INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS' FA CUP FINAL

Today is the playing of The Boodles Independent Schools' U18 Cup Final, held at Milton Keynes Dons Stadium MK .

Charterhouse from Godalming, has won its way to the final to meet Royal Russell from Croydon. Kick off is at 7pm. I am going, so will give a full report tomorrow. MK Dons is great stadium, not too big and very hospitable./ This is an U18 fixture, 1st XIs from the schools and a great opportunity for these young lads to enjoy a prestigious occasion, having spent most of their footballing careers playing on schools' pitches in front of modest crowds!

MK DONS

Charterhouse played in the first ISFA Cup Final in 1992-3, losing to Forest School on penalties after an exciting 2-2 draw. They reached the final again in 1999-2000 losing to Shrewsbury School 0-1 in a dour match. The Carthusians lost in 2006-7 to Hampton School (South London) on penalties, after a 1-1 draw and in 2007-8 were runners up again to Millfield School from Somerset again on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

In 2010-11 they WON against Eton, 2-0, in what might be regarded as "an historic final" between two of thre oldest footballing schools. Here's an account of the Final Charterhouse won, eating Eton College from Berkshire! THEN.....

Two neat and satisfying goals from star players Harry Lineker (son of!!!) and Jack Ryder-Smith saw Charterhouse lift the Boodles ISFA Cup at the expense of Eton.  Overall, the match, in front of a raucous crowd at the MK Dons Stadium, wasn't a classic - but in the second half, Charterhouse demonstrated the drive and passion to clinch the win that was expected from the favourites.  

Ryder-Smith was the first to press for Charterhouse, seeing a header tipped over the Eton bar after just four minutes. A couple of corners ensued but to no real threat.  At the other end, Plummer in the Charterhouse goal pushed a looping cross rather unsteadily away, and Strang, the most effective defender, headed out an Eton free kick. 

Lineker and Mole up front for Charterhouse were beginning to get into the game, and after 16 minutes, an interchange between the two saw Shaw claim the ball at Mole's feet. Shortly afterwards Lineker nicely carved out space for a shot, but it lacked power. McClean came forward with a surging run, followed by a huge Delap-style throw from Kimmins.  Then Eton started coming more into the game; Mole worked back only to give away a free kick, which saw Plummer tip over Ashe-Taylor's long range shot.  The Eton support came to life, chanting the memorable "One day you'll work for us" to the Charterhouse fans.  It had been a clean half; only Downes got a brief stern word from Premier League ref Martin Atkinson as the 40 minutes ended. 

The second half started with rather tentative exchanges; the Charterhouse crowd had been working on their banter, and offered "We've got more hair than you", which was well received by Eton.  The breakthrough came in the 51st minute; a Ryder-Smith shot was cleared on the line, but when Nick Orr pinged the ball back into the Eton penalty area, Harry Lineker was there to glance it into the net with his head. (Photo credit: Roger Smeeton)

For some bizarre reason, the MK stewards then decided the cordon between the two sets of fans wasn't wide enough, and moved them further apart. 

 
As the game progressed there were some signs of tiredness; a lazy pass by Downes created a shooting opportunity for Rogan, and Strang had to make another strong intervention.  Plummer punched out well from the resulting corner, and pocketed the follow-up shot confidently. But it was still Charterhouse who looked more threatening going foward, with a good shot from Ryder-Smith hit in his stride. Eton's best chance fell to sub Cardona in the dying minutes, when he found himself unmarked in the Charterhouse penalty area, but pushed his header up and over. Within a minute, Charterhouse were at the other end, and Jack Ryder-Smith lashed in the second, after Eton failed to clear effectively after another long throw. 

A good night for Charterhouse, in front of an appreciative crowd.