Rusthall Football Club

Junior Kickers - Under 6's

Chelsea Tournament

Rusthall U6’s were invited by Chelsea Football Club for a pre season tournament at Kidbrooke, London, and when this was mentioned to the boys they jumped at the chance to play.

When we arrived the boys discovered they would be playing in a caged off area away from parents and supporters with only coaches and managers aloud inside, which was understandably a strange experience for them as the tournament was also on artificial grass a surface most boys had not played on.

We played our first game against a very strong Kingshill team, and lined up with Jamie Beck in goal, Liam Markwick and Max Wilmshurst in defence with Fraiser Abbott supporting lone striker Oliver Plunkett. The game started with Kingshill setting a good tempo however it was Rusthall who went closest to scoring through Plunkett after good work from Abbott. This woke up Kingshill who started to play some very good football and scored two goals in quick succession through NO.8. Rusthall made changes at the back bringing on Logan Bryan and James Hitching for Wilmshurst and Plunkett. However the Kingshill NO8 proved too good scoring a further two goals and a massive thank you goes to Beck who kept the score down.

Next up Chelsea Development centre, the boys were full of excitement at the prospect of playing Chelsea, and this showed in there performance. Bryan and Abbott tough tackling at the back restricted Chelsea to long range efforts which Beck dealt with comfortably. Hitching was having a great game using his excellent passing ability to release the electric pace of Plunkett who made the Chelsea keep make a number of fine saves. Two changes at the back with Markwick and Wilmshurst on for Abbott and Bryan made no difference to the Rustics who were playing some excellent football in only there second match. A 2 minute lapse in concentration aloud Chelsea to score 2 goals in quick succession which proved to be the difference in the end.

Last game and we had another Chelsea Development side, this time the boys were determined to get a win for all there hard work. This showed in there enthusiasm to win every tackle and chase every ball down giving the Chelsea boys no time or space. Becks distribution from in goal was quick and this helped the attack and with Markwick and Bryan at the back the strikers didn’t get much room to move, Hitching was again pulling the strings and it was his through ball which Wilmshurst slid home to put the Rustics a goal up. Chelsea upped there game but Beck was standing firm in goal making some fantastic saves notably one in which he tipped onto the bar, and it was his quick throw which released Hitching who kept a cool head to calmly beat the keeper one on one. This spurred them on for more and with Abbott and Plunkett coming on for Wimshurst and Hitching it injected more pace to the attack. This proved vital with the hardworking Abbott playing a neat one two with Markwick down the left to cross for Plunkett to tap home. The boys were playing some fantastic football now and when Bryan made a mazy run out the back and fed Plunkett there was only one out come with the ball hitting the roof of the net.

It was a fantastic night and a great experience for the boys who played some great football against some very  talented and well organised teams. The event was full of Chelsea scouts who were searching for future stars, hopefully any boys who do get invited to attend the Chelsea Development centre do very well and I wish them all the luck

A MASSIVE thank you goes to all parents and supporters who made the long trip down to watch the U6’s and thanks to those who helped with transport.