Gravesham Schools Football Association U12s 2013 /14
KENT CUP AND FRIENDLY FIXTURES
The team entered the Kent Cup, the early stages of which were played on a league basis. The top four in the league qualified for the A.B. Taylor Trophy and the next four teams qualified for the Holy Cross Cup.
Thursday 10th October Friendly
Swale 3 Gravesham 5 (Scorers: Odejah(2), Eam, Potter, E. Longman)
Gravesham got off to a winning start in a friendly against Swale winning 5-3. There was encouraging signs from the off with Gravesham in difficult conditions trying to play football on a tight pitch. Gravesham were soon in the lead after a very good 10 minute spell with Grant Odejah scoring after good work down the right. Swale came back strongly with 2 goals with Gravesham’s defence showing signs that this was the first time they had played together. Gravesham were back level through an excellent individual goal by Brandon Eam just before half-time.
After the break Gravesham started the strongest and were rewarded with a goal from Grant Odejah. Jack Potter scored directly from a free kick to make the scores 4-2. Swale responded to make it 4-3 before Evan Longman rounded off a good all round performance by the team to make it 5-3.
Saturday 12th October Kent Cup
Gravesham 2 North Kent 2 (Scorers: Eam, E. Longman)
Gravesham started their league campaign with an excellent performance and were unlucky not to come away with the win they deserved. In a tight match Gravesham started the better and created a number of half chances before an excellent strike from outside the area by Brandon Eam hit the post and went in. Gravesham continued to push forward and were unlucky not to be more than 1-0 up. North Kent came back into the game with half-time approaching and with a lapse in concentration from Gravesham let North Kent in down the right to draw the teams level at 1-1.
Again Gravesham started the 2nd half strongly and were soon in the lead with Evan Longman being released one on one with the goalkeeper and finishing calmly under the keeper. North Kent again came back strongly with Gravesham not clearing their lines from a corner and North Kent’s forward leaving Ben Folkard no chance. Both teams pushed for a winner, with Brandon Eam coming closest in the dying minutes. However, the score remained 2-2 and it was an encouraging start to the season with some excellent football being played.
Saturday 9th November Kent Cup
Bromley 2 Gravesham 3 (Scorers: Odejah, Thomas, E. Longman)
Gravesham come out on top in a fiercely contested game. Bromley started the better with some neat passing but never really threatened the Gravesham goalkeeper Ben Folkard. Gravesham soon got used to the excellent 3G surface and hit Bromley on the counter attack and made the goalkeeper work on a couple of occasions. Gravesham were deservedly in the lead mid-way through the half when Grant Odejah latched onto a through ball and calmly slotted past the oncoming goalkeeper. Gravesham continued to press and after a half clearance from a corner, Charlie Thomas helped the ball into the net when the ball was lofted into the penalty area. The score remained 2-0 at halftime.Bromley started the second half with a bang and were soon level at 2-2 following some good work from Bromley’s striker. Gravesham managed to weather the storm and mount some attacks of their own. The game could have gone either way but both defences made some excellent last ditch tackles and keepers made some excellent saves. Evan Longman made the difference in the final 10 minutes of the game with a flicked header over the goalkeepers head and into the net, sparking the celebrations. Gravesham managed to hold onto the lead to record their first league win and stretched their unbeaten run to three games.
Saturday 11th January Kent Cup
Gravesham 4 East Sussex 3 (Scorers: not known)
Saturday 18th January Kent Cup
Blackheath 2 Gravesham 1 (Scorer: not known)
Wednesday 15th February Kent Cup
West Kent 1 Gravesham 3 (Scorers: not known)
A.B. TAYLOR TROPHY SEMI-FINAL
Saturday 29th March, Elite Venue
Gravesham 3 Canterbury 0 (Scorers: Odejah(2), Collett)
Gravesham thoroughly deserve their place in the Kent Cup Final after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Canterbury. Gravesham started on the front foot with Brandon Eam going close on a couple of occasions and Harriason Kempston grazing the crossbar from a long range free kick. The early pressure told as Gravesham took the lead through a close range finish from Grant Odejah. Man of the Match Grant continued to be a thorn in the side of the Canterbury defence and soon doubled the lead for Gravesham before half time with a great run through the middle holding off the Canterbury defender and coolly finishing past the on rushing goalkeeper. Gravesham held the Canterbury defence to very few chances thanks to Matt Payne and Jack Potter.
The second half started in a similar fashion with Gravesham on the front foot and soon after a disallowed goal for offside from George West, Zach Collett put the game beyond doubt with a neat finish to make it 3-0 with 15 minutes to play. The Gravesham team put in their best performance of the season, with all players playing their part and a credit to the local schools in Gravesham.
A.B. TAYLOR TROPHY FINAL
Monday 19th May, Gallagher Stadium (Maidstone United F.C.)
Blackheath 1 Gravesham 4 (Scorers: Eam(3), Kempston)
Gravesham ran out worthy winners of the U12s A.B Taylor Trophy with a 4-1 victory. The result means Gravesham are Kent’s district U12 champions having won their group and then convincingly beating Canterbury in the semi- final and Blackheath in the final.Gravesham went into the game having lost on both previous occasions to Blackheath by slender margins but full of confidence that they could get the result they desired. The game started at a frantic pace with end to end football with both teams trying to gain an early advantage at the fantastic Gallagher Stadium, home of Maidstone United Football Club. Blackheath seemed to settle first but is was Gravesham who almost broke the deadlock with the magnificent Brandon Eam creating a chance out of nothing, cutting in from the left and firing over when one on one with the keeper. Gravesham had started to get the better of Blackheath but in the searing heat and on a pitch as big as Wembley players were given a drinks break which disrupted Gravesham and allowed Blackheath to regroup. It was not long after the break that the deadlock was broken. A foul given 30yds out was delivered into the area by Harrison Kempston and Brandon stooped low to head into the corner and give Gravesham a deserved lead.
Blackheath rallied and put immense pressure on the Gravesham defence but with some outstanding defending and the excellent Ben Folkard in goal Gravesham maintained their slender advantage going into half time. Gravesham came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and with the introduction of Grant Odejah 5 minutes after the restart it gave Gravesham an extra attacking dimension. It was soon 2-0 with an incisive attack down the left with Brandon cutting in and firing an unstoppable shot with his right foot into the bottom right corner. Blackheath were now pushing forward in search of a goal to get them back into the game and Gravesham survived with a moment of good fortune after a shot hit the post, bounced back into the arms of Ben Folkard. Jack Potter and Matt Payne made some timely tackles at the back. Gravesham managed to make the game safe after exploiting the space Blackheath’s defence afforded them. A neat pass from Mali Emeka into the path of Harrison Kempston left him with just the goalkeeper to beat and he calmly finished into the bottom corner. Brandon finished the rout in outstanding fashion out pacing the right back to smash an unstoppable left footed strike across the goalkeeper into the side netting. A perfect hat-trick for man of the match Brandon Eam. There was still time for Blackheath to grab a consolation goal but the game had been finished as a contest some time ago and Gravesham fully deserved the victory and all the plaudits coming their way in a final of high quality. The whole squad were fantastic and contributed to an excellent performance.Squad – Ben Folkard, Aaron Eagon, Owen Longman, Matt Payne, Jack Potter, Max King, Harvey Horton, Mali Emeka, Zach Collett, Charlie Thomas, Harrison Kempston, George West, Dan Stibbons, Brandon Eam, Grant Odejah, Tyler Frain, Evan Longman
Patrick Haugh Trophy
This competition was organised on a knock out basis and was open to all associations in the South East area.
Saturday 23rd November Round 1
Gravesham v South East Sussex
- no record of the result of this match
Saturday 29th March, Elite Venue
Gravesham 3 Canterbury 0 (Scorers: Odejah(2), Collett)
Gravesham thoroughly deserve their place in the Kent Cup Final after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Canterbury. Gravesham started on the front foot with Brandon Eam going close on a couple of occasions and Harriason Kempston grazing the crossbar from a long range free kick. The early pressure told as Gravesham took the lead through a close range finish from Grant Odejah. Man of the Match Grant continued to be a thorn in the side of the Canterbury defence and soon doubled the lead for Gravesham before half time with a great run through the middle holding off the Canterbury defender and coolly finishing past the on rushing goalkeeper. Gravesham held the Canterbury defence to very few chances thanks to Matt Payne and Jack Potter.
The second half started in a similar fashion with Gravesham on the front foot and soon after a disallowed goal for offside from George West, Zach Collett put the game beyond doubt with a neat finish to make it 3-0 with 15 minutes to play. The Gravesham team put in their best performance of the season, with all players playing their part and a credit to the local schools in Gravesham.
A.B. TAYLOR TROPHY FINAL
Monday 19th May, Gallagher Stadium (Maidstone United F.C.)
Blackheath 1 Gravesham 4 (Scorers: Eam(3), Kempston)
Gravesham ran out worthy winners of the U12s A.B Taylor Trophy with a 4-1 victory. The result means Gravesham are Kent’s district U12 champions having won their group and then convincingly beating Canterbury in the semi- final and Blackheath in the final.Gravesham went into the game having lost on both previous occasions to Blackheath by slender margins but full of confidence that they could get the result they desired. The game started at a frantic pace with end to end football with both teams trying to gain an early advantage at the fantastic Gallagher Stadium, home of Maidstone United Football Club. Blackheath seemed to settle first but is was Gravesham who almost broke the deadlock with the magnificent Brandon Eam creating a chance out of nothing, cutting in from the left and firing over when one on one with the keeper. Gravesham had started to get the better of Blackheath but in the searing heat and on a pitch as big as Wembley players were given a drinks break which disrupted Gravesham and allowed Blackheath to regroup. It was not long after the break that the deadlock was broken. A foul given 30yds out was delivered into the area by Harrison Kempston and Brandon stooped low to head into the corner and give Gravesham a deserved lead.
Blackheath rallied and put immense pressure on the Gravesham defence but with some outstanding defending and the excellent Ben Folkard in goal Gravesham maintained their slender advantage going into half time. Gravesham came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and with the introduction of Grant Odejah 5 minutes after the restart it gave Gravesham an extra attacking dimension. It was soon 2-0 with an incisive attack down the left with Brandon cutting in and firing an unstoppable shot with his right foot into the bottom right corner. Blackheath were now pushing forward in search of a goal to get them back into the game and Gravesham survived with a moment of good fortune after a shot hit the post, bounced back into the arms of Ben Folkard. Jack Potter and Matt Payne made some timely tackles at the back. Gravesham managed to make the game safe after exploiting the space Blackheath’s defence afforded them. A neat pass from Mali Emeka into the path of Harrison Kempston left him with just the goalkeeper to beat and he calmly finished into the bottom corner. Brandon finished the rout in outstanding fashion out pacing the right back to smash an unstoppable left footed strike across the goalkeeper into the side netting. A perfect hat-trick for man of the match Brandon Eam. There was still time for Blackheath to grab a consolation goal but the game had been finished as a contest some time ago and Gravesham fully deserved the victory and all the plaudits coming their way in a final of high quality. The whole squad were fantastic and contributed to an excellent performance.Squad – Ben Folkard, Aaron Eagon, Owen Longman, Matt Payne, Jack Potter, Max King, Harvey Horton, Mali Emeka, Zach Collett, Charlie Thomas, Harrison Kempston, George West, Dan Stibbons, Brandon Eam, Grant Odejah, Tyler Frain, Evan Longman
Patrick Haugh Trophy
This competition was organised on a knock out basis and was open to all associations in the South East area.
Saturday 23rd November Round 1
Gravesham v South East Sussex
- no record of the result of this match