With the U10 Tornadoes’ manager, Neil, stepping down at the end of the season, this summer was to be the pinnacle of the team’s 3 years of development. In those years, they’ve risen from 10-0 thrashings in division 7 to a promotion push for Division 3. So with a focussed side, they have completed a fantastic summer of tournament football collecting two trophies in the process.
First came Moretoneville’s tournament on Fathers Day. A marathon of 9 group and two knockout games. The Tornadoes started very slowly with two draws and 2 losses in the morning. The team then got in a groove and played some scintillating football, going on a run of 5 wins and a draw which took them into the final of the shield. With a really strong performance, where they looked in control for the duration, the kids gave their dads a memorable father’s day memory by taking home their first silver ware, the Mortoneville Tournament Shield.
4 weeks after their first triumph, the Tornadoes attended the Willen World Cup. This time they competed strongly all day, never looking out of place in the company of a very strong group containing two division 1 teams and a number of division 2 teams. Again they played some very neat and tidy football, with plenty of skill and some clever goals.
At the end of the group games an apocalyptic storm blew through the tournament, pulling a few gazebos from the ground and giving most people a good soaking. And so when the storm abated it seemed fitting the Woburn Tornados came out strongly in the quarter final of the plate competition. After a nervous game, the Woburn goalkeeper pulled off two tremendous saves in a penalty shootout and they were though to the semis where they faced a strong second division Cranfield team. An early goal in the semi-final left Woburn in control and they tenaciously saw the game through, a real team performance from back to front.
The final was something else. With Woburn’s confidence high they played with a level of enthusiasm and skill that the opposition, Warden Hill Rovers, just couldn’t contain. Striding through 3-0 winners, with their striker grabbing a hat-trick as a result of some brilliant quick passing, they ran out convincing winners.
Their last game as a team and perhaps their most complete performance ever ….more silverware !!!
Well done to Neil, the boys and all the parents and relatives who have supported them. Good luck to all next season as you continue your footballing journeys.
