School Sports Report - from PembrokeshireSport.co.uk

We won the cup!

Under 16 Boys’ Welsh Schools Association Football Final:

Greenhill lads are hot on the spot!

Greenhill School 0 - Gwynllyw 0

(Greenhill Won 5-3 on penalties)

Venue: The New Saints Stadium, Oswestry.

Greenhill School’s talented under 16 footballers are the undisputed kings of schools’ football in Wales after keeping cool in a dramatic penalty shoot out to overcome the strong challenge of a Gwynlliw School team which had several players associated with top clubs and a number of Welsh internationals.
It was a real battle at the New Saints Stadium in Oswestry but defences managed to stay on top and it resulted in a penalty shoot-out to determine which school would come out on top of the original 226 entries for this prestigious competition.

Penalty drama

At full time the score remained 0-0 and the process of penalties began and  Tenby went first, with Jamie Holt stepping up and slotting home with a cultured left foot strike; 1-0. Gwynllyw responded by levelling the scores before Joe Worley, who demonstrated an element of class throughout, took the second penalty and did so with ease; 2-1.To the disappointment of the Gwynllyw players and spectators their next spot kick was high and wide, which meant in simple terms that if Greenhill scored their next three penalties they would become national champions. Elliott Goldsmith struck the third with conviction, giving the goalkeeper no chance, Jack Murphy did the same, leaving the score 4-3 with possibly the final and decisive Greenhill penalty to come.
Toby Rossiter maintained his composure, buried the ball into the back of the net and reeled off to be congratulated by the squad as Greenhill won 5-3 on penalties!

Good run – and opponents in suits!

In the biggest match of their young careers it was to be the culmination of an eight-game run against these opponents from Pontypool, near Newport. The Greenhill boys had achieved some fantastic results prior to the final and had beaten some extremely talented teams, including the impressive North Walian teams, Brynyrefail and Alun.
Prior to kick off the apprehension and nervous energy was evident in the dressing room, as one of the squad members approached Mr Brown with the comment; ‘Sir they have turned up in suits!’ to which Mr Brown replied, ‘you don’t play football in suits boys! The boys walked out the tunnel with huge confidence and belief having been fully prepped with the tactics and motivation necessary to compete for possibly the final time together as a Greenhill school team. The emotion was clear to see.

Superb support a real help

Greenhill enjoyed huge support from family and friends and with the ‘Sgorio’ cameras at the ready the game commenced. The Greenhill boys started very brightly looking to dictate the tempo from the off set. The pacy strike partnership of Callum Greer and Joe Worley were intent on gaining possession early and running at the Gwynllyw defence. The four-man defence of Sam Butler, Jack Murphy, Tom Grover and Jamie Holt looked organised and well structured and any early advances from the Gwynllyw offence were soon scuppered.
Opportunities were few and far between during the first period, however the creative Elliott Goldsmith, coupled with the ever-industrious Toby Rossiter, looked dominant in the middle of the park. So much so that a delicately threaded through ball from Goldsmith put Worley in for the first real opening of the match, only for the opposing  goalkeeper to make a brave save at his feet.
As the first half continued the Greenhill wingers, Hugo Wellum and David Webb looked menacing down the flanks, with the delivery of Wellum being a constant threat from wide. The half came to a close with very little to choose between the teams, however the Tenby boys shaded the better of the chances.

Tight second half

The second half started in a similar vein with Greenhill looking to maintain a tempo that Gwynllyw couldn’t cope with, but the opposing team came out with all guns blazing, intent on performing better in the second period but Greenhill keeper Corey Hill showed  bravery on two separate occasions, saving from close range to deny the Welsh Under16 schoolboy Gethin Jones.
As the second half unfolded, the game became increasingly stretched with both teams battling to break the deadlock. The Greenhill defence remained strong and dealt defiantly with the route one tactics imposed by the opposition. This approach by the Gwynllyw boys did not deter the Greenhill boys from the style of play they have become accustomed to under team coach Mr Peter Roberts, which is one of passing, possession and movement off the ball.

Late chances just missed

The boys endeavoured to play attractive football for the duration of the match and it very nearly paid off with a flurry of passes ending in Rossiter narrowly missing the target with a couple of minutes left on the clock. The game looked destined to go the distance as the tension grew amongst both players and spectators, even the influence of Ross Hurst, Ryan Lewis and Cheyne Lloyd from the bench couldn’t assist in breaking the stalemate.
But then came the penalty shoot out and Tenby were home and dry, with great celebrations taking place. The players were understandable jubilant and Mr Peter Roberts and Mr Ian Brown, of Greenhill School, would like to thank all parents and relatives for their support during the course of the year and FOG (Friends of Greenhill) for their kind donation towards a new Football Kit which was proudly worn on the day.