The boys made a strong start, dominating the ball against a defensively sound team from Hillhouse school, South Yorkshire, coached by former Elms deputy head Mr Hall. Despite several goal attempts, the game finished 0-0.
Next up were Brook Priory from Leicestershire – an opposition goal in the first minute did not faze the boys who demonstrated excellent teamwork to get back in to the game. The Elms emerged 3-1 winners in a game capped with a wonderful goal by Spencer (Y5).
The Elms’ third match was against local rival Fairfield School from Loughborough. With both teams aware of the other’s strengths and weaknesses, it became a war of attrition, which ended with our boys clinching a 1-0 win.
RGS The Grange from Worcestershire were the strongest of the rival teams in our group. Facing them gave the boys an opportunity to show everyone what they were made of and their performance was perhaps the best of the tournament resulting in a 3-1 win. It was a game of excellent goals, but Luca F (Y5) deserves a special mention for a stand out goal against The Grange.
Our next opponents were Bluecoat School in Birmingham; in a strange match where The Elms dominated possession and created several chances, Bluecoat proved clinical and won 3-1. This meant Bluecoat topped the group with The Elms placing second and both teams qualifying for the semi-final stage.
In the semi-finals, The Elms team came up against previously unbeaten Eversfield School from Solihull. After some coaching and motivational points following their previous defeat, the boys were untroubled by Eversfield and ran out 2-0 winners.
Into the final The Elms marched and they had a score to settle against Bluecoat school; the focus, determination and effort during the final were outstanding and the boys were rewarded for their hard work with a 2-0 win, the first of the goals produced by a moment of inspiration by Zidan (Y5).
All the boys were a credit to the school, not only in their excellent footballing abilities and their performances on the pitch but for their character, humility and the way they handled themselves as representatives of the school. All the boys were exceptional on the day but special mention needs to go to our captains Louis and Luca D (both Year 6), who led by example and whose work-rate across the day was amazing.
Coach Steven Young said, “I was really proud of all the boys, they were amazing competitors, easy to coach and great role models for the school.”