2005/2006 Season - Under 12's

Croydon Schools' U12s  3  Woking Schools U12s  0 (24th April)

Croydon Schools' Under 12s lifted their second trophy of the season with an impressive 3-0 win in the Gibson Trophy.

They never looked back after taking the lead after 20 minutes.  Emmanuel Akokhia (Shirley) started the move on the left, Matt Wilkinson (Riddlesdown) then passed the ball on to Alex Wynter (Ashburton), who controlled it and laid on a goal chance for Ross Marshall (Riddlesdown), who smashed home a thunderbolt.

Under 12s goal scorers

Croydon Mangers, Darryl Bate and Andrew Bruce (both Woodside) worked out tactics in the half time team talk to accommodate Woking's tall central defenders, who were well marshalled at the back.

Within five minutes after the break it was 2-0 when Wynter placed the ball in the bottom corner of the net, following good work by Charlie Hackshall (Edenham) and Kyle De Silva (Harris CTC).

Wynter grabbed another goal and Croydon were home and dry 3-0.

Under 12s winning team

Croydon squad:  Ben Kosky (Whitgift), Louis John (Ashburton), Matt Wilkinson (Riddlesdown), Harry Osborne (Ashburton), Chris Fairman (Edenham), Brady Almandras, Ross Marshall (both Riddlesdown), Charlie Hackshall (Edenham), Alex Wynter (Ashburton), Emmanuel Akokhia (Shirley), Kyle De Silva (Harris CTC)
Substitutes:  Ryan James-Robinson (Woodcote), Omar Martin-Taylor (Woodcote), George Gomez (Whitgift), Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical)

Mid Sussex Schools' U12s 1  Croydon Schools' U12s 3  (21st March)

Croydon Schools' Under 12s retained the English Schools' South-East Area Patrick Haugh Trophy with a polished display in the final at Burgess Hill Town Football Club's ground, on Tuesday night with a 3-1 win against Mid Sussex Schools.

Croydon got off to a great start with two goals inside the eighth minute, by Ashburton's Alex Wynter.

The first goal came when a Kyle De Silva (Harris CTC) left wing cross was met by the dangerous Wynter. It looked as though Croydon might be in for a goal spree when Wynter netted his second but the Mid Sussex keeper kept Croydon at bay, whilst at the other end Ben Kosky (Whitgift) had a good case for claiming unemployment benefit.

The first half ended with Croydon in attacking mode and it looked as though the Sussex boys had a stiff challenge ahead if they were going to wrest the trophy from Croydon's grasp.

The home side reduced the arrears with a scrambled goal from a left wing cross halfway into the half and for a few minutes Croydon looked vulnerable.

But it was 3-1 to Croydon within five minutes when the hapless home goalkeeper somehow let a shot from Kyle De Silva squirm under his body and roll over the goal line.

Brady Almandras - Captain Croydon U12's

Now Croydon hope to accomplish a notable "double" when they meet Woking Schools in the Surrey Schools' Gibson Cup Final after Easter.

Croydon squad:  Ben Kosky (Whitgift), Louis John (Ashburton), Matt Wilkinson (Riddlesdown), Harry Osborne (Ashburton), Chris Fairman (Edenham), Brady Almandras, Ross Marshall (both Riddlesdown), Alex Wynter (Ashburton), Kyle De Silva (Harris CTC), Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical), Emmanuel Akokhia (Shirley), Ryan Robinson (Woodcote), Charlie Hackshall (Edenham), Chris Martin-Taylor (Woodcote), George Gomez (Whitgift)

Dover Schools U12s  0  Croydon Schools U12s 3 (28th February)

An impressive display by Croydon Schools' Football Association's Under 12 borough side earned them a place in the final of the English Schools' South-East Area Patrick Haugh Trophy at Deal on Tuesday, winning 3-0 against Dover Schools.

Croydon never looked back after forging ahead in the third minute of an entertaining semi-final tie. Alex Wynter (Ashburton) provided a chance for the impressive Kyle De Silva (Harris CTC), who outstripped the home defence and fired in a left foot volley which gave the Dover keeper little chance.

It was no surprise when Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical) increased Croydon's lead with a powerful header from a De Silva cross on twenty minutes.

The Dover goalkeeper pulled off a fine save four minutes later, flinging himself across his goal line to push Wynter's shot round the upright, whilst at the other end Harry Osborne (Ashburton) blocked a goal bound shot on the Croydon goal line, to maintain Croydon's clean sheet and send his confident team into a 2-0 lead at half-time.

George Gomez (Whitgift) made it 3-0, with a looping cross-cum shot from the right wing only two minutes after the re-start and when Ross Marshall (Riddlesdown) was brought down two minutes later, the referee awarded a penalty.  Marshall stepped up to take the spot kick, but shot wide of an upright.

Kyle Rowe, George Gomez and Kyle De Silva

Croydon played some delightful football, with rare Dover attacks snuffed out by a determined defence in which Osborne was outstanding.

Dover saw an effort hit an upright five minutes before the end, but Croydon were home and dry to gain a place in the final, to add to their spot in the Surrey Schools' final tie.

"This could have been a difficult game for us, but the side has improved as the season wore on" declared joint Croydon Team Manager, Darryl Bate (Woodcote).

Croydon squad:  Ben Kosky (Whitgift), Louis John, Harry Osborne (both Ashburton), Brady Almandras, Matt Wilkinson (both Riddlesdown), Omar Martin-Taylor (Woodcote), Ross Marshall (Woodcote), Alex Wynter (Ashburton), Charlie Hackshall (Edenham), Kyle De Silva (Harris CTC), Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical)
Substitutes:  George Gomez (Whitgift), Ryan James-Robertson (Woodcote), Chris Fairman (Edenham) , Emmanuel (Akokhia (Shirley)

Croydon Schools U12s  3  Gravesham Schools U12s  2 (4th February)

Croydon Schools Under 12s - who were reduced to only nine players for most of the match, pulled off a remarkable 3-2 win over Gravesham Schools to qualify for the semi-final of the English Schools' South-East Area Patrick Haugh Trophy competition, at Greenacres Leisure Club, on Saturday morning.

Croydon started the match with only ten players, following late cry-offs through illness and unavailability and George Gomez (Whitgift) - who had left his sick-bed to play, had to withdraw from the action after fifteen minutes, unwell.

But Croydon took a shock lead after eighteen minutes, with a superb run and shot just inside an upright, by Alex Wynter (Ashburton). Four minutes later it was 2-0 when Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical was on hand to prod home when the Gravesham keeper could only parry a Wynter effort.

Goal scorers - 4th February 2006

The visitors reduced the deficit on the 22nd minute, but Croydon produced a determined display, fighting for every ball, which meant a half-time score line of 2-1 to Croydon.

Gravesham scored from a breakaway move six minutes after the interval but Wynter grabbed the winner, fifteen minutes from time, picking up the ball on the halfway line and subsequently unleashing an unstoppable shot which found the top right hand corner of the goal.

Croydon's skipper, Brady Almandras (Riddlesdown) and Harry Osborne (Ashburton) looked assured, mopping up constant pressure in the last five minutes.  A goal bound shot was cleared off the Croydon line by Almandras and Croydon hung on for a famous victory and a semi-final away to Dover.

Under 12s Team with Team Manager - 4th February 2006

Croydon squad:  Ben Kosky (Whitgift), Harry Osborne (Ashburton), Matt Wilkinson, Marshall, Brady Almandras, (all Riddlesdown), Louisa John, Alex Wynter (both Ashburton), Omar Martin-Taylor (Woodcote), George Gomez (Whitgift), Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical)
Team Manager:  Mr D. Bate (Woodcote High School)

South Gloucestershire Schools' U12s  2  Croydon Schools' U12s  0 (7th January)

Croydon's Under 12s produced an encouraging performance in a friendly fixture, also at Yatton on Saturday morning  but lost to two breakaway second-half goals.

George Gomez (Whitgift) and Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical) went close for Croydon in the first ten minutes, both shooting narrowly wide from good positions.

Croydon looked the most likely to score, defending stoutly and looking confident in midfield, but were unable to get the ball past the home keeper, who had a fine match, thwarting the Croydon boys on several occasions.

Croydon squad:  Ben Kosky (Whitgift), Louis John (Ashburton), Ryan Robinson (Woodcote), Brady Almandras (Riddlesdown), Matt Wilkinson (Riddlesdown), Kyle de Silva (Harris CTC), Ross Marshall (Riddlesdown), Charlie Hackshall (Edenham), George Gomez (Whitgift), Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical), Emmanuel Akokhia (Shirley), Jerry Adjie-Yamoa (Edenham), Omar Martin-Taylor (Woodcote)

Maidstone Schools' Under 12s  0  Croydon Schools' Under 12s 4 (10th December)

Under 12s - 10th December 2005

A superb second half display, scoring four goals without reply, saw Croydon into the quarter final of the South-East Area Patrick Haugh Trophy at Maidstone on Saturday morning.

Croydon announced their intentions from the start, as Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical) saw his low drive rebound off the post in the first minute. Maidstone had only one shot on target in the first half, when a free-kick was well held by Ben Kosky (Whitgift).

Ryan James-Robinson (Woodcote) and Charlie Hackshall (Edenham) shone for Croydon in an impressive display but the score was goalless at half-time.

Kyle De Silva (Harris CTC) came on as substitute, at the break, to make his Croydon debut.

Maidstone found themselves under increased pressure in the second half and the deadlock was broken nine minutes after the interval when De Silva set up a chance for Alex Wynter (Davidson) who duly obliged with the aid of a deflection.

Croydon were well on top and it was no surprise when, following trickery in the penalty area, Ross Marshall (Riddlesdown) made it 2-0 eight minutes later. Two more goals in the last four minutes underlined Croydon's superiority. Kyle De Silva got the first, put through by Charlie Hackshall (Edenham), and Emmanuel Akokhia made the final verdict 4-0 with a strong left foot cross shot.

Goal Scorers - 10th December 2005

Under the management of Woodcote High School teachers, Darryl Bate and Andrew Bruce, the borough boys are gradually fulfilling their potential, still being involved in the Surrey and South-East Area competitions.

Croydon squad:  Kosky (Whitgift), Fairman (Edenham), James-Robinson (Woodcote), Adjeiyampa (Edenham), Osborn (Ashburton), Akokhia (Shirley), Marshall, Almandras (both Riddlesdown) , De Silva (Harris CTC), Rowe (Stanley Technical). Wynter (Ashburton), John (Ashburton), Hackshall (Edenham), Wilkinson (Riddlesdown)

Croydon Schools' U12s  2 Kingston Schools' U12s  1 (19th November)

Croydon's Under 12s 2-1 win over Kingston, at Greenacres, was more emphatic than the score line suggests as the local boys qualified for the Final of the Surrey Schools' Football Association's Gibson Cup.

Early pressure by Croydon forced Kingston on to the back foot, and a strong passing move forced the ball wide where Ross Marshall (Riddlesdown) lashed in a blistering effort which flew in to the goal, over the keeper's head.

Croydon dominated the game for long spells, with efforts twice striking the uprights. But on the stroke of half-time the Croydon defence were caught napping, and Kingston seized the chance of an equaliser.

Sebastian Breggar (Thomas More) and George Gomez (Whitgift) were half-time tactical changes for Croydon, who continued to get on top, with Chris Fairman (Edenham) and Harry Osborne (Ashburton) controlling the defence, and skipper Brady Almandras (Riddlesdown) and Alex Wynter (Ashburton) keeping a tight grip in midfield.

Croydon's superiority was underlined by Kingston's failure to force a shot on goal in the second half, and Croydon hitting the woodwork again, three times, and keeping the Kingston goalkeeper fully employed.

Wynter rounded off an impressive performance with the winner in the 41st minute, forcing home a powerful effort which was too hot to handle for the Kingston goalkeeper.

Croydon squad:  Daniel Wilkinson (Riddlesdown), Chris Fairman (Edenham), Ryan James-Robinson (Woodcote), Madju Kinona (Woodcote), Harry Osborne (Ashburton), Emmanual Akokhia (Shirley), Ross Marshall, George Gomez (both Riddlesdown), Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical), Alex Wynter (Ashburton), Sebastian Breggar (Thomas More), Louis John (Ashburton), Ben Kosky (Whitgift)

Croydon Schools' U12s  1  Thurrock Schools' U12s  2  (15th October)

The Under 12s began their programme, at Greenacres, losing 2-1 to Thurrock in the first round of the London Schools' FA's Thomas Pear Trophy.

Opening exchanges were evenly matched, with neither side able to open up determined defences. Thurrock took the lead in the first half when a well-struck free-kick rocketed through a crowd of players and was deflected past his own keeper by Croydon's Matt Wilkinson (Riddlesdown).

Croydon fought back strongly but were still a goal in arrears at the interval. Chances were squandered by Croydon early in the second half and a defensive lapse allowed the visitors to make it 2-0 halfway through the second period and although Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical) pulled one back, it was a case of too little, too late.

Croydon squad:  Ben Kosky (Whitgift), Chris Fairnon (Edenham), Ryan James-Robinson, Madju Kinona, Aiden Kennedy (all Woodcote), Ross Marshall, Brady Almandras (both Riddlesdown), George Gomez (Whitgift), Kyle Rowe (Stanley Technical), Mat Wilkinson (Riddlesdown), Emmanuel Akokha (Shirley), Louis John (Ashburton), Jerry Adje Yamoa (Edenham), Charlie Hackshall (Edenham)

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Tuesday, 6 January, 2009

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