FOOTBALL WEEK 1- 19th and 20th September

 

A GREAT START FROM ALL YEARS AGAINST ARCH RIVALS

This week saw the opening days of the school’s football season. The year 8’s and 10’s kicked off on Wednesday 19^th September which saw both teams win comfortably.  Their opening games were against local rivals Eaton Bank, which some people would say is the equivalent to the Merseyside and Manchester derby. Even though the football may not be the same, each team from the whistle only gave the opposing players a few seconds on the ball. However, in the 5^th minute Brian Barton, year 10, went one on one with Eaton Bank’s goalkeeper and calmly put the ball into his net. 1-0 to Congleton High. It wasn’t long until Max Berkeley carried out the same move as Barton did and put the year 10’s 2-0 up. From this point Congleton looked safe and in the 25^th minute Berkeley headed home for his second of the game, which made it 3-0. Minutes late Brian Barton added to his previous goal which made sure Congleton went into the break with a four goal advantage. 

Barton nearly scored another two goals in the opening minutes of the second half as his powerful header had to be lifted over the cross-bar before minutes later he hit the post. Barton and Berkeley were still both on a brace but who was going to get their hatrick first? The answer was Max as he made it 5-0. However, it wasn’t long before Barton got his hatrick which made it 6-0. But from the restart Eaton Bank found a gap on the left and played that to their advantage, Sam Wilson left Hallam Carslake diving in mid air with his shot. 6-1 Congleton. Wilson’s goal definitely didn’t have an effect on Congleton as Adam McHale won it on the left touchline and centred it to Barton who slotted it to Berkeley who put it above the keeper. 7-1 Congleton. The goal galore continued when Adam McHale’s corner made its way too Kieran Wilton who made sure he got on the score sheet. Then Barton scored his fourth of the game which made sure Max Berkeley and him go into the next game as Congleton High School’s top scorers. The last kick of the game saw Adam McHale score a well deserved goal. McHale found himself in open space and played a one two with Brian Barton before putting it between the posts. The match ended 10-1 to the Year 10’s at Congleton High School, who under a new manager, Mr Baxendale, showed that they are not like Premier League clubs who need weeks to solve the transition between managers.

On the other side of the field, the Year 8’s hosted Eaton Bank’s. Congleton took the lead with Jake Rowley before Amy Rodgers, volleyed home from the edge of the area to make it 2-0 to Congleton High School.  James Reid then rifled his shot into the back of the net with his left foot to make it 3-0. Eaton Bank pulled one back to make the final result 3-1 to Congleton High School.

On Thursday 20^th September it was the other year’s (7,9 and 11) time to kick off their season when they all hosted Eaton Bank. The Congleton boys must have been in full confidence after finding out about the previous night’s results as Tom Summerfield got Congleton’s year 11’s off to a flyer when he scored early on. Then Louis Hartles, halted the party, when he pulled one back from the penalty spot which saw him calmly, place the ball past Alfie Stone. Minutes later Congleton High’s year 11’s got the ball in the back of the net but the referee, Mr Naylor ruled it offside. There was even more controversy when Mr Naylor’s whistle blew seconds before Joey Griffiths’ cross somehow drifted over the Eaton Bank goalkeeper into the net. However in the 28^th minute Congleton’s bad luck made way to good luck as Ollie Conroy took advantage of the CHS counter attack when a cross from the right found Conroy in space in the middle of the box. Conroy then scored his second when he leapt above the defenders to score with his head. Five minutes before the end of the first half a long ball found Conroy who turned and got a shot off but this was blocked and parried by the keeper, which rolled into the path of Paddy McGovern who made it 4-1 at half time. Tom Hampton made it 5-1 ten minutes after the break from close range. That was soon 6-1 when Hampton slotted in his brace at the far post following a deflected shot from a corner. Eaton Bank scored a consolation but couldn’t add to their score and the match finished 6-2 to CHS.

The year 7’s played their first competitive match at high school when they thrashed Eaton Bank’s year 7’s 7-2. The game was 1-1 at half time but shortly after the restart Eaton Bank took the lead through a short corner which turned into a goal mouth scramble with the ball ending up beyond Congleton’s goalkeeper, Josh Riley. The year 7’s manager, Mr Da Souza inspired his team when he bellowed “switch on Congleton” from the sideline as moments later CHS had the ball in the net twice to make it 4-2 to Congleton. The new pupils at Congleton High School went on to score another three before the final whistle. The PE staff are expecting a good season for the year 7’s.

Unfortunately, the year 9’s game was abandoned in the second half with the score at 3-2 due to a serious injury too one of Congleton High’s players, AJ Eardley. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back on the pitch soon.

One thing’s for sure all of CHS’ players will go into next week’s games full of confidence.

Written by Adam Bailey