Heath Retain ESPSFA Cup!

The final trophy of the season was on offer at Yardley 5's on Thursday afternoon with eight schools competing for the ESPSFA Cup and just like last year, it was Short Heath who left with the silverware.

The tournament was run on a league basis with everyone playing each other and in the 28 matches completed, no fewer than 123 goals were plundered at an average of over four per game. It was a spectacular occasion with every single child playing their heart out for their school.

Cup holders Short Heath opened up against old foes, Paget and the pair couldn't be separated, sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw. In another titanic first game tussle, Lyndon Green edged out Abbey in a thriller, 3-2. The second round of games saw a pattern emerging as those four-mentioned schools all won so it looked early on like a four-horse race.

Paget then won an epic encounter with Lyndon Green, 5-3, whilst Short Heath and Abbey cruised to wins over St Bernadette's and Rosary respectively.

Round four saw Short Heath flex their muscles with a 3-1 victory versus Lyndon Green and they were helped by Rosary's goalkeeper denying Paget a win with a series of outstanding saves - Rosary nicked a point, 1-1.

Round five saw the leading pack all win comfortably again but in round six, another battling Rosary display nullified Lyndon Green in the tournament's only 0-0 draw. Meanwhile, Short Heath, Paget and Abbey all took three points from their penultimate fixtures.

And so to the final round of games - a win for Short Heath would secure the cup and keep it at their Streetly Road home, whilst Paget had to hope Heath lost and they defeated Heathlands. The Heathens though ensured the cup would be staying in their hands with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Abbey and despite Paget netting eleven times it just wasn't enough to deny Short Heath.

So, another wonderful ESPSFA season has drawn to a close, almost 500 children will have participated across the various leagues and tournaments, a great testament to a great league!