U15s – “Moore” Title Celebrations

Player of the Match - Rousel Moore

Beaconsfield 0 – 6 PTGFC U15

They deemed this day “Destination Sunday” in the football world and so it proved for the Booker Wholesale League Division 2. After a long hard season the depleted Penn team turned up at a windy Farnham Park to play Beaconsfield, who held us to a 0 – 0 draw earlier in the season. With the news filtering through teletext (OK, my phone) some 30 minutes prior to kick off that Burnham had lost 2 – 0 at home to Thame Boys we knew that a win today would secure us the Division 2 title.

With only 12 available players, a rock hard, dusty and bumpy pitch and a brief to enjoy the final league game of the season the boys set out to give the management team heart palpitations with the way they started the game! Awful stuff and the first 10 minutes were spent blaming everything about anything.

Only team stud, Rousel Moore (who came swaggering in from a chauffeur driven posh car and smiling his head off with a blonde on one arm) seemed interested in displaying his football skills. I did ask the blonde if he had 3 shredded wheat for breakfast but she just went red and turned away embarrassed. Did I say something wrong?

Anyway, after quite a few curses from the sidelines, Penn were awarded a corner in the 10th minute and Curtis Chapple floated in a near post corner for Billy Seagrove to put us 1 up.

With confidence growing, Billy Seagrove had another shot saved by the Beaconsfield goalkeeper after good work by Curtis Chapple.

15 minutes on the clock and Curtis Chapple made it 2 – 0 with a sublime goal. A throw-in to Tawanda Makanda was then passed to Rousel Moore who elegantly played in Curtis behind the full back. Curtis ran on some 25 yards before unleashing a venemous strike past the keeper.

Almost immediately, Beaconsfield had a chance to equalise after lapse defending allowed a shot to go just wide.

The following 15 minutes were then dominated by Penn who had a number of half chances to extend our lead through Billy Seagrove, Tyler Abear and Rousel Moore.

With 5 minutes to go before half time, Curtis Chapple scored his 2nd of the match with another unstoppable shot after being set up superbly by Tom Summerbell with a nifty flick.

Half time: 0 – 3.

The second half started with Penn playing some lovely football, which was a pleasure to watch. Two long Aaron Knight throw-ins were narrowly missed by Penn players to extend our lead and after 15 minutes the league title was secured with a Tom Summerbell goal.

Tawanda Makanda played in Billy Seagrove whose shot/cross was knocked in by Tom to the delight of the whole squad who knew the title was ours.

Penn tried to keep possession for the next 10 minutes or so without much penetration although Rousel Moore, named man of the match, was running the show by now with exceptional all-round footballing skills. However, Beaconsfield did not give up and came close to scoring.

With 8 minutes remaining, Rousel Moore scored his deserved goal after slick passing from the Penn team. Rousel picked up the ball on the edge of the area, skipped inside the defender and struck a brilliant shot past the keeper.

3 minutes later, Tom Summerbell scored his 2nd and our 6th goal after yet more slick football from Aaron Knight, Tom Summerbell and Sam Rarity. Sam’s excellent pass inside two Beaconsfield defenders was worth the admission money alone and Tom’s first time strike was absolutely brilliant.

In the final minute, the Beaconsfield goalkeeper denied Curtis Chapple a deserved hatrick but the three points and the Division 2 title were ours.

Although the team performance today was no-where near the standards we expect from the boys the conditions didn’t help. Dan Simpson never stopped talking throughout the game and although had very little to do, he commanded the back four from start to finish.

The defensive team of Tawanda Makanda, Ryan Dickson, Mark Barratt, Tyler Abear and substitute Dominic Bowyer dealt with the majority of attacks that Beaconsfiled had.

The midfield unit started poorly but got better throughout the 2nd half. Exceptional 1st half performances by Rousel Moore and Curtis Chapple were later matched by Aaron Knight, Tom Summerbell and Sam Rarity.

Billy Seagrove looked classy each time he got the ball and he was supported by tireless running from Tyler Abear when he was switched up front.

A fantastic end to a long season and I would say that Penn deserve the title of Division 2 Champions after the football they played throughout the season.

NOT MANY TEAMS CAN SAY THEY WENT A LEAGUE SEASON UNDEFEATED but this squad did and this is an amazing feat at any standard of football.

The squad have come a long way in their frst season together and I speak on behalf of Debbie, Mark, Stuart and Tango when I say that we are all very proud to be managing such a wonderful bunch of players.