The final three All Birmingham Finals took place at Villa Park on Thursday 16th May  and all three games proved to be exciting and close affairs.

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CTC Kingshurst U14s

 

U14s Trevor Gill Trophy: C.T.C. Kingshurst 1 v Tudor Grange 3

The final of the Trevor Gill Trophy between CTC Kingshurst and Tudor Grange proved to be an evenly contested game throughout and, in the end, Tudor Grange's composure on the ball in the final third was the telling story. The first half started at quite a frantic pace and CTC seemed to settle the most with Jamir Chase looking like he would
give the strong Tudor Grange centre halves a difficult game, however, Tudor Grange always looked a threat on the break. As the first half continued, Tudor Grange began to settle and started to pass the ball with more authority stretching the CTC back four and the pressure finally told within injury time of the first half,  when Tom Hudson regained possession and squared the ball to Jake Smith who, after breaking down the line ,was able to play a through ball into the path of Cameron Shaw who calmly slotted the ball past the CTC goalkeeper. Being so close to halftime, it deflated the players from CTC and it took most of half time to encourage and make them stay positive. It was Tudor Grange Academy who settled quickly in the second half and continued were they had left off from the first half. Just after the 47th minute mark Cameron Shaw broke free again and then was able to slot the ball home. After scoring this goal Tudor Grange Academy's confidence grew even more as they continued pushing forward; with Jake Smith breaking down the right hand side and only just placing the ball wide, Tudor Grange Academy hitting the post and then having a goal rightly disallowed for offside. Tudor Grange Academy were becoming more and more dangerous on the break and when Cameron Ebbutt combined with George Nock, Tudor Grange Academy took a 0-3 lead with only 10 minutes remaining. This lead prompted CTC Kingshurst to make changes to their formation into 4-3-3 which had an immediate impact as they began to get back into the game. CTC Kingshurst were rewarded with an outstanding consolation goal  when Ed Ebdon was dispossessed in the final third and Jamir Chase was able to travel hit an unstoppable drive past the Tudor Grange keeper to make the final score  3 - 1.This game was a great advert for schools football, with all players giving of their best.Credit to all of the Tudor Grange team as they were worthy winners, however, there were in particular 3 individuals in midfield and up front who clearly made the difference on the big stage. Special mention should be made of J'Cee Abraham and Harry Lloyd  who both had great games for CTC and Cameron Shaw who was the pick of the Tudor Grange team.

U15 Aston Villa Cup: Bishop Walsh 2 v Grace Academy 1

Bishop Walsh U15s

Bishop Walsh Under 15s met Grace Academy at Villa Park in their  third All Birmingham Cup final in as many years. This was it was an excellent game where both teams, albeit being a bit nervous , played some great  entertaining passing  football.  Early on in the game Grace Academy enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but failed to capitalise with only two long range efforts. It was the Bishop Walsh duo Ciaran Rushe and Jacob Roberts, though, who started to dominate the midfield as the game progressed. An early chance for Bishop Walsh was ruled offside as James Earle and Daniel Kemp combined down the right to put Mason Hunt through on goal before the official raised his flag. However,  good work from Joe Gildea at the breakdown of a defensive corner led to Mason Hunt being through on goal for a second time and score the opening goal.  There was a competitive battle down the Grace Academy right throughout thwarted by Henry Peel and later Daniel Waters. However, on the stroke of half time a whipped corner from the right hand side was powered home by Jack Taylor  to tie the scores as the teams left the field for half time.

The second half begun in the same manner as the first and Jamie Odyniec and Matthew Bishop remained strong as a central defensive partnership to repel the several Grace Academy attacks as the half got underway. In the 55th minute Bishop Walsh were controversially denied a penalty as good work from Elliot Hickling and Alex Woodall slipped in Joe Gildea who turned in the box and appeared to be clipped from behind. While appeals were waved away by the referee Grace Academy broke and a rasping shot from Mitchell Lynch  was tipped onto the bar by Dominic Cotter to keep the scores at 1-1. As the game entered the closing stages though Daniel Brennan’s excellent pressure forced a mistake from the Grace right back to allow in Harry Ellis who fired home to secure  the Birmingham Cup at the third time of asking. The last occasion Walsh won the Villa Cup was 1971 .As well as being a great spectacle,  the conduct of both teams, on and off the pitch was outstanding and were a credit to their schools.

Grace AcademyU15s

U16 City of Birmingham Cup: Coleshill 0 v Turves Green 1

Coleshill U16s

 

Going into the game, last year's finalists, Coleshill had only one injury concern and that was the influential midfielder Josh Micklethwaite.  Josh managed to overcome a sustained ankle injury and was deemed fit enough to start the match. Coleshill were started the  match at a fast tempo and used their previous Villa Park experience to catch the Turves Green players off guard. Coleshill definitely began the stronger with Ellio Hogan  creating numerous chances to score. Matt Hill almost gave Coleshill the lead by unleashing a howitzer from 25 yards with his weaker foot to see only the keeper Lewis Roach narrowly getting an outstretched finger on the ball to tip it over the bar.   Unfortunately for Coleshill,  the Turves Green defence weathered the onslaught with some resilient defending and excellent goal keeping. Turves Green then found the back of the net only for it to be disallowed for hand ball. The referee blew for half-time with both teams unable to get on the score sheet.

Roles were reversed for the start of the second half, as the Turves Green players upped their tempo and made it hard for the Coleshill players to get the ball out of the half.  After 55 minutes Turves Green broke the deadlock and took advantage of all their hard work by finding the all-important first goal. The ball was thrown in and the subsequent cross was met by Mitchell Parker diving full stretch at the near post to score an outstanding goal leaving goalkeeper Tom Fletcher no chance. Coleshill then had chances of their own but, a mixture of gritty defending from Aaron Draper, Luke Mullen and the rest of back four combined with great keeping from Lewis Roach,  kept it at 1-0. Kyle Bishop had an excellent chance to equalise in the dying minutes of the game, but unfortunately hit a low driven shot straight at the outstanding Lewis Roach.. Coleshill were perhaps not the better team on the day but arguably created the better chances and may consider themselves a little unlucky to lose but Turves Green's grit, determination and team unity and some excellent play saw them home narrowly in the endwith a 1 -0 victory to take the cup

Turves Green U16s