primary School. 10.30 kick off.
Gravesham 4 Shepway 0
With the fringes of Storm Desmond causing difficult windy conditions Gravesham U12s continued their winning ways against a dogged Shepway side. The game started with both sides passing the ball well on a wide pitch. Chances came at both ends, but as the game entered the second third Graveshams pressing game began to tell culminating in them scoring only to be ruled out for offside.
With both teams beginning to show signs of tiring before half time in a bruising encounter Gravesham made a change with David Falako entering the fray. His impact was immediate as his undoubted pace and tenacity caused mayhem in the Shepway defence. Chasing down what looked like a lost cause David forced the defender into a mistake and slotted the ball past the Keeper. Several chances came after that with Shepway only troubling Gravesham on the counter attack, but the defence was well marshalled by Daniel Vine and Lewis Granger. The real goal threat was coming from Falako who shortly before half time pressed the defence again and executed a neat finish into the top corner.
The second half started much as the first had finished with Gravesham on top and within 2 minutes of the re start Joe Matthews had put Gravesham 3-0 up with a strike from just inside the box after more good work from David Falako. Shepway caused few threats to a confident Gravesham defence and with 7 minutes to go the result was put in no doubt as David secured his well deserved hat trick.
Saturday 20th February. Round 2
Maidstone v Gravesham.
Gravesham were unable to field a team and conceded the match.