Football - Royal Russell School, Croydon

Date: Friday 12 September 2008

Long coach journeys to big London schools have not proved rewarding in the past few seasons, but Saturday's excursion for three teams to visit the Royal Russell School got the away season off to a very good start, with two wins out of three, and the Firsts registering their first success of the new campaign!

The 1sts won ! - 0, thanks to a first half own goal, and a battling display from the young side. Missing the injured Keliris and the absent Rawlins, coach Robinson had restored Khatumal to his starting XI, whose first half display created a number of chances which, apart from the own goal from a Robbie Vile free kick, were not taken. Continuing second half pressure eventually brought its due reward, after a vital early save by Ben Easter, and SES came out as deserved, but narrow winners.

The Under 15s, strengthened as previously reported by new M5 entrants, also came home with three points, holding out against severe pressure in the last ten minutes for a 2 - 1 win. One of the newcomers scored the goals, both coming from Ricky Ng.This was a good all-round display from Antony Jones' side, and again, a deserved win.

The Under 14s lost 1 - 3, but can take some credit from a game in which they went 0 - 2 down after ten minutes, and could have been overwhelmed. They weren't! -and by getting stuck in, and making tackles, they fought back with a goal from Max Bungay just after the interval. Further chances of an equaliser were not taken, and RR added a late third. Coach Millard was pleased with the performance - in the fightback - but acknowledged a fair result on the day.

A busy week lies ahead: the Old Boys challenge the 1sts this evening at the UKC Astroturf; and, there is a block fixture for all four teams against Charterhouse on Saturday. The Under 15s begin their ISFA Cup campaign against Alleyn's a week on Tuesday - at home.