For some it was their first time away from home, but it was certainly the boys’ first experience of living life as a professional sports person. With 6 games in 6 days the boys had a monitored diet, were responsible for organising kit and equipment, attended regular team meetings and even used the ice bath! Their excellent ability to be able to cope with such demands showed in their performances as they were widely regarded as the best footballing side on the island. With just 1 loss out of 12 games for both sides, the region can feel proud of the under 11s achievements at the national festival.

 

Coach Tim Kirk, “We always participate in a tour of some kind at the end of the season and we have been fortunate in that over the past 5 years the boys have done a fantastic job of representing Bath and Wiltshire. This year has been no different as the boys showed a maturity beyond their years in terms of the way they performed on the pitch, and the way they conducted themselves around the island.  I have had so many compliments from the hotel staff, the festival organisors and watching representatives from professional football clubs; they are a real credit to their schools and their families.”

 

With just 1 game left before the players’ district experience ends and they go back to their schools and clubs, the gruelling trial process for next season’s squad will soon begin.

 

Bath & West Wilts started their annual visit to Jersey with a relatively gentle start against Chiltern. With Bath being represented by two sides at the festival, the first to play was the blue team which came out of the traps really quickly. The high tempo that had been evident throughout the season transferred well to the lush pitches of the F B Fields at St Helier.

Ryan F opened the scoring following some crisp inter-passing. Chiltern were game throughout but soon the quality of Bath’s play began to tell and despite the bitter wind and hailstorms the game was played mainly in the Chiltern half. Bath turned round 3 – 0 up following goals from Jacob S and Max O L. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Bath dominant in all departments. Further goals came at regular intervals from Jacob S, Charlie W and an own goal after a fantastic cross across the 6 yard box from Ryan F.

A promising start from the Bath and West Wilts squad  

 

Bath Yellow followed the Blues into action with a fixture against old rivals Newbury. Having watched the Blues in the earlier match play with a high tempo the Yellows played in a similar fashion. Dan D opened the scoring latching on to an inviting through ball from Zak V. With the back four playing solidly, Newbury struggled to get a foothold in the game and it was no surprise when Sam SJ scored just before half time when a fantastic long range effort crashed against the cross bar and Sam was opn hand to finish the job. 

The inclement weather continued to the point that even head coach Tim K found it too difficult to bark out any orders as he had disappeared into the changing rooms to get a towel to wrap round himself.

Bath played some nice passing football in the second half and the scoring was completed by Dan D who scored a very well deserved hat-trick.

It was a good solid start to the festival from the Bath squad, but undoubtedly harder games are to follow, particularly the following day against a couple of the usually combative London teams.

 

Bath & West Wilts faced their sternest test yet against a powerful Barking side. Although the Bath boys started well by dominating possession, there were no clear cut chances and it allowed Barking to slowly get into the game.  However, Dan D was a constant threat going forward and he scored a well-deserved goal to put Bath ahead. 

Barking then equalised soon after as nerves seemed to get the better of some of the Bath & West Wilts players. Charlie W and Paul W had to leave the field owing to injury and gaps began to appear in the Bath defence.

Barking should have taken the lead in the second half on three occasions, but the cross bar and keeper Callum H denied them to keep the scores level. This allowed Bath time to pull themselves together and it was Dan D who once again threatened with his pace to break the deadlock. The Barking keeper saved well on one occasion when Dan only had the keeper to beat, and on another Hayden C lashed the ball wide from inside the 18 yard box. Then, in the last minute captain Max O L stepped up to drive a powerful free kick from the far left of the 18 yard box into the top right corner of the Barking goal to win the game.

 

The second game of the day involved another encounter against a tough London team. Bath has always had a good record against Hackney and the opportunity to play on the ‘Wembley’ surface at the FB playing fields meant that the yellow team were well motivated for the encounter. 

Indeed, it was Bath who took the lead when the impressive Zak Vyner scored an opportunist goal when he hit a shot from the edge of the area early and on the turn. Jacob S and Matthew M both had chances to extend the lead but the Hackney defence managed to keep the score at 1-0. 

In usual fashion, Bath played some nice football from defence but were punished for playing too many casual sideways passes when Hackney won the ball deep in the Bath half and scored to bring the scores level. Matthew M had to wait until midway through the second half in order to regain the lead for Bath & W Wilts, and the team pressed the Hackney goal further but were unable to extend their lead. As always, Hackney showed some great individual flair and athleticism and made the game difficult for Bath right until the end. 

 

Previous to the festival Thurrock had only lost 3 games and had been crowned Southern Counties Cup champions, so Bath & W. Wilts knew they were in for a tough encounter. To the manager’s joy, Bath made their best start to a game yet as their crisp passing and intelligent play made it difficult for Thurrock to gain possession. Within the first 5 minutes Dan D had a well headed goal disallowed for off side and a number of long but tame long range efforts kept Thurrock camped in their own defending third. Bath’s goal came slightly unexpectedly, however, from a long range effort from Tim O who shot from 30 yards straight at the keeper. Although the shot sailed into his hands, the ball somehow bounced out of his grasps and into the net much to the surprise and joy of the Bath players.

Not wanting to be complacent, Bath continued to drive forward and seek a second much to the agitation of the watching Thurrock fans.

Against the run of play a powerful header from a well delivered corner into the 6 yard box allowed Thurrock to bring the game level. To the credit of the Bath & W Wilts boys, they did not allow the setback to affect their play, and they continued to choose the right passes and maintain an attacking shape. Ignoring the growing pressure from the sidelines, Bath launched numerous attacks with Zak V and Dan D in inspired form. Indeed, Thurrock had no answer to their mazy and explosive runs and it was just deserves for Dan whose shot nestled its way in to the corner of the Thurrock net from the edge of the box. Sam JS could have extended the lead but his header went wide of the goal instead of into the empty net in front of him.

The game was wrapped up following good play from Dan D and Ryan F on the right hand side and Hayden C was able to open his account by placing the ball into Thurrock goal.  

 

 

Newbury began this fixture determined to get revenge for the previous 3 defeats against Bath & West Wilts. Their tackling and pressure soon told as Bath found it difficult to maintain possession and the young lads from the south west found themselves 2-0 down at half time. With some stern words from coaches Shane Kiely and Paul Naylor, Bath & West Wilts pulled the game back to 2-2 through Matt M and Ben G. However, their fight back was cut short when an injury to Jake S meant that Bath had to play the remainder of the game with 10 men.

In the end Newbury’s determination shone through and Bath were powerless to stop a goal rout towards the final whistle to give Newbury A a 6-2 victory.

 

Following yesterday’s tough encounter against Thurrock, the first Bath West Wilts team found it difficult to reproduce the energy and high tempo football the large crowd were expecting. Despite the slightly sluggish start, Bath still created the better chances and took the lead through the prolific goal scorer Dan D as he rounded the keeper and slotted into the far left hand corner. 

Newbury equalised soon after when they broke from a Bath corner and created a 2 on 1 situation with the goalkeeper much to the delight of the travelling Newbury supporters.

The players received a wake up call at half time and responded well by increasing the work rate and the tempo of the passing. Their excellent play was then rewarded with a succession of good finishes the highlight being a Jake S header following another dazzling run by Dan D on the right wing. Dan D helped himself to another whilst Max L and Matt Morris added to the tally to take the game beyond Newbury’s reach.

 

A select group of players were chosen to represent all the district sides to face Bath and west Wilshire today. Having won their previous games, Bath knew that this was to be a tough fixture. However, playing on the ‘Wembley’ surface seemed to lift the Bath & West Wilts boys as they controlled large parts of the game with some excellent quick tempo football. Despite the close score line, good close range finishes from James B and Matt M made sure that the outcome was never in doubt.

 

Bath & West Wiltshire under 11 Schools’ FA played some of their best football yet of the festival but were disappointed to come away with a draw against the hosting district side of Jersey. Long periods of possession failed to materialise into scoring opportunities but after 15 minutes a series of passes on the right hand side released Matt M who after taking a touch past his defender coolly slotted beneath the Jersey keeper to give Bath the lead. 

Jersey responded soon after with a goal of their own when a cross into the 6 yard box was missed by the Bath defence and the Jersey striker was able to slot home from close range. This did not deter Bath from playing some lovely football though as they switched the play at will and broke forward with speed. In a half where the Bath keeper touched the ball just twice, the festival’s top goal scorer Dan D tried his utmost to give Bath the lead but he was unable to convert a number of chances which came his way. Matt M, Max L and Zak V all went close but Jersey managed to hold on for the draw.

 

Bath and West Wilts met Newbury B for the fourth time in as many days and the game ended in frustration as the blues let a 2-0 lead slip in the second half.

 

Bath started well and continued the good display of passing and movement shown by the first team in the match beforehand against Jersey. Jacob S and Hayden C both went close as Bath piled forward with the reliable James B marshalling events from defence. The first goal came when Jacob S raced clear to finish well to the keeper’s right.  Despite continued pressure it was not until the second half that Bath increased their lead through Jack M whose pace behind the Newbury defence allowed him to sneak a half volley beyond the diving keeper. However, with a lapse in concentration and work rate Bath & West Wiltshire soon found themselves in trouble and Newbury B began to take control of the game. 2 goals came in quick succession towards the end of the second half resulting in both Bath and West Wilts teams finishing the day with a feeling of frustration.

 

On the final day of the festival the Bath and West Wiltshire team met Felling from Gateshead for the very first time. Keen to bounce back from their disappointing draw the day before, Bath made a bright start and passed the ball with pace and quality. On many occasions Bath were able to take advantage of the extremely high line played by the Felling defence and Zak V, Matt M and Charlie W should have put the game beyond doubt within the first 20 minutes but failed to execute the final shot in the many 1v1 chances with the goalkeeper. This lapse upfront was to be crucial. Matt M finished well to put Bath & West Wilts in the lead but Felling equalised soon after from close range and so the score remained 1-1.

The final game of the festival was the much anticipated contest between two of the best footballing sides on the island, Bath and Plymouth. Appropriately, the game was played on ‘Wembley’ and the many watching spectators were not to be disappointed with the level of skill and quality of passing from both sides. Bath made the more confident start as they pressed forward in search of the opener. Indeed, it took just 5 minutes for the pressure to result in an own goal after an attempted clearance from the Plymouth centre back ended up lobbing his own keeper. 

Good finishes from Jacob S and Daniel D made sure that the result was never in doubt but to Plymouth’s credit they continued to make life difficult for Bath & West Wiltshire with some tough tackling and persistent work rate. In the end though Plymouth rarely threatened and Bath finished the week on a high.