8^th May 2008 

Testway Youth League Cup Final

Alderbury U13  4   Barton Stacey U13   1

The day of the match, half of Barton Stacey like figures in a Lowry painting, migrating to Foxcotte lane for the final of the U13 cup between unbeaten league champions and winner of most cups in Wiltshire – Alderbury, and current cup holders Barton Stacey.  Mrs de Cani cancelling her jive master class, Mrs Taplin, forgoing her regular mid week repose dipping quails eggs in celery salt in front of the snooker.  “Yeah but no but” siblings, a Bearpark in a bath chair, full squadrons of Coetzees, Pomroys, Sherwoods, Tusons, Bacons, Lawtons and Hadlingtons, Barton Stacey under 8s, 9s, and 11s, Senior team members and committee members, and many many more besides, if an award for support were to be given, it is the team in green from Barton Stacey that would win it hands down; on behalf of the team, Thank you very much!

Alderbury’s season thus far had been stunning, with success following success. Winning the under 13 division 1 without dropping a point, and winning Saturday and Sunday cups right across Hampshire and Wiltshire. Barton’s had been erratic, entertaining, bewildering, a lot of fun and had concluded over six weeks ago; meeting before the game bemused as to whether this was part of the season just gone or the season approaching.

 Barton started with usual suspects in the usual places.  Ollie Richards in goal, Danny Tuson and Harry Lawton at full back.  Coetzee and Pomroy in the middle.  Sam Hadlington, James Brooke, Luke Bacon, William de Cani and Nick Bearpark made up a five-man midfield behind Michael Taplin.  Connor Jones, Sam Burrows and Charles Sherwood provided, back up, comment, and oodles of advice from the bench. 

Once again the pitch for the Final at New St was hard bumpy and lumpy, it was a toss up between the car park and pitch as to which would provide the better surface for football, mistakes and funny bounces could well decide the outcome of the cup.

Graham White’s pre match advice, expressed the need for Barton to keep the game tight for the first ten minutes then try to press the game, James Brooke, inspired by his  namesake, Sarawak adventurer, and scourge of  Sumatran pirates, detailed to man mark Alderbury’s midfield menace.

A nervous Barton Stacey started the game and after a brief moment of early pressure fell behind in the seventh minute.  Seemingly inspired by the sudden need to chase the game, Barton pressed the play, winning a succession of corners and forcing several saves from the keeper.  This proved to be the crucial juncture of the game, had Barton equalised and gone into half time level, the final result may well have been different; instead Alderbury snatched a second goal before half time to put Barton Stacey well and truly on the back foot. 

Graham White had several options open to him in the second half, with a hat full of goals from the bench Charles Sherwood was an ace up his sleeve, while Sam Burrows and Connor Jones where insistent that they could make a difference.  All avenues were explored, but after ten minutes of the second half it became apparent that this bunch of brave Barton boys had very little left to give; not quite “ once more into the valley of the dead” but not far off it.  Wagons circled a la Rorke’s drift Barton conceded two more in quick succession as Alderbury stormed relentlessly down the hill.  Barton breaking out with a ball to Michael Taplin whose pinpoint cross was side footed into the net by Conner Jones’ tangerine toes.

A three-goal deficit a fair result; the poor pitch a problem for both sides that affected the quality of the play on display. The game described by one spectator, as “men against boys” which it was most certainly not; Barton Stacey are very good at men against boys, they practice it every Tuesday.  Several parents have the bruises and scars prove it. After a long season, perhaps a game too far, with many boys mentally hitting the beach, hanging up the “gone fishing” sign or moving into cricket mode.  Alderbury, playing regular competitive football right up to the final, are a big club with over twenty junior sides, they have the maximum size squad of twenty boys selected from a larger pool of boys, a sporting and talented coach who readily acknowledges that he is on to a good thing, and several very talented and very big players.  Barton Stacey started the season with only eleven players signed on, two of whom are under 12s (very good ones at that). Are a small squad and a small side, but with no less talent.  When one player’s ten strides take him a yard further down the line than the other, the difference must be made up with grit, heart and determination, something that this dinky Barton Stacey side has in spades and has demonstrated on numerous occasions over the past few seasons.  This time it was not quite enough, but the overall achievement of getting to a third cup final in four years with the limited resources available, a testimony to the boys and the coach, and something of which they can be truly proud.  The real prize won this year, the fact that a large number of boys are expressing a wish to come and play for Barton next year, who remain one of the best and happiest under thirteen teams around.