ST BEDE’S Catholic Middle School produced a superb performance to defeat a valiant Woodfield Academy side 12-1 in the Redditch United Schools Cup final.
Last Thursday’s final between these year eight sides was watched by Reds first team manager Darren Byfield, who afterwards presented the silverware and medals to the players and chose St Bede’s ace George Hall as his man of the match.
This is the second time St Bede’s have won the Redditch United Schools Cup, whilst for Woodfield it was a first appearance in the final.
The event is organised thanks to generous support from TRUST (the Redditch United Supporters Club) and Redditch United, who provided a fantastic facility, commemorative medals for all the players and a meal after the game.
Woodfield took an early lead through Oliver Davies, but their advantage did not last long as Hall instantly replied for St Bede’s and from that point onwards it did not look like it was going to be Woodfield’s night.
Jake Staunton was brought down in the penalty area before picking himself up and calmly placing the ball into the net to put St Bede’s 2-1 up.
It was soon 3-1 through Charlie Williams’ strike and, as Woodfield did everything to try and get back into the contest, they were caught on the break by George Skelton who beat his marker and finished well to score a fourth for St Bede’s.
Cian Hodgson made it 5-1 after latching on to Williams’ pass and next on the scoresheet was Tom Sanders when he headed home from a corner.
Seconds before half time Hall took full advantage of a scrappy bit of play inside the box by Woodfield and made no mistake to make it 7-1.
Skelton bagged his second goal to get the second half scoring under way before Staunton also netted his second when he tapped home at the far post after the ball was drilled across goal.
Woodfield then had a good opportunity to grab their second goal of the game through Kieron Doyle but he fired narrowly wide.
St Bede’s then went down the other end and Matthew Barratt got his name on the scoresheet to make it 10-1.
Williams then beat two players and finished neatly to make it 11-1 before Barratt completed the scoring in the closing stages when he fired the ball through the keeper’s legs to cap a fine performance by the new champions.
For the first time in the seven years of this event, the match was officiated by young referees from Redditch, Worcester and Malvern who are all still at school themselves. St Augustine’s High School year 11 pupil Sarah Kennedy was one of the assistant referees.
Report courtesy of Harry Mason and Tom Harris, year 11 pupils at RSA Academy Arrow Vale.
