For the second week in a row, we spent last Friday at Tooting and Mitcham FC. This time for the Girl’s Football Borough Championships. The group stages were played in frost and light snow, which then cleared to allow glorious sunshine for the knockout rounds.
The 19 schools were split into 4 groups with the top 2 from each group making it through to the knockout rounds after lunch. Despite some excellent football being played, Wimbledon Park, St. Peter & Paul, Poplar, Haslemere, Morden, Malmesbury, St. Thomas OC, West Wimbledon, Bond and Wimbledon Chase were elimnated at the group stages. We had the unprecedented situation of Hatfeild and Holy Trinity being level on points, goal difference, goals scored, goals conceded and having played out a 0-0 draw in their match. A penalty shootout was used to decide who would go through and it was to be Holy Trinity who would progress.
The girls had to raise their level again for the quarter-finals. After some tight games and unfortunately a couple of penalty shootouts, Abbotsbury, Holy Trinity, Pelham and St. Teresa’s were knocked out.
This left Bishop Gilpin, St. John Fisher, Hollymount and Aragon as our semi-finalists. St. John Fisher and Aragon were eliminated in 2 close semi-finals. Aragon would go on to win the Bronze Medal match so congratulations to them.
The final between Bishop Gilpin and Hollymount was a tense match with very few chances. Both teams were extremely well organised and it was clear that the first goal in this match would be decisive. Hollymount won a free kick around 15 yards from goal. A strong shot deflected off the goalkeeper and the post before hitting the back of the net. Despite Bishop Gilpin throwing more players forward, Hollymount held on to win the tournament without conceding a goal.
Well done to Hollymount Primary, our Borough champions for the second year in a row and West Wimbledon who were voted our refspect winners!