Ashmount fall at quarter final stage.

Ashmount brave attempted to win the Premier League Schools Tournament ended at the Quarter Final stage as we ran into the scourge of Primary Schools this year, in the form of St Joan of Arc Primary School.

28 schools from Islington, Camden, Hackney and Hertfordshire arrived with hopes of being crowned champions in what is probably the most important tournament in schools football. Ashmount were placed in a group of four, with Prior Weston, Gillespie and Drayton Park.

Our first game was against Prior Weston which we made hard work, but ran out eventual winners 2-1, thanks to goals from Zak Baig and Olajuwon David .Next up were Gillespie, which turned out to be a really topsy turvy affair. We went ahead through Jordan McNally, but Gillespie equalised. Stephane Mgbada gave Ashmount the lead, but Gillespie to their credit fought back to equalise and earn themselves a point as the game ended 2-2.The final group game was against Drayton Park and to finish top not only did we need to win but also win handsomely. Well mission was accomplished as we blasted 8 past our opponents with an 8-1 victory. The win was all about Jordan and Stephane who shared 7 goals between them, with Daniel Devlin chipping in with one.

The result meant we finished top of the group and a place in the last 16. Here we were pitted against St Mary Magdalene Academy. We started off brightly and peppered the SMMA goal but could not find the net. Finally we went ahead when Stephane scored but the game was in the balance at 1-0. Despite our domination the second goal would just not come. We survived a couple hairy moments but Jordan sealed the win with a late goal and place in the final 8.This paired up against hot favourites St Joan of Arc, who contained two players on the books at Chelsea FC and West Ham FC.

We got off to the worst possible start as from the kick off conceded, and then minutes later went another goal behind. It was going to be a tall order to come back into the game, but to the children’s credit they showed great determination and spirit. Stephane gave us hope as he clawed one back, and then for the last four minutes we laid siege on our opponents goal, hitting the crossbar, post and being denied by some fantastic goalkeeping. It was all in vain as we ran out of time and victory was SJOA’s who went on to demolish Laycock Primary in the semi 7-0 and then defeated Canonbury Primary 3-0 in the final to be crowned champions.

Disappointing end but the squad performed excellently and were a fantastic credit to the school.

Squad :- Hannah Croy, Duah Ahmed, Lucy Turner, Olajuwon David, Daniel Devlin, Zak Baig, Jordan McNally and Stephane Mgbada.