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With England’s footballers heading towards the next stage of the World Cup, an Under 11 team from St. Clement in Jersey has given the adults a masterclass in going all the way to winning the trophy.
The St. Clement’s Sports Club boys emerged victorious this weekend against 23 other teams in an international tournament in Sartilly, Normandy, winning two penalty shoot-outs along the way, in both the semi-final and in the final.
The winners lifted the 'World Cup', awarded in recognition of the sport’s main tournament currently taking place in Russia.
St. Peter’s Academy also took part in the tournament, winning the French Cup in the Under 15 section.
St. Clement's started the tournament strongly, winning all three of their group games 1-0, 2-0, and 2-0, with goals scored by Kyle Marcelino (2), Renato Geraldo and Harry Mackenzie (2), to finish top of the group.
Pictured: The winning team.
The tournament got even tougher in the next phase, with St. Clement's drawing 0-0, and then losing 0-1, meaning they needed a big win in the last game, to progress to the final stage.
The boys duly delivered, winning their final game 4-0 (including a hat-trick from Leyton Collier, and another goal from Renato Geraldo) to push them into the semi-finals.
In the penultimate game they got off to a strong start, Leyton Collier breaking away within the first minute and slipping the ball into the net through the keeper’s legs.
They then had to hold on against one of the tournament’s toughest teams, Alforville, who continually pressed the Jersey boys very hard, before equalising in the dying seconds.
Video: The team from St Clement's being awarded the top trophy.
That took the game to penalties, with Harry Mackenzie and Leyton Collier keeping cool heads to hit home two penalties - both the opposition takers missing the target.
In the final, St Clement's played the local favourites Avranches, who started confidently, having already beaten them in the group stages.
But Harry Mackenzie calmed nerves, hitting home early on – before Avranches scored straight from the restart, and then once again to take the lead.
If was left to Renato Geraldo to equalise with his head with just minutes to go, to take the game, once again, to penalties.
Pictured: the team-sheet before the game.
With a confidence England fans will hope the adult team can replicate, Leyton Collier and Harry Mackenzie again scored their penalties, before team captain Harry Davy netted the winner to bring the World Cup replica trophy home to Jersey.
Leyton Collier finished as the team’s top scorer with four.
Speaking after the game, the team’s Coach, Mark Lilley described how proud he was of the boys to win the trophy against some strong opposition:
Video: St Clement's Coach, Mark Lilley.
St. Clement’s team was made up of Joe Paterson, Kyle Marcelino, Renato Geraldo, Thomas Gilda, Ned Dixon, Patrick Filleul, Harry Mackenzie, Harry Davy (C), Leyton Collier, Joe Austin, Charlie Blair.
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