⭐ Swifts U7s – Trophy Event Knockout Stages ⭐
Into the knockout rounds of the final trophy event of the season, and the lads were ready for the challenge 🧡⚽️
🆚 Walsall Phoenix Titans 🔴
A fast start from the first whistle, getting to every ball first and playing some really nice football down the wings.
The breakthrough came when Chester picked the ball up high up the pitch, chopped nicely outside the defender and finished brilliantly across goal into the far corner ⚽️
We continued to dominate, with the whole team working hard for each other, and after a strong spell of pressure we were awarded a penalty for handball. Bligh stepped up and smashed it into the left corner to make it 2–0 💪
HT: 2–0
The second half started in a similar way, but Walsall Phoenix began to grow into the game and we had to work hard to absorb some pressure. They pulled one back late on, but the lads stayed composed and saw the game out comfortably to book a place in the quarter final 👏🏼
FT: 2–1
Goals:
Chester ⚽️
Bligh ⚽️
🆚 DMC Roma 🟡 (Quarter Final)
We knew this would be a real test against a side who have spent most of the season in the top groups — and it showed straight from kick off. A direct ball through saw us go 1–0 down within seconds.
That early goal could have knocked us, but the response was outstanding. The lads lifted themselves and battled for every single ball, matching them all over the pitch for the rest of the half. Unfortunately, just before the break we conceded again, making it 2–0 at half time.
The second half followed a similar pattern. We competed really well across the pitch, but DMC were clinical in front of goal, adding two more similar finishes to make it 4–0.
We had a big chance to get something back when we were awarded a penalty. Bligh stepped up again, but his strike came back off the post, and although it looked certain to go in, their keeper recovered brilliantly to claw it away. A real shame, as the lads definitely deserved something to show for their efforts.
FT: 0–4
🏆 Player Awards 🏆
Parents’ Player – Chester 🌟
Fantastic work rate all morning — worked hard tracking back to support the defence, while always looking positive going forward and bringing others into play with some really clever passing.
Manager’s Player – Joey 👏🏼
Gave 100% throughout — solid defensively and a constant threat going forward with some really skillful runs down the right wing.
👏 Final Thoughts
We always focus on performance over results, and today showed exactly why. The performance in the 4–0 loss was just as good — if not better — than the 2–1 win, which says everything about the progress the lads are making.
The boys have got used to winning a lot, so there were some disappointed faces, but they will learn far more from games like this than they ever will from easy wins.
Today gave us a chance to test ourselves against a top group side, and we are much closer than the scoreline suggests.
A win and a loss, but two very positive performances to be proud of 🧡⚽️
Well done Swifts 👏🏼
