NFSSP News Story

Boys Football
Poulner Junior School
April 26th 2008

On the last Saturday of April in 2008 Poulner once again opened its school gates to a mass of children from all over the New Forest. Over 360 children (boys and girls) descended on the little village of Poulner in Ringwood for the sixth Girls Netball and Boys Football Competitions. This was a record for the New Forest area since the Primary School Sport programme was set up back in 2002.

The Boys Football had 17 teams entered into 3 groups, with the top two placed teams reaching the next stage (Quarter-Finals), alongside the two best third placed teams. From Group 1 came Orchard A and Hythe; from Group 2 came Poulner A, Lymington A and Blackfield; and from Group 3 came New Milton B, Ashley A and Marchwood B.

In the Quarter Finals Orchard A played Ashley A in a repeat of the Girls Final from the day before, but it was Ashley who got their revenge, winning by penalty shoot-out. In the second Quarter-Final Marchwood B beat the hosts Poulner A also on a penalty shoot-out. The other Quarter Finals were won in normal time by Lymington A and Blackfield.

The Semi-Final stage saw Ashley beat Marchwood on another penalty short-out and Lymington beat Blackfield a goal to nil in normal time. This meant that Ashley would take on Lymington in the grand final, neither of these two teams had reached this stage in the six years. The final was again very close as both teams tried time-and-time again to nick a goal. Both defences held out fantastically as the game went into extra-time.

In extra-time the scores again stayed level and the game and tournament was decided on a penalty shoot-out. This time it was Ashley who came out on top after each team had taken five penalties each.

Referees were supplied by Testwood Sports College, who all did a fantastic job and were a credit to the school.