Nerves were high as we kicked off and everyone knew this was not going to be an easy game. Losing many players to illnesses and injuries also made it difficult as we had never really all played together before but in a true West Lodge fashion, we held our heads high and started. It was an intense first five minutes with both sides playing equally as well and having an abundance of shots until Days Lane had a corner which resulted in a lucky deflection that barely rolled over the line to give Days Lane the lead. The West Lodge goalkeeper then made an outstanding save preventing them from scoring a second. Both teams had more chances although neither capitalised on their opportunities, with the West Lodge defenders, putting in some great defensive tackles which meant that going into the break West Lodge were only 1-0 down.

Although West Lodge were losing 1-0, the team believed they were playing well. Mr McCabe gave the half time rousing team talk, which spurred the players on.

The second half started, with Days Lane on the attack, which was quickly subsided by some great defensive play by the West Lodge number 2. The game was end to end, when Days Lane got a corner, which was then taken quickly and a shot took a wicked deflection, flying over the head of the West Lodge goalkeeper into the goal, making it 2-0 to Days Lane.

The West Lodge team were devastated; however, they did not give up, two minutes later the West Lodge striker made a dazzling run, beating several defenders and passing the ball to the West Lodge number 7, who calmly slotted the ball into the net making it 2-1. This boosted the team’s morale and cracks started to appear in the Days Lane team. West Lodge started to gain momentum and was causing the Days Lane team lots of problems with their accurate passing and high pressing by the whole team. The West Lodge number 9 took a quick throw-in, which the West Lodge number 11 headed into the path of West Lodge number 3, who ended up scoring a crucial equaliser.

The match was finely balanced at 2-2; with West Lodge full of confidence, they started to push for the win, this left gaps in the defence, Days Lane won a corner which was whipped in and headed towards goal, with the West Lodge number 3 making a crucial potential match winning clearance. After this scare, West Lodge bounced back with some clever defence, which allowed the West Lodge goalkeeper to launch a long drop kick out of goal, which the Days Lane defence could not handle, with one of their defenders heading it out for a corner, or so they thought, as the West Lodge number 7, came out of nowhere at the last second to slot the ball home and make it 3-2 to West Lodge.

The tension in both teams could be felt by all the spectators. As Captain of the team, the West Lodge number 11 kept everyone calm and with good defensive efforts at the back by our numbers 15, 14 and 2 again, West Lodge managed to gain possession, which they took advantage of, by our number 11 again dribbling pass numerous Days Lane defenders, before rifling a shot into the bottom corner of the net. He celebrated with a notorious Messi celebration and with his dribbling being as good as his too! They had the game in the bag.  West Lodge were 4-2 up with minutes to play!

Ecstatic the West Lodge team retreated to their halfway line and held it together for the last few minutes coming out victorious and making it to the semi-final of the Sidcup Cup. Here are some words from the players: Number 11; “I felt happy and relieved when the final whistle blew (Lets Goooo)”.  Number 14; “I felt proud, excited and I think we worked very well as a team”.  Daniel; “What a comeback!” West Lodge Goalkeepr; “We fought back well and everybody put all their effort in and it paid off”.    

By Year 6 Pupil