What a match we witnessed today in the second round of the National Schools’ Cup, where our Year 7 football team triumphed over RR Central Academy with a hard-fought 2-1 victory!
From the outset, Central fielded a formidable side, striking first within 10 minutes, leaving the WHS boys momentarily scrambling for control. But credit to them—the early setback seemed to light a fire in the team. They responded brilliantly, particularly through the dynamic wing play of Jaxon Etheridge and Oscar Black, who really started to stretch the Central defence.
In midfield, Rory Williamson, Archie Dodd, Niall Houghton and Thomas Jackson were exceptional, dominating the battle and putting in some crucial tackles to reclaim possession. The WHS attack faced a tough challenge against Central’s resilient back four, who cleared their lines at every opportunity. However, persistence was key. After a well-executed corner from Jaxon, Rory rose above everyone to head home the equaliser—an absolute cracker!
The second half was an intense affair, with tactical substitutions keeping the momentum going. William Howard continued to press, yet they continued to face an unwavering Central defence. William Howard’s defence marshalled brilliantly by Will Brown and Dan Cameron held firm under some strong pressure. It was an anxious moment or two for the back line when Central launched long balls though, but Ollie Martin was alert, making a fantastic block to deny them a clear chance.
As the game wore on, the midfield players of Rory Williamson, Niall Houghton and Charlie Parkin effectively frustrated Central’s attempts to counter, while the team as a whole maintained excellent shape. The breakthrough finally came through a beautifully weighted pass from Danyal Nasif, finding Oscar Black on the right. With a deft touch, Oscar powered into the box, holding off a defender, and calmly slotted the ball past the keeper to put his side ahead 2-1.
The closing minutes were tense, but the WHS boys held their nerve, reinforcing their midfield and defensive lines to secure the win.
What a display of teamwork and resilience! Every player supported one another throughout the match, exemplifying true camaraderie. Hats off to the whole team for a fantastic performance against a tough opponent—this victory is well-deserved!