Failsworth in last-gasp KO

Photo: PICTURE by VINCENT BROWN

FAILSWORTH Sports College Year Sevens Luke Paanegan (back, left), Jake McGeogh, Zach Clarke, Kardel Smith, Elliot Murray, Josh Burrows (middle, left), Sam Brooks, Joe Boyling, Kane Kelly, Callum Millward, Sam Martin, Tom Wilson (front, left), Jayden Thomas, Ben Ingham, John Buckley and Klaeton Coley.

FOOTBALL:

“THAT was even more painful than losing as a player,” is how former Athletic striker David McNiven summed up Failsworth Sports College’s’ exit from the ESFA Under-12 Danone Nations’ Schools Cup.

McNiven, now a PE teacher, watched his Year Sevens concede from the last move of the match in a 2-1 reverse at the hands of Thomas Telford School.

Failsworth dominated proceedings on a 3G surface near Shrewsbury but squandered a string of chances.

John Buckley’s free-kick early in the second period cancelled out Thomas Telford’s fifth-minute opener, but a sucker punch at the death ended dreams of a place in the quarter-finals.

McNiven said: “We were so unlucky because we played very well, so to let in a goal at the end was an absolute sickner.

“I was disappointed to concede the first goal after just a few minutes — I think a few of the lads thought they were still on the school bus — but I was delighted with the response it provoked.

“From that moment onwards we dominated proceedings but chance after chance went begging. It was a combination of bad finishing and a lack of that little bit of luck every team needs in front of goal.

“When John equalised we kicked on further and looked strong. We looked like winning but I think Thomas Telford won it from their only shot of the second half.

“It was even more painful than losing as a player.”

Despite his disappointment McNiven was keen to praise his players for reaching the last 16 for the first time in the school’s history.

He added: “They could not have given me any more effort so I am proud of them all.

“They got us to this stage of the competition for the first time, which is fantastic.

“Most of the parents took a day off work to watch the match, which we appreciated.

“It is onwards and upwards from here and next season we want to make it through to the quarter-finals.”