South London 1-2 Brent
London Schools’ FA Corinthian Shield, 11th March 2017
Brent beat South London beat 2-1 away from home in the quarter-final of the London Schools’ FA Corinthian Shield competition, coming from behind to secure the victory.
South London started the first half strongly and almost took an early lead when they hit the bottom of the left post in the second minute before the ball was cleared for a corner. Spencer had Brent’s first effort on the South London goal but saw his header clear the crossbar before Dominic D’Souza saw his effort well saved when through on goal.
Shammar Swaby saw his effort inside the South London penalty area blocked before William Ribeiro was unfortunate to see his headed effort strike the South London crossbar from a corner. On 27 minutes Spencer saw his powerful shot well saved and cleared before South London saw an effort just before half time deflected wide for a corner.
With Brent having the better of the latter stages of the first half, they continued to dominate the opening exchanges of the second half with Sahr Dugba and Ribeiro both seeing their shots on goal deflected wide for corners.
Brent’s Kahil Francis went close in the 41st minute but he saw his lob go over the South London crossbar before Dugba ran into the South London penalty area and found Saul Mensah but he saw his effort saved.
South London almost scored in the 47th minute when through on goal but Alan Kochanowicz in the Brent goal saved brilliantly with his legs. Moments later it was Brent’s turn to attack and Dugba saw his effort go well over the South London crossbar after a run from just inside the South London half.
With the game now wide open and both sides attacking at will it was South London who took the lead in the 49th minute when the ball was not cleared in the Brent defence and they scored with a well-placed shot from just outside the Brent penalty area.
In the 53rd minute Kochanowicz in the Brent goal prevented South London from extending their lead with another excellent save as South London looked for their second goal.
In the 58th minute Spencer equalised for Brent from a direct free kick from fully 25 yards out that hit the roof of the South London net. In the 60th minute Brent almost took the lead from another free kick and this time it was Francis who hit the South London crossbar with the goalkeeper well beaten.
With Brent now pushing forward for the winner Dominic D’Souza saw his effort in the 62nd minute superbly turned around the post when turning in the South London six-yard box and shooting with his left foot.
Barely a minute later Spencer saw his free kick hit the South London woodwork for the third time in the game. But when the ball was cleared and it landed at his feet again from fully 25 yards out his effort was too powerful and although the South London goalkeeper got his hands to the ball he was unable to prevent it crossing the line.
In the final minute South London almost equalised but Brent held on to book a semi-final against Newham.