Soham Grammarian Autumn 1952
SOCCER NOTES
For the past few years we have been blessed with the return of a number of old colours around which successful teams have been formed. This year we suffered, what every school suffers from time to time, namely the proverbial " clear out." Only one old colour remained with us at the beginning of term, luckily a good one and around him a moderate side has been built. What we have lacked in the main is not skill but weight, and on the whole the team have made use of the ball as well as recent elevens, but we have missed the rugged tacklers and long kickers of former years. We have not had that thrust for goal which is essential for winning matches.
Many of our old rivals have exacted overdue retribution; we have fallen to Kings' (Ely), March, Newport, Bury and the Friends' School, although several of our defeats have been by the slenderest of margins. Our strength has been in the half-back line of Fordham, Bullman and Aspland. Bullman has not had a bad match and his play has been an inspiration to the whole team. Docherty and Ansell have been our most resourceful forwards; Bush has disappointed in that he has not used his speed to good advantage.
The season, however, has had its encouragements. The second eleven have remained undefeated and have many commendable performances to their credit. Their success has given rise to good team spirit, which I hope will continue throughout next season.
Once again the Under 14's have gone through a season losing once only. They are always the enthusiasts, a delight to watch, and are to be congratulated on many fine displays. Both Under 13 matches with St. Faith's School were most enjoyable, each team in turn losing at home by the odd goal.
With the material available in the middle school our future should be bright.
RAT
SOCCER MATCHES
FIRST ELEVEN
Newmarket GS 0, School 5 (Ansell 3, Bush, Pearson). Newport GS 4, School 2 (Ansell 2)
The School started off well against a shaky Newport team, and nearly scored in the first five minutes, when an opposing defender hit his own cross-bar with an intended pass back to his goalkeeper. Ansell put the School one up shortly afterwards, heading the ball home from a centre by Fordham, who had beaten his man and moved out to the left. Then the School's play deteriorated, while Newport went from strength to strength, and a bad defensive blunder gave them the equaliser.Soham fought back, and twice the ball rolled agonisingly across the Newport goal, with nobody to tap it in. Newport went ahead when their centre forward gave Perry no chance with a sharp, rising shot from a corner.
Half-time: Newport 2, School 1Now, playing against the wind, and a Newport team tackling like lions, the School seemed to have little hope of pulling the game out of the fire, and when their left-winger forced his way past Royston to put Newport two up, the possibilities of a Soham win seemed almost nil. However, the School managed three or four quick breakaways, and from one of these, Ansell reduced the deficit by flicking the ball wide of the goalkeeper from close range. The game then livened up, and the School had more of the play, but Newport settled the issue shortly before the end when they scored with the Soham defence momentarily off balance.
School 2 (Bush 2), March GS 5
School 2 (Ansell, Burton), Saffron Walden 3
School 6 (Ansell 4, Docherty, Bullman), Huntingdon GS 0
This game was played in the morning, and the playing surface was treacherous for the first half-hour. Huntingdon had an early chance to take the lead when their outside-right raced through, but the ball went well wide of the goal. The School soon found their feet, and although the approach work of the attack looked dangerous, the finishing was poor in comparison. About fifteen minutes from halftime, Ansell scored two goals inside a minute, Sykes following the second into the net to make sure.
Half-time: School 2, Huntingdon 0With the Soham defence tightening up in the second half, the sun behind them, and the halves getting a grip on the game, more goals seemed imminent. But, however, although Huntingdon were reduced to spasmodic breakaways, it was some time before Docherty made it three with a hard cross-shot. Ansell scored from close range shortly afterwards and then burst his way through a panicky and disorganised Huntingdon defence to increase our lead to five. With barely five minutes to go before the final whistle, the School were awarded a penalty, Bullman scoring from the spot with a hard drive.
March GS 7, School 2 (Ansell, Docherty)
School 2 (Bush, Ansell), Ely KS 0
The big, robust side attacked strongly from the start, and the School goal had several early escapes. After this initial phase of Ely superiority, our forwards began to see more of the ball, especially on the right wing, but generally play was confined to the home half, and the defence had little respite. Ely, however, rarely penetrated far into the penalty area as the School half-backs were playing well against their stronger opponents. About twenty minutes had elapsed when Bush, receiving the ball out on the wing, scored a fine goal with a long shot over the goalkeeper's head. Their confidence shaken by this unexpected reverse, Ely lost heart somewhat, and play was very even until half-time, both goals in turn being under fire.
Half-time: School 1, Ely 0Now, with the aid of the stiff breeze, the School began to assert their supremacy against disillusioned opponents who had, no doubt, hoped for an easy victory. Ansell, although not at his best, made amends for this when he increased our lead by banging the ball home from close range, and other School forwards had near misses, Burton making two glorious efforts. The Ely play was becoming a trifle vigorous, and two penalties were given away by their defenders, although neither was converted.
Bullman then nearly scored with a superb free-kick from the half-way line, the ball being punched over by the 'keeper at the last instant. A spate of corners on the School right wing resulted, but although our forwards were unable to score again, the Ely attack was very ineffective, except for their outside-left, and Perry had hardly a shot to save during the entire second half. The game quietly drew to a close, with the School still dominant, and thoroughly deserving their victory.
School 9 (Ansell 3, Burton 2, Bush, Docherty, Pearson, og. 1), Newmarket GS 0
Saffron Walden 1, School 0
Ely KS 4, School 2 (Ansell, Bush)
School 2 (Bush, Docherty), Bury 3
Huntingdon GS 1, School 2 (Ansell, Bush)
SECOND ELEVEN
School 2 (Uttridge, Guiver), March GS l
School 7 (Neal 3, Cropley 2, Guiver, Easy), Huntingdon GS 1
March GS 2, School 5 (Neal 3, Guiver, Cropley)
Ely KS 2, School 3 (Sykes 2, Neal)
School 4 (Sykes 2, Neal, Easy), Ely KS 2
Huntingdon GS 1, School 1 (Neal)
UNDER 14 ELEVEN
Newport GS 2, School 4 (Fretwell 4)
School 4 (Moore 2, Meacham 1, og. 1), March GS 3
School 8 (Meacham 3, Fretwell 3, South, Burton), Saffron Walden 2
March GS 6, School 3 (Burton 2, Fretwell)
Saffron Walden 1, School 3 (South, Burton, Vail)
School 16 (Meacham 7, Burton 3, Fretwell 2, South, Vail, Tassell, Thompson), Bury lUNDER 13 ELEVEN
School 1 (Levitt), St. Faith's 2
St. Faith's 0, School 1 (Simper)
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last update 4 Dec 2007