Last Wednesday our U13 boys football team, accompanied by Mr Riley and 9 very excited parent supporters, travelled the 2 and a bit hours to Lancaster to take on Carnforth High School U13’s in round 5 of the English Schools Football Association National Cup.

This was the first time that any Newminster football team has made it this far in a National tournament and a win here would have seen us into the last 8 in the country.

The game didn’t get off to the best of starts for us. Newminster, having the lions share of possession, conceded twice in quick succession early in the game. However, our boys fought back well and played some excellent football as they focused on their passing game, carving out chance after chance.

Newminster had to wait until the last minute of the first half to make their possession count, when they were awarded a penalty, which Danny Roberts smashed into the roof of the Carnforth net.

In the second half it was more of the same with Newminster creating chances and controlling the ball in midfield with excellent performances from Joe Briddon, Mark Booth and Luke Tait.

Unfortunately for Newminster, the equalising goal just didn’t come and Carnforth grabbed a late third, finishing off the game and knocking Newminster out of the cup.