A superb Y5/Y6 Football home fixture game against St John’s Primary School, Essington

The Cheslyn Hay Squad

Cheslyn Hay Primary School has traditionally had a close relationship with St John’s Primary School Essington. We share similar educational values and very committed to sport.

At one time, due to organisers of a South Staffordshire sporting event mistake, we ended up with a joint school football team representing our District at County level wearing St John’s Colours which have now moved to totally blue. I think new called ourselves “Chessington” It must be on the school website in the archives.

We retain the school colours as the first team strip of blue and yellow. Our back up   strip is almost like  Newcastle colours.. Rob has achieved that.

The match was closely contested and a superb display of pupil football at the highest Primary School level .from both schools . Mr Hughes and I have been to several County Competitions and  just thought the standard of the two schools today equalled the best in Staffordshire.

Both Headteachers thought it a superb example of a competitive competition  played in great spirit with not one pupil challenging an official's decision which we have both sadly witnessed at some  football events

We had a lucky penalty to put us ahead.

I thought it was an innocent foul in the penalty box. Mr Hughes, being the team coach disagrees! That said, the two teams were so evenly balanced with chances at both ends and excellent goal keeping and defending from both sides , the result was a fair one and played in great spirit with no dissent from players on the pitch.

In the first half with the downward slope of the borrowed High School pitch and the low November sun in players eyes obscuring goal mouths Cheslyn Hay should have made fulln advantage of the early pressure put on St John’s goal.

Our inability to put big crosses into the penalty area and put enough forward players into the penalty box to receive a “half cross” is something our team need to work on.

St John’s had some superb players who could run at a defence and their equaliser was well deserved and a result of that attack.

As many pupils take part in local league teams, many pupils from different schools in the area play alongside each other. We had a few “tip-offs” about the one’s to watch at St John’s.

The 1-1 draw was a fair result.

There will be a St John’s away fixture but that is likely to be 6 a-side and not 10 a side match. I think the kids did struggle with the size of the pitch.

it was a most beautiful Autumn evening for the game with two very close schools competing.

Martin Tibbetts