Station

Football

First XI

Results 1996-97

P24

W7

D7

L10

F47

A48

Although the results were less impressive than the previous two seasons this year's team was by no means a poor side. With the very dry summer a number of injuries were sustained during the early part of the season and it wasn't until after Exeat that the side became more settled. There was an encouraging start to the Play Term with good wins over Winchester and Kimbolton. The result against another battling Eton side was a big disappointment as the defeat was entirely due to two unforced errors and thus of our own making. On balance we played the more entertaining football making the final result even harder to bear. The first round of the cup brought us face to face with a strong, robust and direct Lancing side. They scored first before a stunning individual goal by Alan Jones brought us level. In the second half we competed well until the superior strength of the opposition began to tell. The Lancing pressure was rewarded with two goals in relatively quick time and our cup season was over. Lancing went on to reach the final and win the cup.

The post Exeat phase of the Play Term began with a welcome, if scrappy, away win gainst a poorish Highgate side and then came a four game period of intense frustration. A run of three losses and one draw in no way reflected the team's overall ability at a crucial stage of the season. Games were lost by the odd goal and games which should genuinely have been won were drawn - notably against Chigwell. Again tragic errors revealed that soft under-belly which more than occasionally afflicts Westminster sport. We walked off pitches knowing we should have won or at least avoided defeat but failed to find any immediate comfort. We knew it was down to us! The only time we were genuinely outplayed against school opposition all season was against a well organised and skilful Ardingly side. We competed aggressively in the early stages and scored first. With 25 minutes to go it was still 1-1 before waves of attacks realised four goals. The conclusion of the Play Term left us feeling d isappointed because we knew we hadn't quite done ourselves justice.

The Lent Term began with a heavy defeat against a strong Casuals side where I was concerned that not much good would come from such a thrashing by experienced ex pros and semi pros. To our credit we played our hearts out and learnt a little about how 'proper' football should be played. Some individals learnt from this sobering experience and went on to demolish Sevenoaks in the following game. Over the next few games a pattern began to establish itself of our playing teams off the park, scoring two or three goals and then gifting sides a draw which they gratefully accepted, returning home with smiles on their faces. This was mainly due to a lack of concentration rather than a lack of self-belief. A 7-1 victory over a hitherto unbeaten Canterbury side, two good victories over Bedford (4-0) and Oratory (2-0), a dreary 1-1 draw against Harrow and a disappointing 2-3 defeat against John Lyon brought the term to a close.

Rupert Coltart and James Taylor were both put forward for an ISFA U19 South trial and I would like to thank them both for their hard work throughout the season. A special mention should be given to Jon Korgaonkar for his exceptional goal scoring record of 25 goals in 24 games. Thanks must go to Roland Butcher, Simon Craft, Maurice Lynn, Richard Bryant, Jonathan Strong, Jim Kershen, Martin Robinson, David Hargreaves, David Cook and Valance Similien for all their efforts during a long and testing season, and to the parents who come and support us. More of this, please. Finally, let me give special thanks to Ian Monk for his tireless work and unselfish support of the football club. As part of our pre-seasonal preparations for next term we will be taking a party of fourteen players and three staff on a short trip to Munster in Germany.

The Players (goals scored in brackets):

Rupert Coltart (captain)

Started in goal before a loss of confidence moved him out field. During the course of the remaining season he developed into an accomplished central defender. Good pace and skill.

Branco Obradovic (1)

Utility player. Fast and strong on the ball with good dribbling skills. His first touch occasionally let him down but he proved to be a valuable member of the team.

Roland Curtis

Came into the side midway through the season and took time to settle into the role of centre-half. However, he developed enormously in the last three weeks of the season and became one of the most dominant players.

George Last (1)

Made the left back position his own throughout the season. He had a good left foot and a good positional sense. Good level of skill but no frills and an excellent attitude.

James Taylor (1)

Talented player. Strong on the ball and technically very proficient. His natural athleticism allowed him to cover large areas of the field and often dominate play. His play making also improved as the season progressed.

Danny Becker (1)

Good passer with vision and skill. He suffered from injury problems early on but fought back to become an influential member of the side. Disappointed not to have scored more goals.

Jonny Korgaonkar (25)

Very talented player and a handful for many schoolboy defenders. Good pace and a natural goal scorer. He had the odd quiet game but his work especially towards the end was excellent. He will be a key player in next year's campaign.

Alex Cochrane (12)

Played off Jonny and became most dangerous in and around the box. Stunning footwork and genuine goal scorer. He responded well to the physical challenge but still needs to be more dynamic in attack.

Theo Hildebrand (1)

Quick and aggressive, he worked tirelessly and unselfishly. Despite being played out of position he showed good skill and an eye for goal. Needs to develop a little more composure in certain situations but as a newly promoted U16 recruit he showed real potential.

Max Hildebrand

Took over in goal just before Christmas and proved himself to be a good shot stopper. In the second term he had very little to do for long periods and perhaps became rusty. With some work on technical aspects of his game he will develop into a competent keeper.

Kerry Karageorgis

Showed some good touches on the ball and looked an accomplished player. He obviously enjoyed his football but found a full game hard work. Fitness was a problem but he kept his place on merit.

Tom Webber

Tom began the season looking like our best player showing, as a defender, good pace and excellent covering skills. A dramatic loss of form due to illness forced him out for some of the Play Term and all of the Lent Term. I hope he comes back refreshed next year.

Jeremy Kemball

Under 16 Football

On the positive side, several players developed considerably over the two terms. Ian Warren had two or three excellent games in goal, Olly Bennett-Coles did an admirable job sweeping behind the defence, and Chike M'Bamali and Michael Garnett were outstanding at the back. George Chichester, Jamie Graham and Ben Warner also produced many fine performances in defence.

In midfield, Michael Walls was somewhat mercurial but has the makings of a fine player, while Tristan Vanhegan, Elias Frangos and Philip Pongratz worked tirelessly, although Philip's finishing did leave a little to be desired on occasion. However, he made up for this by being, alongside M'Bamali and Garnett, our most consistent player.

Up front, Federico Ruiz did a good job for us as a lone striker, and scored one or two very good goals.

Overall, the team, and indeed the squad, worked hard without achieving the results that they often deserved.

Simon Craft

Under 15 Football

Only five games were lost over the two terms and only two of these defeats were by more than the odd goal in a tight game.

There were several highlights to remember in the Christmas term. Winchester were outplayed in a stylish opening victory (4-0); a strong Highgate team were beaten 5-3, largely thanks to a Kirk hat trick; two of the circuit's strongest sides, Chigwell and Ardingly, were both held to 3-3 draws in games that we might well have won; and perhaps the most pleasing result of all was the tremendous 3-2 victory over a previously unbeaten Charterhouse side, and all the more so for the barracking the referee was receiving from the visiting supporters - memorable!

A combination of loss of form in one or two key areas, a dearth of goals, fatigue at the end of a long season and unsuccessful tampering with the system by the coach meant that the team never quite reached these heights again after Christmas.

However, it speaks volumes for the resolve and spirit of the side that they raised themselves, bereft of their captain, from their tame submission at Bedford (the season's worst performance) and the barrage of bouncing bombs at Harrow, to match a physical John Lyon side in a splendid 2-2 draw to end the season. Karageorgis's stunning brace also made this a day to savour!

The team contains some talented individuals; Phillips, in goal, is a good shot-stopper but, as yet, is too prone to alarming lapses of concentration and he will face stiff competition from the ever improving Bell next season.

In an admirable defence Choo was perhaps the outstanding performer and he put in some towering displays as sweeper. He was ably supported in the middle by the similarly stout and whole-hearted Karageorgis and by Howard, who did much unnoticed yet invaluable work as a marker and tenacious tackler. The unfortunate Mouracadeh was somewhat hampered by injury, but he proved himself to be reliable and consistent in the latter part of the season. Lahiri was probably the find of the season and the most improved player in the side.

In terms of ability the midfield had few rivals on the circuit, but they can be muscled out of games by stronger or more aggressive opposition. The captain, Cowper-Smith, was impressive throughout and he often illuminated games with his skill. His superb, individual goal to win the game at Bradfield will remain the highlight of this and many other seasons. But his finishing and his tackling require improvement. Kirk had an excellent season - he scored some tremendous goals and created many more; like his captain, however, he needs to learn to confront stronger opponents with more conviction and aggression. Makhoul was hugely impressive - quick, strong and fully committed at all times, he adapted extremely well to his new role and scored some vital goals. Alamouti will be a vital player next year and his indefatigable performances suggest that he is ready to take on the responsibility.

... which leaves Caporali, unstoppable before Christmas as he terrorised defences with his pace and scored buckets of goals, yet sadly debilitated thereafter by a cruel illness. I hope he makes a full recovery.

Praise also to Doeh, in particular, but also to Stevens, Obradovic, Ebied and Nikbin for deputising at various times with considerable willingness and success. And many thanks too to Jon Strong for his unstinting support throughout.

Richard Bryant

Under 14 Football

Nevertheless, the U14s then showed no little character and resilience to bounce back in a hard-fought match against a strong, undefeated Chigwell side. An early goal sent the confidence flooding back into the Westminster side, and they proceeded to play some excellent football only to give away a couple of 'soft' goals which ultimately led to a narrow 4-3 defeat.

Alas, the team was not able to continue this form and there followed convincing defeats against Aldenham and Ardingly schools. However, the nadir of the season came against a very strong Charterhouse side who overwhelmed us at home by 13-1. This was a difficult result to take for players, parents and coach alike, sending us into the Christmas break with heads hanging low.

Lent Term brought undoubted improvement in the overall play of the U14 side, and they were very unfortunate to lose out by the odd late goal in several games. Nothing typified this more than the game against a strong and aggressive John Lyon team. Having grabbed an early goal against the run of play, the Westminster side defended heroically until the last couple of minutes only to concede an equaliser, and then manage to lose the game in injury time. However, there was one particular bright spot in the shape of a fine 2-1 victory away to the Oratory, thanks to goals from Gadani and a long-range free kick from Reilly.

As can be seen, the team did struggle over the course of the year, but, undoubtedly there were signs that this side could develop into a successful one in the next few years as long as they keep practising and playing with the great enthusiasm they exhibited this season. Particular praise must go to Santiago Lago in goal who showed real potential to become a quality goalkeeper during his School career. He showed good all-round ability between the posts, consistently performing heroics in a losing cause. Similarly, Edward Roy and Fabian Joseph turned in numerous solid performances throughout the season, but were often not given the support that their efforts deserved. Promise was also shown by James Jones who showed the ability to dominate a game when he was not injured. Edar Mullan, similarly suffered with injury, but still showed glimpses of good skill to go with his undoubted athleticism in defence. Leo Shapland also showed glimpses of real skill and speed, but was hampered by little or no service from his team-mates, as was also the case with Alexander Malamatinas. Equally Ed Reilly showed a good understanding of the game along with no little skill, but he was slightly short of pace and too easily frustrated by being on the losing side. Good contributions were also made over the year by Jamie Coggans, Philip Sanguinetti, Jason Lowe, David Stranger Jones and Ricky Gadani.

In conclusion, it must be said that the side's results were disappointing, but there were undoubted signs of improvement, particularly in the Lent Term, which point to greater success in the future. I would like to thank all the U14 squad for their efforts and enthusiasm throughout the season, and say what a pleasure it was to work with them. I would stress to them that they should not be disheartened by their lack of victories, and that if they maintain their enthusiasm and keep working to improve then they will soon have a winning record. I wish them all every success with their football careers at Westminster.

James Kershen