ESFA CUP- LAST 32

Year 10 Cup Misery

Photo: Reece Carbutt scores a consolation from an acute angle. Courtesy of Nathan Stirk Photography.

After the excitement of the FA Cup third round over the weekend the ‘cup fever’ also hit Congleton High School tonight (Tuesday 7^th January) as year 10 hosted Range High School from Sefton in the last 32 of the ESFA Cup (schools’ version of the FA Cup).

You only had to look on the field to see the importance of the match with Principal Mr Hermitt, Mr Barlow and Mr Warren along with other staff, friends and family all braving the elements to see if CHS could reach the last 16 in the country.

The weather has caused sporting havoc over recent weeks but CHS weren’t going to be any pushovers and were raring to go, battling through the elements in their match. By the end of the match the pitch looked like the Baseball Ground from the 1970s.

The weather definitely played its part in the match and Range went into half-time with a 2-0 lead with the majority of the first half played in rain.

It was nearly 3-0, 5 minutes after half-time, but Jack Duckworth’s hand tipped the ball over the cross-bar from a powerful strike. Range had the majority of chances in the opening 10 minutes of the second half although CHS did begin to threaten with Reece Carbutt’s through ball splitting the Range defence and Conor Docherty nearly adding his 7^th goal of the competition but the Range keeper stood strong and Docherty’s strike was denied by the keeper’s knees.  Reece Carbutt had a chance to pull one back minutes after but his shot was padded behind by the keeper at the near post.

It was soon 2-1 following a long ball from CHS’ defence. Reece Carbutt gave chase and beat Range’s defender and goalkeeper to the ball on the edge of the box. He then coolly slotted the ball into the far bottom corner from an acute angle which gave CHS the belief they could go onto win the game.

The confidence was shown in their play and saw CHS winning most of the 50/50 challenges. However, their belief soon declined after Range restored their two goal lead. From a corner a Range player escaped his marker and made CHS pay with a solid header which Jake Duckworth couldn’t get to. Range added a fourth late on after CHS’ defence split allowing Range’s right winger space before putting the ball beyond Jake Duckworth. The final score was 4-1 which sees CHS out of the cup.

There is no doubt year 10 would have loved to reach the last 16 but to be in the last 32 in the country is an outstanding achievement and the boys along with Mr Donnelly should be very proud. Despite the result they can take a lot of positives from tonight’s match.

CHS’ only remaining cup hope now is the under 15 girls who travel to East Riding to play South Hunsley High School in the last 16 of the competition later this week.

Written by Adam Bailey