Five-Star Paget Take Trophy Crown!
By Joe Perkins
Unbeaten Paget capture first trophy of season; Short Heath plunder goals but miss out on silverware.
A wintery chill greeted the six teams competing for the ESPSFA Trophy at Yardley 5's on Wednesday evening but there was no shortage of goals, thrilling games and high-octane football to warm the cockles.
Each school played each other in a league format and St Thomas More were looking to defend the Trophy they gallantly won this time last year.
The holders opened up against Short Heath but lost out by two goals to one in a terrific tussle. Paget began their night with a 3-0 win over Hillstone whilst Timberley and Highfield probably produced the game of the night when they shared eight goals in a 4-4 draw.
Next up saw Short Heath take on Paget and, unbeknownst at that point this would turn out to be the pivotal game of the tournament. It was a pulsating fixture with both sides going hammer and tongue but after ten exhilarating minutes, Paget narrowly emerged victorious, 3-2. Tommy More's kept their hopes of retaining the trophy alive with a 3-2 win over Highfield whilst Timberley remained unbeaten having seen off Hillstone, 4-1.
Paget and Heath both won their next games by scoring four times each, the P's 4-0 win against STM extinguished the holder's chances.
Then, in the penultimate round of games, Short Heath netted seven times against Highfield and Paget won the evening's second eight-goal thriller, 5-3 over Timberley.
Going into the last set of fixtures, a draw would have been enough for Paget to take home the Trophy but they sauntered to a 6-0 victory against a tired Highfield side to secure the Trophy they last won two years ago. Short Heath on the other hand had to settle for runners-up and were left to rue that late defeat to Paget as they finished with a better goal difference then the P's.
Each school played each other in a league format and St Thomas More were looking to defend the Trophy they gallantly won this time last year.
The holders opened up against Short Heath but lost out by two goals to one in a terrific tussle. Paget began their night with a 3-0 win over Hillstone whilst Timberley and Highfield probably produced the game of the night when they shared eight goals in a 4-4 draw.
Next up saw Short Heath take on Paget and, unbeknownst at that point this would turn out to be the pivotal game of the tournament. It was a pulsating fixture with both sides going hammer and tongue but after ten exhilarating minutes, Paget narrowly emerged victorious, 3-2. Tommy More's kept their hopes of retaining the trophy alive with a 3-2 win over Highfield whilst Timberley remained unbeaten having seen off Hillstone, 4-1.
Paget and Heath both won their next games by scoring four times each, the P's 4-0 win against STM extinguished the holder's chances.
Then, in the penultimate round of games, Short Heath netted seven times against Highfield and Paget won the evening's second eight-goal thriller, 5-3 over Timberley.
Going into the last set of fixtures, a draw would have been enough for Paget to take home the Trophy but they sauntered to a 6-0 victory against a tired Highfield side to secure the Trophy they last won two years ago. Short Heath on the other hand had to settle for runners-up and were left to rue that late defeat to Paget as they finished with a better goal difference then the P's.
Where next?
Timbers' Girls Lead Way!
Timberley, Short Heath and Paget set standard on girls league opening night.
Erdington and Saltley Primary Schools Football League newsletter
Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.
Subscribe
