The Salopian no. 160 - Summer 2017

SCHOOL NEWS 45
However that togetherness and a sheer determination not to be
beaten would see us not only equalise in the final minute but
eventually go on and win the tie 7-5.
Next up in the last 16 were the City of London School at home.
Despite dominating large phases of the game, we again found
ourselves staring at extra time until Jamie Whelan stepped up
and whipped a free kick into the top corner to seal a 3-2 win
with only minutes remaining. A 5-2 victory against Thomas
Telford in the English Schools FA (ESFA) competition gave
the boys all the confidence they needed with the quarter final
looming against our local rivals, Repton. In a cagey affair the
boys stood up to a strong, physical and direct Repton side to
claim a deserved 2-1 victory. Josiah Chilaka grabbed the first
on the stroke of half time before Josh Malyon calmly converted
a penalty late on to secure the win.
The Lent term would see the 1st XI continue to operate as
such as preparation started for the semi-final against Millfield
away. The addition of fixtures against Hampton and Bede’s
Hailsham gave the Lent term additional focus. Having already
drawn 3-3 against Millfield in November, we knew that the
Boodles semi-final would be a game that would be decided by
the smallest of margins. And so it proved.
Having gone 1-0 down in the first five minutes, we got back
on level terms through Charlie Tait-Harris. We knew going
in at 2-1 down at half time wasn’t a disaster, with a strong
wide behind our backs in the second half. Josh Malyon
equalised from the penalty spot before we went in front for
the first time in the game through a George Newton header.
We couldn’t quite hold on and with five minutes remaining
Millfield converted a penalty to get the game back on level
terms. Patrick Jacob made a terrific save in the last minute with
the Millfield striker through on goal to take the game into
extra time.
The extra time period was tense, with both sides largely
cancelling each other out. We did however have a half chance
to win it, only for the ball to fly agonizingly past the post.
In both games this season the final result ended 3-3 so this
time the game would have to be decided by the dreaded
penalty shoot-out. Both teams missed one out of their first
five penalties. Having gone first we were only one save away
from going through from penalty 5 onwards. Unfortunately we
missed our 10th penalty and the Millfield captain stepped up
to convert his penalty to secure a 9-8 victory. Whilst penalties
are the worst way to go out of any competition, the boys can
take solace from the fact that the two games that we played
against Millfield this season both ended with scores of 3-3 after
normal and extra time. For penalties to have to decide the
game against one of the strongest, most consistent independent
football School in the past five years shows just how well our
boys played on the day.
Let’s hope this year’s journey is an inspiration to all our
potential 1st XI footballers in the lower years.
The season wasn’t finished, however, as we gained a welldeserved
4-2 victory away against Bede’s before narrowly
losing to Thomas Telford in the County Cup Final. Although
it was a disappointing result to end what had been a terrific
season it was testament to how far we had come as a group
that we gave a Thomas Telford side, made up of 13 external
Scholarship entrants to the school, such a run for their money.
On the night, we just didn’t get the breaks that we possibly
deserved, but that’s football.
A special mention must also go to out Under 15B team who
went through the Michaelmas term unbeaten, winning all their
games played. They also got through to the quarter final of
the ESFA National Cup B team competition, losing 3-0 to the
eventual National champions Cardinal Heenan School from
Liverpool. The opportunity for all of our B teams to play in
a recognised National competition has added an additional
strand to a very comprehensive fixture programme available to
all our footballers.
Football across all our age groups is definitely flourishing at
Shrewsbury School. It has been an absolute pleasure to work
with the 1st XI group this year and we will sorely miss the
boys that are leaving. Josh Malyon deserves a special mention
as team captain. He has been a rock at the centre of defence
and led the team with drive, determination and humility.
We wish all our 2017 leavers the very best with their future
footballing pursuits and we hope to see them back at School
as part of the Old Salopian squad in the coming seasons.
Steve Wilderspin