Good Afternoon Swalings ran its 4th annual youth Soccer tournament on Sunday 19th October with 20 teams competing in the various age groups. 9 teams competed in the U10s with Bullets Piggotts winning the tournament for the second year in a row. Piggots came through the group stages, progressing on goal difference to beat Villa lions in the final by a goal to nil. In the U15s 7 teams battled it out in a League format with Empire coming out triumphant with 10 points, beating off joint second place Villa Lions and Swalings on 8 points each. The U18s had 4 teams pit their wits against one another, again in a league format, playing each other twice, with Empire coming out on top again with 13 points and Villa Lions as runners up on 11 points. Although Swalings didnt win any age groups in this years tournament Head Coach Duncan Swatton was delighted with the attitude that the teams displayed. The Under 10s had 2 teams competing with the second team mainly being 6/7 year olds. So to be playing children 3 and 4 years older and sometimes a whole foot taller, the fight to not give up was superb, with stand out performances from Goal Keeper Zidane ZiZi Williams (6), Seth Layne (6) and Kyle Cenac (7). The First team showed the same spirit and determination as well as always trying to play the style of football that I have been teaching them over the past few terms; passing and moving and finding the space. Stand out performances from Zane Percival (9) who played a number of positions, left wing, centre mid and even goalie, Micha Burton (8) who laid down the tempo with some crunching tackles and Ashur Hector (9) who lead the line from the back always looking to counter attack at any moment, even popping up at the back post to tuck away a loose ball to earn the Swalings Sharks a draw. The Under 15s were undefeated in their league, however many of the games ended in draws and were beaten to top spot by 2 points. The Under 15s also showed a lot of character in their games and again making me very proud by putting what they learnt in to practice by scoring 3 of their 4 goals by following up the initial shot. Special mentions go to Kheon Super Sub Williams, who came on to set up a goal to salvage a draw and again scoring a superb right footed volley from the touch line out near the corner flag and rocketing it into the top left corner. Also to Zidanes older brother, Tarik, where Goalkeeping obviously runs in the family, pulling off some fantastic reaction saves as well as superb distribution of the ball. The Under 18s, last years winners of the tournament, unfortunately couldnt make it two years in a row. They finished 3rd, with 6 points. The boys showed great strength by going behind twice in 2 games to salvage draws. Special mentions go to Javier Hendrickson, who worked tirelessly down the left flank, as well as Dequan Davis, who marshalled play from the back, being solid as a rock. Also to Bashiri Joseph whose quick thinking from a free kick gave Swalings one of the draws as well as a last minute lunging tackle, after sprinting half the pitch Swalings would like to thank all their sponsors, New Thrivings, Automotive Art Antigua , Outdoor World, TCM Antigua, Fruta, Gunthropes Spring Water, Percivals Service Station. We would also like to thank all the teams for participating and making the tournament a huge success. We look forward to them all coming back next year and of course everybody in the Swalings family that cameto show their support for our boys. Until next year.....
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 20:21:11 +0000