The second XI travelled to the Kingsweston sports complex to take on Millfield’s U16B team this week, off the back of some fine training in the week. With a slightly depleted squad, due to illness and injury, the team were upbeat, and this week being led by Oscar W. This was the third round in the Southwest Independent Schools League and the team went in unbeaten, the same as their opponents.

On a slightly uneven pitch, Sherborne started strongly, with Ollie M and Wilf T dominating the midfield and chances soon came Sherborne’s way. Harry S was very effective down the right-hand side, linking up cleverly with the tireless Christian W. Indeed, it was this combination that worked a lovely cross for James E, in the inside left position, to volley home on eleven minutes. This was an incredible finish, showing flair and technical skill. Millfield rallied and had a period of play where they began to assert themselves. Fortunately, they were enjoying falling out with each other quite a lot, enabling Sherborne to reclaim authority, both in a game and moral sense!

The champagne moment of the match arrived on 27 minutes. Wilf T, was increasingly dominant in midfield, alongside his frequently fouled Ollie M. Their link up play with Will F was highly effective and a cut back from the aforementioned Will F landed perfectly at Wilf’s feet, and he smashed in a 25 yarder that left the Millfield keeper with no chance. The boys were, quite rightly, cock-a-hoop and celebrated this wonderful bit of skill.

Going 2 down made a for a frenetic period of play with some ugly fouls and whinging coming from the Millfield players. Ollie M must have thought it was still the rugby season as he was assaulted on more than one occasion by his opposing Millfield midfielder. This created a number of set pieces that Sherborne couldn’t quite take advantage of, with Will F going agonisingly close with a header from a lovely cross from James K.

After some sustained pressure from Millfield, they pulled a goal back just before half time, a tidy finish that Casper G, had little chance of saving, particularly as he his 6-yard box resembled a Glastonbury Festival field after a weekend’s rain.

At half time the boys felt that 2-1 was a fair reflection of the half. They were frustrated by the behaviour and ‘banter’ of the Millfield players, but the instruction was to ignore that and play your own game. This they continued to do so in the second half. Seb H had replaced a cramping Harry S and went about his duties at left back with typical gusto. Charlie T was very authoritative at centre back and he, and Oscar W, repelled the increasing waves of Millfield attacks calmly and distributed well from the back. Unfortunately, halfway through the second half, Millfield levelled with a well taken goal that Casper G had little chance of saving. A series of set pieces, mainly free kicks from fouls on the ever-resilient Ollie M and Ned J, resulted in a couple of goal mouth scrambles that just didn’t fall Sherborne’s way. Ned was very effective again and proved to be capable at CDM, shielding his defenders from the Millfield attacks.

With the final whistle blowing, 2-2 seemed a fair result. Both sides had chances to win the game, but Sherborne felt they were the moral victors, having tolerated the Millfield histrionics as usual.