Monmouth School 1st XI football team recorded an emphatic 5 – 0 win against Marlborough College on Saturday 19th March. In front of a large and vocal home support the boys played with quality and composure and their exciting, passing style of football proved too much for the opposition to handle. The result was the ‘best ever’ against Marlborough.
Full Week’s Report from the Captain of the 1st XI:
Monmouth School continued the football season with another fantastic set of results this weekend against Marlborough College.
The under 14 A’s won their match 2-0 with another confident performance, full of attacking flair and held together with some solid defence.
The Under 15 A’s won by a greater margin, beating their opponents 6-0, with two goals by Rory. The midfield was particularly impressive in controlling the pace and rhythm of the game, enabling the goal scorers to run amock.
The under 16 B team created their own 100% winning season by securing a victory in their only match of the season this weekend.
Similarly, the A team redeemed their narrow loss against Gwent County with a victory this weekend. Having conceding the first goal of the game, Monmouth replied with a goal each from Will and Hamad to finish the game 2-1 winners.
Being the only senior team away from home, the 3rd team drew 1-1 at Marlborough College.
The second eleven drew 3-3, thus maintaining their unbeaten season. A harsh penalty given against Max gave Marlborough an early lead, but within 5 minutes Monmouth had equalized with a penalty of their own, scored by Ian. Monmouth then went 2-1 ahead with Will finishing off some well-worked build up play, before Marlborough equalized. Ben Lander converted a 35-yard free kick by lobbing the keeper, making the score 3-2 with a few minutes to go. However another very controversial penalty conceded by Max allowed Marlborough secure the draw, 3 goals each.
On Wednesday, the first team suffered their first defeat of the season in closely fought match against a very strong King’s Worcester side. In the most competitive match of the season, both teams worked extremely hard in attack and defence on a wet and muddy surface. Despite the first goal being scored by Worcester, Alex and Joe scored in quick succession putting us 1 goal ahead. However, a number of free kicks given away deep inside our own half gave Worcester multiple opportunities to score, and they eventually headed a goal to tie the score towards the end of the second half. With just a few minutes left on the clock, Worcester countered when we lost position during our last attack and they scored to deservedly win the game 3-2.
Saturday’s game against Marlborough College proved to be our best performance of the season, with the whole team playing exceptionally well. Monmouth dominated both halves, keeping a clean sheet and scoring 5 goals at the other end, with Alex netting two of his own.
With just one match to play, against Millfield School away from home next Saturday, the First XI are ranked 21st in the UK, so with another win next week we hope to finish in the top 20 which will be a fine achievement and a reflection of the growing strength of football at Monmouth School.
