Both winning schools had players claiming hat-tricks, Oliver Thompson in the College’s 4-2 win against De La Salle and Grainville’s Jamie Savory in a 7-0 success over Hautlieu.Victoria College 4, De La Salle 2: The two teams had not met previously this term so the game served as a ‘double-header’ determining both the cup and league winners.Victoria started the stronger with Oliver Thompson neatly chipping the goalkeeper only to see his shot hit the crossbar.
Thompson then put Victoria 1-0 up before De La Salle quickly equalised through David Kenyon, this commencing their best period of the game as they dominated midfield for 15 minutes before Victoria again finished strongly.
A 1-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the half.Victoria realigned their midfield for the second period by bringing on Dominic Quaeck.
That helped stifle the service to De La Salle’s strike partnership of Jamie Cullen and David Kenyon to such an extent that they barely had a shot at goal.Slowly the midfield battle went in Victoria’s favour with James Hamelin putting in his customary workload as well as considerably improved distribution.Victoria went 2-1 ahead only for De La Salle to get level again after a great piece of individual skill from Oliver Gallagher.Thompson received much better service than in the first half and was fast and strong enough to cause De La Salle’s defenders continual problems.He finished by claiming a hat-trick, his shot blocked by goalkeeper Greg Forster before rebounding in-off a defender.
Quaeck slotted home the other as the game gradually went the physically-stronger Victoria’s way.De La Salle coach Rory Steel said: ‘I couldn’t have asked for more effort from the boys this year and I’ve been thoroughly impressed with their individual skill.’Victoria College: Mathew Brookland, Graham Benson-Dias, Sam Habin, Pierce Cummins, William Golder, Robert Campbell (Dominic Quaeck), Paul Dingle, James Hamelin, Daniel King (Adam Russell), Oliver Thompson, David Streets.De La Salle: Greg Forster, Jonathon Seller, Ben Cairney, Callum Black, Ben Andrews, James Parker, Darren A’Court, Oliver Gallagher, James Banks, Jamie Cullen, David Kenyon.
Subs: Nathan Birch, Sebastian Miell, David Vitalini.Grainville 7, Hautlieu 0: Grainville were strong favourites for the Year-11 cup but it was Hautlieu who started brightly as Stephen Prosser beat a hesitant defence only to see his shot hit the bar before rebounding to safety.Prosser looked dangerous in the opening five minutes and another slip in the Grainville defence saw him one on one with the goalkeeper but this time his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper, Elliot De Sousa.This gave the wake-up call needed to Grainville as they began to get a grip of the game, especially in the midfield areas.
Daniel Irwin shot Grainville into the lead with a cool finish.
When Jamie Savory, a constant probing threat, added a second in the 18th minute Hautlieu were going to find things difficult.Savory scored again before the interval to ensure Grainville a 3-0 half-time advantage.
Further goals in the second half from Sean Doran, Irwin’s second, Savory’s hat-trick and Doran’s second completed the victory.Credit to Hautlieu who continued to push despite the goals and but for a solid defence marshalled well by captain and Southampton player Joel Speight they would have got a consolation goal.Grainville manager John Webber said ‘It was not the best we’ve played and had Hautlieu taken their early chances the game might have been different.
In the end our finishing was better and it was a comfortable win.
I have been very pleased with the boys all season they have been a pleasure to take.’Hautlieu teacher Lee Campbell said: ‘We had as many chances as Grainville in the first half but we could not match their finishing.
We chased hard in the second half but I’m not disappointed as our players came together late and it was an achievement for them to get to the final.’Grainville: Elliot De Sousa, Sam Poignand (Alex Kilpatrick), Patrick Cahill, Richard Blackburn, Joel Speight, Daniel Irwin, Jeff Sa, Karl Clark (Sam Moignard), Sean Doran, Ben Paddington (Oliver Nightingale), Jamie Savory.Hautlieu: Luke Bechelet, Alex Sieroczuk, David Carpenter, Gareth Webb, Marcel Cowling, Derek Pereira, Chris Sims, Daniel Monins, Adam Speight, Stephen Prosser.
Subs used: Matt Lund, Craig Beeley, Richard Brooks, Neil Forde, Leighton Garrett.
