2006/2007 Season - Under 12's

Croydon Schools' U12s 4  Barking and Dagenham Schools' U12s 1 (21st March)

Croydon Schools' Football Association's Under 12s stormed into the London Schools' Football Association's Thomas Pear Trophy Cup Final with a convincing 4-1 victory over a strong Barking and Dagenham side at Croydon Arena last week.

Croydon took an early lead when Jerome Williams (Ashburton) crossed to find Conor Wilkinson (Coulsdon) unmarked in the box, who turned on a sixpence and fired the ball low into the bottom left corner. Croydon's lead was short lived, however, when the visitors broke through the middle and equalised from close range.  Croydon had most of the play with Derek Tieku and Haydn Dickinson (both Riddlesdown) commanding the midfield.

Shortly before half- time Michael Gee (Trinity) was brought down in the penalty area and Wilkinson calmly slotted the ball home to put Croydon ahead.

With minutes of the half remaining, a clumsy challenge in the Croydon box meant a penalty for the visitors, but the recalled Dominic Bishop (Royal Russell) tipped the ball superbly over the crossbar to maintain Croydon's lead.

The second half saw Croydon encamped in the visitors' half and they increased their lead when the dangerous Tieku netted from close range. Croydon's centre back partnership of Nathan Antwi (Harris CTC) and John Kabula (Haling Manor) were outstanding, giving Barking few opportunities and shortly before full time Conor Wilkinson fired home a superb left foot volley to clinch his hat-trick and send the Croydon boys into the final.

The game was slightly marred by Kane Grandison (Woodcote) sustaining a suspect fractured arm.

Croydon squad: Domini Bishop (Royal Russell), Rob Jones (Woodcote), John Kabula (Haling Manor) Nathan Antwi (Harris CTC), Tommy Smith (Riddlesdown), Michael Gee (Trinity), Derek Tieku , Haydn Dickinson (both Riddlesdown), Jerome Williams (Ashburton), Conor Wilkinson (Coulsdon) Michael Gray (St Joseph's), Kane Grandison (Woodcote), Sam Findlay (Riddlesdown), Ben Flint (Royal Russell), Tommy Johnstone (Edenham)

Croydon Schools' U12s 5   Woking Schools' U12s 3 (7th February)

Croydon Schools' Football Association's Under 12 borough side maintained their 100% record this season with their latest triumph being a hard-fought 5-3 win over Woking Schools in the first leg of the Surrey Schools' Football Association's Gibson cup competition, at Croydon Arena last Wednesday.

The team - managed by Croydon Schools' Football Association secretary, David Lomas, who also manages the Under 14s jointly with Peter Yates of Ashburton, and Fiona Armfield (Ridgeway) who doubles up as sole manager of the Under 11s - are on course for the elusive "treble" of London, Surrey and South-East Area cup competition success, being in the semi-finals of the two other competitions and facing matches against Barking (home) and Blackheath (away) next month.

The visitors took an early lead, in the sixth minute, following slack defensive work, but Croydon were unfazed by this setback and were unfortunate not to equalise when a shot from Nathan Antwi (Harris CTC) rattled the crossbar.

Derek Tieku (Riddlesdown) last season's Under 11 leading goal scorer was in the thick of things in the Croydon midfield and clever work by him set up a chance for Ben Flint (Royal Russell) but his shot was well saved by the Woking goalkeeper.

Croydon were determined, however, and it was no surprise when Jerome Williams (Ashburton) equalised after twelve minutes and a strike by Tieku put Croydon 2-1 up, three minutes before half-time.

Croydon looked impressive after the interval and encamped in the Woking half for much of the second half with Haydn Dickinson (Riddlesdown) and Tieku bossing the midfield.. Williams secured a second goal for himself, and Croydon's third with a superb left-foot shot and Croydon looked to be well in control, but Woking reduced the arrears, with thirteen minutes of the match remaining.

Conor Wilkinson (Coulsdon) made it 4-2 with a smart headed goal from close range but Woking were equally tenacious and and in a frantic finish Woking made it 4-3 only for Croydon to finish the scoring when Kane Grandison (Woodcote) danced his way past two defenders before slipping the ball through for Flint to secure the victory in the last minute.

Croydon squad:  David Earl (Shirley), Robert Jones (Woodcote), Tommy Johnstone (Edenham), Jon Kabula (Haling Manor), Michael Gee (Trinity), Nathan Antwi (Harris), Derek Tieku, Haydn Dickinson, Tommy Smith (all Riddlesdown), Jerome Williams (Ashburton), Conor Wilkinson (Coulsdon), Ben Flint (Royal Russell), Kane Grandison (Woodcote)

North Kent Schools' 12s 3   Croydon Schools' U12s 4 (after extra-time) (20th January)

Croydon Schools' Football Association's Under 12s borough side maintained their unbeaten record with an exciting 4-3 win in extra-time against North Kent Schools at Cleeve Park School, Sidcup on Saturday morning to reach the semi-final of the London Schools' Football Association's Thomas Pear Trophy competition.

The victory was all the more creditable, as Croydon found themselves reduced to a squad of only twelve players as a result of late withdrawals.

The strong wind and sloping pitch played a large part in the match, with six of the seven goals being scored at one end.

Croydon produced an outstanding performance in the first half, but it was not until the last seven minutes that they managed to score. Numerous on-target shots peppered the home side's goal but were capably gathered by the keeper.

The hard-working Derek Tieku (Riddlesdown), last season's leading goal scorer for Croydon was in the thick of things in midfield and Croydon's goals stemmed from openings he created.  Kane Grandison (Woodcote) poached the first goal, after Tieku's effort was parried, and on the stroke of half-time Jerome Williams (Ashburton) made it 2-0.

North Kent pulled one back four minutes after the interval, from a free-kick, and although Croydon were unable to repeat their first half superiority they looked to be heading for a well-earned victory but North Kent grabbed themselves a lifeline with three minutes of normal time remaining, from another free-kick, taking the tie into extra-time.

The first half of extra-time remained goalless but North Kent edged ahead in the second minute of the second period . Croydon stormed back, equalising within a minute from a Ben Flint (Royal Russell) header and then clinching what turned out to be the winner, with another header - from Nathan Antwi (Harris CTC) a minute later.

Left to right
Ben Flint, Nathan Antwi, Jerome Williams, Kane Grandison

Under 12 Squad

Croydon squad:  David Earl (Shirley), Tommy Smith (Riddlesdown), John Kabula (Haling Manor), Oluseyi Obaye-Daley (Whitgift), Robert Jones (Woodcote), Nathan Antwi (Harris CTC), Derek Tieku (Riddlesdown), Michael Gee (Trinity), Jerome Williams (Ashburton), Sam Findlay (Riddlesdown), Ben Flint (Royal Russell)

Croydon Schools' U12s 4   North Kent Schools' U12s 2  (29th November)

Croydon's Under 12s emerged as 4-2 winners against North Kent Schools in this first round ESFA South East Area Patrick Haugh Trophy, at Croydon Arena last Wednesday, officiated by none other than well-known South Croydon referee, Patrick Haugh, donor of the trophy which was first competed for in 1989.

Croydon squandered a plethora of chances before a pass from Derek Tieku (Riddlesdown) set up an easy chance for Nathan Antwi (Harris CTC) in the 23rd minute.

But the visitors drew level four minutes later.  Slack defensive work enabled them to get in a cross which was headed home in style from close range by Tobi Sho-Silva, playing his first game for North Kent Schools U12.

North Kent's goalkeeper was in fine form, making fine saves to deny the goal-hungry Croydon forwards.

Croydon restored their lead six minutes after the break when Jerome Williams (Ashburton) set up a chance for Conor Wilkinson (Coulsdon). The Croydon boys looked to be coasting to victory when Tieku made it 3-1 four minutes later but the dangerous Sho-Silva stole a second goal to peg Croydon back to 4-2.

The visitors pressed hard for an equaliser, forcing Croydon goalkeeper, Dominic Bishop (Royal Russell) into making two crucial saves late in the game, but Tieku secured the win with a late strike.

Left to Right
Nathan Antwi, Derek Tieku (2), Conor Wilkinson

Croydon squad:  Dominic Bishop (Royal Russell), Tommy Smith (Riddlesdown), Robert Jones (Woodcote), Tommy Johnstone (Edenham), Oluseyi Obaye-Daley (Whitgift), Jason Deacon, Haydn Dickinson, Derek Tieku (all Riddlesdown), Nathan Antwi (Harris CTC), Jerome Williams (Ashburton), Conor Wilkinson (Coulsdon), Jon Kabula (Haling Manor), Ben Flint (Royal Russell), Kane Grandison (Woodcote)

Croydon Schools' U12s 5   Brent Schools' U12s 2 (4th November)

Croydon Schools' Football Association's Under 12 Borough side striker, Jerome Williams (Ashburton) won't forget his Croydon debut for some time.   He shot Croydon into the lead against Brent schools in this London Schools' Football Association Thomas Pear Cup tie after only six seconds at Greenacres, Warlingham, on Saturday morning.

Croydon increased their lead after four minutes when inspirational skipper, Haydn Dickinson (Riddlesdown) won the ball in midfield and set Derek Tieku (Riddlesdown) on his way to plant the ball in the path of Kane Grandison (Woodcote) who tucked the ball under the advancing Brent goalkeeper.

Tieku made it 3-0 after fifteen minutes and it all seemed to be plain sailing from thereon in.

But Brent had other ideas and as Croydon lost their shape and composure the visitors grabbed two quick goals to make it 3-2 at half-time.

Croydon got on top in the second half but there was always the threat that Brent might break away and equalise.

Ben Flint (Royal Russell) headed narrowly wide from a good chance created by Tieku and Croydon created several chances, which were not converted into goals.

Croydon School's U12 Goal Scorers
Ben Flint - Jerome Williams - Kane Grandison - Derek Tieku

Tieku made it 4-2 ten minutes before the end with a fierce left-footed 25-yard strike that gave the Brent keeper no chance as the ball whistled into the top corner of the net and Flint ensured a place in the second round with a goal in the last minute.

Croydon's joint manager, Fiona Armfield, was happy with the result but disappointed with the overall performance.

"We played well in patches, but we'll have to do a lot better than this if we are to make progress in this and other cup competitions, this season" she said.

Croydon visit North Kent in the next round.

Under 12s v Brent

Croydon squad:  Dominic Bishop, Sam Williams, Ben Flint (all Royal Russell), Jason Deacon, Tommy Smith, Derek Tieku, Haydn Dickinson, Sam Findlay (all Riddlesdown), Tommy Johnstone (Edenham), John Kabula (Haling Manor), Nathan Antwi (Harris CTC), Robert Jones, Kane Grandison (Woodcote), Jerome Williams (Ashburton)

Blackheath Schools' U12s 0   Croydon Schools' U12s 5 (7th October)

Croydon Schools' Under 12s eased their way to an impressive 5-0 victory in their first game of the season, in a friendly fixture against Blackheath Schools at Eltham Green School, on Saturday morning.

Although Croydon dominated the match, it took them 25 minutes to take the lead when Nathan Antwi netted. A minute later Antwi (Harris) rifled in a fierce volley, which was only partially saved and Kane Grandison (Woodcote) slotted the ball home from close range.

Ben Flint (Royal Russell made it 3-0. Blackheath rallied briefly but the commanding Derek Tieku (Riddlesdown - Croydon's leading goal scorer last season - grabbed a fourth and Antwi completed the scoring with his second goal and Croydon's fifth, after good work by Sam Williams (Royal Russell).

Croydon squad:  Dominic Bishop, Dsam Williams, Ben Flint (all Royal Russell), Derek Tieku, Haydn Dickinson, Jason Deacon, Tommy Smith, Victor Okolo, Sam Findlay (all Riddlesdown), Kane Grandison, Rob Jones, Shakir Forbes (all Woodcote), Nathan Antwi (Harris), John Kabula (Haling Manor), Tommy Johnstone (Edenham)

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Thursday, 20 November, 2008

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