What a game, what a victory.. we are the Champiooooooooooooons….. Congratulations to our Year 8 boys football team for their amazing winning streak, in this year’s U13 FA Essex Cup..  Making our school, their families and friends proud of their achievement.. The full match report of the cup final follows as it happened. Source: www.EssexFA.com Sydney Russell 4-3 St Martin’s (after extra time), Wednesday 13th May 2015, Kick-Off 3:00pm, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Stadium, Essex County Schools FA Chairman’s Under 13s Trophy Final. Click here to listen to the post-match interview with Sydney Russell School’s Tom Clark. Sydney Russell School Coach Tom Clark paid tribute to “a real team effort” from his squad as they prevailed in a thrilling Under 13s Chairman’s Trophy Final to win 4-3 after extra time against St Martin’s School from Brentwood. Clark, part of a Management Team which also includes colleague Adam Guzda, helped to lead the Dagenham-based school to one of what could prove to be four trophies this season. Bradley McClenangham netted twice in an entertaining counter which wasn’t settled until two minutes from the end of extra time at Dagenham & Redbridge FC. Reflecting on a gripping finale in which both teams were in front at various stages, Clark reacted: “We’ve got good players in there and on days like today, in your finals, you’re looking for your best players to really produce, so it’s really pleasing. It wasn’t just the players who got the goals and the assists – it was a real team effort.” “Since I’ve been at the school we’ve been getting into more and more finals. Over the next two weeks we’ve got four finals – three Borough Cups and this Essex one – so we’re looking strong in all year groups now. As a school we’re looking to really develop football and hopefully follow-up today’s success with plenty more.” “I’ve been here five years now and we’ve never won an Essex competition so to come back with a football Essex Cup is really, really pleasing. Credit to Adam and all that he’s done for the team this year. They’re all good boys. We try and instil a real determination and resilience in our kids, even when they’re behind. They played really well still and we kept really pushing for that equaliser. Eventually we were lucky enough to get the win.” Sydney Russell enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges, Sebastian Towse finding himself through on goal only to be denied by a good save from St Martin’s goalkeeper Cameron Tredgett, and Ayobami Tanimowo pulled a shot just wide of the post moments later. However, it was St Martin’s who grabbed the lead on 27 minutes as Owen Bessey was through on goal and he finished a strong run with a fine shot into the bottom corner. The lead could’ve been doubled when Henry Fuller fired into the gloves of Sydney Russell ‘keeper Aden Louis Oldrey from a tight angle and, on the stroke of half time, Fuller came agonisingly close to connecting with Alfie Mahoney’s cross at the far post. Sydney Russell quickly fought back after the break. Towse’s close-range shot was held by Tredgett before the tie was levelled on 48 minutes as Tanimowo’s neat footwork saw him progress to the edge of the penalty area, from where his rasping drive cannoned back off the crossbar. The rebound fell into the path of McClenangham, who angled a header over Tredgett and into the net. With the tie really opening up, St Martin’s were ahead again on 57 minutes when a deep free kick searched out James Earthy, who controlled and drilled into the bottom corner. It was quickly all-square again on the hour as the same duo who combined for the first Sydney Russell goal were at it again, Tanimowo crossing for McClenangham to stroke in at the far post. A good stop from Sydney Russell custodian Oldrey then kept out Bessey and Sydney’s Dino Aziz fired a 20-yard free kick just over the top as the game finished all-square. This was followed by an explosive start to extra time which saw Sydney Russell edge ahead within three minutes. Carlos Sanha Conduto twisted and turned before firing into the corner. But parity was soon restored once more. Sam Park’s low, deflected free kick wrongfooted Oldrey and nestled in the corner. St Martin’s looked to go on and grab the win as Park crashed a half-volley just wide before flicking a header inches wide of the post. But, with just two minutes remaining, Sydney Russell grabbed the trophy courtesy of another Tanimiowo assist. His corner was firmly nodded in by Dappy Okinabaloye. Joint-Manager Guzda concluded: “It’s been really hard here for us as we had a few serious injuries during the season, but luckily we got a team together who have done the job. We’ve done what we were meant to do and I’m really proud of the boys. They’ve worked really hard for the whole season and today they showed their heart as a team.” “The first thing I said in the changing room was that we need to play from the first whistle until the last one – we don’t stop because a goal can happen in one second when the ball crosses the goal. I think they kept that in their hearts.” Sydney Russell: Aden Louis Oldrey, Bradley McClenangham, Dino Aziz, Sebastian Towse, Carlos Sanha Conduto, Ayobami Tanimowo, Ore Pelumi, Valckx Fernandes, Brian Mbanza, Robert Byrne, Billy West, Kajus Leonas, Daniel Adarkwah, Jack Smith, Dappy Okinabaloye, Alfie Atkins. St Martin’s: Cameron Tredgett, Oliver Horne, Alfie Fleming, Matthew Pounder, Ben Clark, Sam Park, Henry Fuller, Harvey Schafer, Alfie Mahoney, Owen Bessey, James Earthy, George Larner, Kyle Pounds, Ethan Jones, Bihan Le Faulcher, Seb Webster, Stephen Fernandez. Referee: Thomas Brooks (Dagenham). Assistant Referees: Shaun Gordon (Romford) and Charlie Grimme-Yexley (Romford). Source: www.EssexFA.com