JERSEY FESTIVAL OF FOOTBALL
7th - 12th April 2001
HACKNEY TAKE JERSEY CREAM!
Hackney Under 11's returned from the Annual Jersey Festival with their best-ever record in seventeen visits together with a share of top spot in this prestigious tournament.
They won five and drew one of their six matches and in doing so fully deserved the praise they received for their courage, commitment and skill .
Hackney gave notice of their intentions with an opening 2-1 success over West Midlands newcomers Sutton Coldfield when ANTHONY OSEI-ROACH scored his first of four Festival goals to add to a first-half own goal.
JOHN YILMAZ, ALEX DUYILE, MATTHEW LANGSDON and OSEI-ROACH were on the mark as Hackney overcame De La Salle College (Jersey) 4-2 before they produced their best performance of the season against a powerful Chiltern & South Bucks' side.
Playing with a strong wind behind them, the Londoners raced into the lead when OSEI-ROACH drove home from twenty yards. SHANE McINTYRE added a penalty before Hackney faced an inevitable rearguard action in the second-half as Chiltern exploited their wind advantage.
A defensive mix-up which led to an own goal was Hackney's only blot, however, as they held out to take the points, thanks in the end to two stunning reaction saves from goalkeeper Zeb Thomas.
The game against Newbury also saw Hackney's defence under pressure for long periods, but the splendid form of Ben Osei-Poku at the back and Thomas in goal allowed the Berkshire side few chances, and when JORDAN THOMAS moved forward to nudge home two close-range goals and OSEI-ROACH hit his fourth of the week, the points were secure.
AARON JAMES scored the first-half winner against Washington (Tyne & Wear) to confirm Hackney's top group spot and set-up an enthralling final play-off match against West Midlands champions Walsall, unbeaten in thirty-four matches this season.
The physically strong Midlanders soon showed their class but they could not intimidate Hackney who themselves responded with skill and determination throughout, Osei-Poku again playing a vital role at the back as Hackney came under increasing pressure in the second-half.
Neither side could break the deadlock in an absorbing final but Hackney will be proud of their outstanding achievements in this year's Festival.
Results and Scorers
Group B Matches
Hackney 2 (O.G., Osei-Roach), Sutton Coldfield 1.
De La Salle College 2, Hackney 4 (Yilmaz, Duyile, Langsdon,Osei-Roach). Chiltern & S.Bucks 1, Hackney 2 (Osei-Roach, McIntyre (pen.).
Hackney 3 (Thomas, J. (2), Osei-Roach), Newbury 1.
Hackney 1 (James), Washington 0.
Final Play-off match
Hackney 0, Walsall 0.
Hackney Squad: Thomas, Z., Edun (Holmleigh), Atherley-Buckridge (St. John of Jerusalem), Thomas, J., Osei-Roach (Orchard), Osei-Poku (St. Thomas's), Smith (Berger), McIntyre (Baden Powell), Duyile (Holy Trinity), Langsdon
(Grazebrook),
Yilmaz (Millfields), Williams-Sabaroche (Tyssen), Gordon (Daubeney), James (William Patten)
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