Heartbreak for boys as goal difference denies progress to SF

A drama-packed rain-soaked morning ended in heartbreak for Sils as they finished third in their group despite winning 4 games out of 6, and conceding just one goal. Atherstone & Sutton also finished with 13 points, but Sutton had a superior goal difference to ours (+5 v +3)

Results : Sils 1 (Gil) B&BC 0; Sils 1 (Paul) Edgbaston 0; Sils 1 (?) Cov&NW 0; Sils 1 (Ollie M) Atherstone 0; Sils 0 Sutton 1; Sils 0 Warwick 0

The bigger picture is very positive as all of the players played exceptionally well, both individually and as a unit, and were so unlucky not to go through. I won’t detail the points as it doesn’t change the outcome or indeed the fact that we have a strong group of boys, many of whom will still be U12 next season.

Jonnie - GK - 3 clean sheets out of 3; I could ask for no more. Well done.
Harry - GK - 2 clean sheets; cruelly unsighted for the goal; good positional play to narrow angles. Great stuff.

Defenders Union - Gil (Captain), Jimmy and Dominic aka the “So Solid Crew”. Excellent work at the back from all three, positionally when defending and attacking. Exocet shots from Gil at short corners. “Very unlucky” to have a second goal chalked off from a short corner in the first match.

Midfield Army - James, the two Ollies and Paul. Great organisation and structure, providing the backbone for some exciting play in all of the games. Well-taken goals by Paul and Ollie to secure victories.

Forwards - Matthew and Teghan. Both led the line well in each of the games, coming deep to collect the ball when needed, and unlucky not to score. Top stuff boys.

My thanks to Ian for running the substitutions, allowing me to concentrate on coaching during the match, and to Cara for hot coffee and providing dry spare kit and the medical bag.