page revision date : 30th November 2009
Welsh International Super Challenge Cup:
Venue: Aberystwyth
Villa are giant-killers again
Prendergast Villa’s talented under 11 footballers keep defying the odds by winning the Welsh International Super Challenge Cup, which was recently held at Aberystwyth in front of appreciative crowds, friends and vociferous families.
Coaching the team was Villa stalwart Michael ‘Glenys’ Davies and we decided to let him describe their epic win in his own words, so that readers can see the involvement and commitment needed from someone like Michael and all the players and their families.
Third final in a row
“This was Villa’s third year at the prestige competition, after getting to the final in our very first year but because of all the bad weather that was about at the time, it meant that the finals were played on an extra day and four of the Villa players were going on family holidays that very afternoon so we had to pull out. We were all gutted but went back last season and won the Super Cup Bowl by beating the Wrexham School of Excellence 3-0 in the final.
Narrow defeat in first match
“This year we went a step further by winning the Welsh International Super Cup, played over five days and with teams from all over Europe taking part. Our first match was against an excellent Luxol side from Malta and we were 3-0 down after only ten minutes – but because we are usually slow starters we didn’t start panicking because it was 25 minutes each way. Just on half time we pulled a goal back, which gave the boys some confidence for the second half.
“The second half started with a bang because we scored two goals but so did they and in a frustrating last ten minutes we could only manage one more goal and so were edged out 5-4 after dominating the last quarter but, fair play to Luxol, they just about deserved their win.
Holders beaten by mighty Villa
“Next up on the Tuesday was the Jamie Shore Soccer Academy, a superb team who had won this particular competition last year so we knew how tough it was going to be. But the players were outstanding, winning every ball, every header, every tackle and we punished their errors in style by grabbing an amazing 3-1 win.
Gibraltar gunned down
“We were on our way, with points on the board, and on Wednesday morning our confidence was high as we took on another European side in Gibraltar Portman. It was a good game of football where Jake Davies chipped the keeper to give us the lead, followed by a great strike by Danny Williams and a second by Jake Davies from a free kick. Portman managed a late goal as consolation but we were pleased with our overall performance.
Defeat in a physical tussle
“We had two games on Wednesday because we took on Barmouth in the afternoon in what was probably our most physical game – they had a centre half who looked about 16 and our star striker Alfie Stotter was the smallest striker in the whole competition. But we went 2-0 down and even worse had to take off Patrick Pearce and Danny Williams with injuries. That left us like lambs to the slaughter as we went down 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 but we never gave up trying and the biggest cheer of the day came when 8 year old Lee ‘Foxy’ davies came on and scored a nice consolation goal, which at least let us all leave the pitch, players and parents, with a smile on our face!
Crunch win over London lads
“Thursday was the crunch game, taking on Raynes Park, a London-based outfit who had five players on Chelsea’s or Crystal Palace’s books. We took the lead with a corker from Will Bateman and Alfie Stotter scored our second goal in style before we thought the game was won and went to sleep. Raynes pulled one back and the final five minutes were very nail-biting for us on the touchline – but we held out to earn a semi-final place against South Ceredigion in the afternoon. Phew!
Great semi-final win
“We knew some of the South Ceredigion players because they play county football against some of our lads from the Villa – but we rocked them with two goals by Alfie Stotter and started to play really well with other goals by Jake Davies and Patrick Pearce Ceredigion managed to snatch a goal but Alfie Stotter completed a great hat-trick and a 5-1 win meant we were in the final!
What a final as Alfie seals victory
“11.15 am on Friday and we set off against Melita, regarded as the best team in Malta, who had 16 players in their squad when we had only ten! Our lads were really shattered and this match was played at a heck of a pace, with end-to-end stuff, with both sides having their chances. The only goal came from a great build up by Jake Davies and Patrick Peace, who picked out Alfie Stotter’s run for the baby-faced assassin of a striker to plant the ball in the corner of the net.
“Melita came back at us like mad dogs but Finn Thompson made four top-drawer saves when shots looked goal-bound and when the final whistle finally blew it was jubilation from kids, parents and coaches as we hugged each other – it was mad!
Surprised head of tournament
“When we went to get our trophy the head of the tournament asked us what academy we were from and you should have seen his face when we told him were a small village team from Prendergast in Haverfordwest. It proves one thing about our achievement this year – it doesn’t matter how individually good the players are it’s all about whether they have the heart as well. And there was no team in Aberystwyth with a bigger heart than Prendergast Villa!”
**PembrokeshireSport.co.uk would like to add our congratulations to the youngsters of Prendergast Villa, their coaches and parents, for flying the Pembrokeshire Flag with such distinction for three years on the trot.**
