By Jenny Lingham-Doe
Footballers at St Anthony’s Primary School were crowned title-winners in the Fareham School Cup for the first time.
Having beaten last year’s winners Sarisbury Junior School in the final and triumphing over the other teams in the earlier rounds of the cup, St Anthony’s can celebrate with their first ever win of the Fareham School competition.
St Anthony’s took on their rivals and last year’s winners Sarisbury Junior School once again but this year were the victorious team.
The coaches at the school in Primate Road, Titchfield Common were quietly confident however in the qualities of the team and felt that this could finally be the year that St Anthony’s would win the Cup
A crowd of parents and friends watched the game played at Portchester Community School.
St Anthony’s started with great energy and attacked with determination, probing for the early lead that helped to their settle nerves. St Anthony’s defended resolutely and skillfully with Toby Stubbs, Michael Robertson and Rob Younger in goal overpowering the opposition and allowing the team to continue to set the tempo of the match.
St Anthony’s launched a number of outstanding incisive runs from their flying wingers Lucas Datson and Dan Bonavia which started to cause problems to their opponents. Mia Gardner patrolled with discipline in midfield denying space to the opposition and enabling the final ball to be delivered to Tom Wallis who was a constant menace for Sarisbury in the penalty box.
St Anthony’s were riding high on confidence. Sarisbury were however worthy opponents and the game was balanced until the second half when Dan Bonavia scored for St Anthony’s.
St Anthony’s sensed that this was their moment with Tom Wallis in scoring form plundering a further three goals. In the meantime Seb Dahlen and Will Ashley continued to deny Sarisbury who kept on attacking, forcing Rob Younger to perform some reflex saves. Alex Dunbar scored St Anthony’s final goal before Sarisbury scored a goal back in the last few minutes of the match.
“It was a superb performance by a team of very talented players endowed with great team spirit. The cup win, the first ever for St Anthony’s, was a fitting prize for a group of great characters” David Bonavia, the coach of St Anthony’s.