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On a cool December evening, Shrewsbury School met the newcomers to the league, Sunbelt Asia. The suspension of Aidan Hamill after a brainless challenge last week meant that Sunbelt Asia could afford a start to Anders Schmidt. Shrewsbury on the other hand, were chancing their arm with a youthful side containing a sprinkling of ‘older heads’. The three 15 year olds for Shrewsbury shone, often out-muscling Sunbelt’s players, demonstrating more class and guile and passion to win first balls, second balls and any others that may have been passing by!
A couple of good chances presented themselves to Schmidt for Sunbelt early on, but his finishing was not at the level expected of a seasoned veteran. Shrewsbury capitalised after 23 minutes with Hughes, who was outstanding throughout, laying a ball into the path of the marauding Ovens, who drilled his shot low into the far side netting. Nine minutes later an angled ball caught the Sunbelt defence sleeping and Pipe took a couple of touches before piledriving the ball into the top corner from 18 yards past the stranded keeper.
The second half began with a period of pressure from Sunbelt. Unfortunately for them they were unable to get past a magnificent Shrewsbury back line and resorted to long range shots from all angles. Frustrations grew for Sunbelt as Shrewsbury’s superior fitness and mental strength saw them stroke the ball around with consummate ease. It was after a period of good passing that Schmidt from Sunbelt decided he’d prefer to play for Shrewsbury by playing a lovely ball straight to Shrewsbury’s centre forward, Hughes, who then beat the last man before curling the ball past the keeper to make it 3-0.
With the minutes passing it looked as though 3-0 would be the final score, as Sunbelt were bereft of ideas in the final third, and argued with each other incessantly. A loose ball from Shrewsbury allowed the Sunbelt winger to head towards the box, and under minimal contact went down to give Sunbelt a penalty. Schmidt stepped up, and having not scored a penalty since 1974, he managed to find the back of the net with a bobbly, scuffed effort.
It was then that Shrewsbury decided to turn on the style, and with the whizzkids running rings around their opposition, Beaurepaire (making his final appearance for the club before his big money January transfer to New Zealand) rolled a ball into the path of Hughes. ‘The Whale’ as he is affectionately known, didn’t hesitate, pulling the trigger from fully 35 yards, screaming BOOM as it left his boot. The keeper just had to admire the strike as it sailed over his head, still rising as it struck the roof of the net. 4-1 it ended, Shrewsbury sublime, Sunbelt sundried.
Man of the Match: No such thing, it’s a team game, everyone was brilliant. Holloway edged it though.
Neil Hannard |
