Years 3 & 4 Football Tournament
Maccabi GB Primary Schools Football Tournament
Wednesday 17th June 2009
On Wednesday 17th June Maccabi GB in partnership with UJIA kicked of the busy Primary Schools tournament schedule. The Years 3 and 4 football tournament took place at London Maccabi Sports Group and included 8 schools bringing sixteen different teams along to compete. Making use of the facilities on offer there were four pitches running simultaneously which created a real buzz of excitement as the first matches kicked off.
The tournament followed the same format as in previous years with the teams split into four groups with the top two teams in each group progressing into the quarter final stages. The group games provided some excellent football and the many supporters that had come to cheer on their sides were treated to a great spectacle. Once the final group games were finished it was time to gather round to find out the quarter final draw. In group 1 Hertsmere JPS's B team managed to win the group to set up a tie against Sinai B, the runners up from group 3. The winners of that group, Independent played the runners up of group 1 who were Rosh Pinah. The next quarter final saw group 2 winners Wolfson Hillel play group 4 runners up Akiva, whilst the final game pitched 4 group winners Sinai A against group 2 runners up Mathilda Marks Kennedy.
The quarter finals are usually close, cagey games, but this time around the eight teams involved wanted to score goals, and there were plenty of them for the supports to cheer. In the first game between the two 'B' teams, HJPS managed to win a close game two goals to one. In the second game between Wolfson Hillel and Akiva, the team from Southgate were too strong for their opposition and Wolfson Hillel ran out 3-1 winners. Game three was a much closer game with nothing to split Independent and Rosh Pinah, until a thunderbolt from one of the Independent players riffled into the top corner to send his team into the quarter finals. The final game of the round saw a very strong Sinai team brush past MMK three goals to one, making it four consecutive wins for the Sinai team.
The first semi final game saw Independent play Sinai. Both teams had looked strong throughout the competition and the game was very close with both sides looking to gain a lead. It was Sinai who broke the deadlock with a well worked goal and it look as though the yellows would hold onto their lead, but once again Independent managed to find a comeback through another cracking strike. This time a fifteen yard free kick found its way past the Sinai keeper and nestled in the top corner of the goal. The final whistle sounded at one goal each and an extra period commenced to try and find a winner. However this additional time did not provide the goal required to settle the match and so a penalty shootout was needed to find a winner. Independent quickly took the lead in the shootout and scored all their penalties to win the match and make it into the final.
The other semi final between Wolfson Hillel and HJPS was an open and free flowing game of football. Both teams looked to attack and get goals every time they had the ball however Wolfson Hillel were far more clinical when it came to taking their chances. HJPS had their fair share of chances but only managed the single goal. Wolfson Hillel on the other hand found the magic touch in front of goal and smashed in five goals to comprehensively win the match and set up a final against Independent.
The final itself was superb game of football and it was pleasing to see so many teams stay and watch the final and support the young players. Both teams started the game conservatively, not wanting to take too many chances, but the game soon sprang into life as both teams missed a flurry of chances. Midway through the match Wolfson Hillel scored a well worked goal, moving the ball from one side of the pitch to the other, before passing the ball back into the middle for the forward to slot home the ball. But all afternoon Independent had come back from being a goal behind, and the final was no exception, this time it wasn't from a long range effort but a clever pass that set up the opportunity to slide the ball into the bottom corner. At that stage it looked like the game may need extra time to find a winner, but one final push from Wolfson Hillel created a chance to sneak in a winner and the striker didn't hesitate in taking his chance for glory, smashing the ball home to win the trophy for his side.
Both teams were well supported throughout the final and the encouragement and applause carried on during the medals presentation to both finalists before the trophy was awarded to the victorious Wolfson Hillel team.
Maccabi GB's Sports Coordinator, Matt Travers, was pleased with another successful primary school tournament, "These are always great events, and it is particularly pleasing to see the young players get their chance to shine. It is important that the early football experiences these players get are of positive tournaments where they have fun and enjoy themselves. That together with the tremendous support we have had here today makes the whole afternoon thoroughly enjoyable for everyone involved".
The next Maccabi GB primary schools tournament will be the Years 5 and 6 Boys and Girls Football Tournament taking place on Wednesday 24th June 2009.