Brent 5-1 Barnet
Middlesex Schools' FA Watkin Cup
An outstanding team performance helped Brent Under-12 Boys to their first win of the season.
Brent started quickly and pressed Barnet all over the pitch. The effort was tireless and the pressure Brent put their opponents under allowed the team to win the ball in dangerous areas.
When Brent were asked questions by Barnet’s attacks, the back line were resolute and dominant. Agwu and Gibson in central defence are a real partnership in the making, winning everything in the air and tackling with enthusiasm and timing.
Brent went 1-0 ahead when Russell drove with the ball, shot at goal which was well saved before Wall followed up with a brave header to open the scoring.
Brent continued in the same vain and when the ball was played through by Bates, who dominated the midfield, Brent’s player of the match Jermaine Russell latched on to the pass and slotted the ball home with a cool finish to make the score 2-0.
Brent were relentless and the second half followed the same pattern as the first, even with changes made to the line-up.
Alexandrou was causing problems for the Barnet defence upfront and Miguel and Marshall were creating havoc on the wings. Rus was composed on the ball and linking well with Valderrama.
With another rotation, Jermaine Russell came back on and caused the Barnet defence all sorts of problems, scoring his second goal of the match after a ball over the top put him through in a one-on-one he tucked the ball away, to put his team 3-0 ahead.
Now Brent were flying and moving the ball with tempo and composure. Rus typified his team’s performance and played a delightful reverse ball for Wall who smashed home his second goal of the game with his left foot to secure his second of the game.
Barnet were awarded a penalty after Agwu made a last ditch challenge and duly pulled a goal back, denying Joshua Aaron the clean sheet his performance deserved after making a couple of stunning saves through the match.
The best goal was saved till last when Alexandrou, who is playing up a year and still in Year 6, was put though after a clearance and from a far right position outside the box chipped the goalkeeper to seal an emphatic 5-1 victory, completing a great day for the team.
Manager Kim James commented: "the boys have such great attitudes and all of their hard work in training is paying off. They want to learn and progress and all of the parents there today were extremely proud."
Team: Joshua Aaron, Alfie Bates (Wembley), Pablo Miguel, Michael Agwu, James Wall (Capt.), Marc Valderrama (Queens Park), Liam Gibson, Edward Harte(St Gregory’s), Razvan-Marian Calota (Capital City), Jermaine Russell, Theo Alexandrou (St. Michaela), Richardo Rus (Kingsbury), Kieran Marshall (Preston Manor), Mamadou Diallo (Ark Elvin).
