Herefordshire Schools Football Association

Herefordshire Schools U15 - Match Report

Herefordshire Schools U15 v Plymouth and District Schools U15’s in the Fourth Round of the ESFA Inter Association Playstation

Result:           Herefordshire Schools     2          Plymouth Schools 1

The Herefordshire U15’s football team put in a magnificent performance to beat a very talented Plymouth side at Leominster FC under floodlights on a cold but crisp evening on Wednesday 3rd December.  Herefordshire made a positive start and were rewarded with a goal after five minutes when leading scorer James Hancocks (Bishops) put the home side ahead. 

Plymouth’s fluid and accurate passing started to cause problems for the home team and the visitors deservedly equalised with a fine shot half way through the first half.  Plymouth were totally dominant for the rest of the half and Herefordshire were put under constant pressure.  The defence was superb with Captain Fred Newton (LHS) and Josh Peace (Wigmore) heroically keeping the visitors out.  First half goal-keeper George Tindale (Hereford Academy) made one particularly fine save and Herefordshire managed to get to half-time with the scores level. 

Herefordshire came out in the second half and started to show their qualities.  Ollie Smith (Bishops) was lively in mid-field and play was end to end.  Herefordshire had three corners in quick succession, nearly scoring from the second before Greg Preece (Kingstone) beat his marker to score an excellent goal at the near post. 

Plymouth responded and once again Herefordshire were forced on to the defensive.  The defence stood firm and the second half goal-keeper Liam Griffiths handled securely and made one superb save. 

This was an outstanding game of football and both teams deserve credit for the quality of football they played.  The reward for Herefordshire is a quarter final place where they will play the Vale of Whitehorse, away, the fixture to be played by the 17th January 2015. 

Chairman of the Herefordshire Schools FA Richard Wydenbach said “I have been involved with the County Schools FA for over forty years and this was one of the best displays I have seen from a Herefordshire side.  We have reached the quarter finals before and so if we could get through the next round this team would deservedly make history”.