St Margaret's at Troy Town Primary School secure the final spot in the semi-finals of the Lawtech HTSO at the Gills.
On Tuesday night we welcomed the teams from St Margaret’s at Troy Town Primary School and Canterbury Road Primary School in a contest that would see our last HTSO semi-finalists decided.
The players had seven seconds to score from the edge of the D and could choose to dribble and shoot or simply fire one at goal. The keepers were allowed to move off their line as soon as the whistle sounded and put the striker under pressure meaning that they both had to think and act fast.
As the Gills and Walsall players walked down the tunnel at the end of the first half the schools proudly walked on to the Priestfield pitch to begin their warm-up.
The Rainham End were once again in fine voice as the shoot-out got off to an eventful start with both teams scoring their first and then missing their second penalty. It then stayed even for the next three penalties meaning the keepers had to step up to take a penalty, both keepers scored meaning it was into sudden death
As the pressure mounted the player’s stepped up a gear and again the first players from each school stepped up and confidently slotted their penalties away. The players continued to slot away their penalties and it was looking more and more likely that the keepers would need to step up again but the tie came to a dramatic end.
The Canterbury Roads player stepped up and took their penalty, only for it to be saved by the keeper who palmed it back out into play, the player was quick to react and regained possession and took it round the keeper and blasted the penalty away. Unfortunately though he was out of time and the penalty didn’t count, meaning St Margaret’s of Troy Town progressed to the semi-finals.
Well done to both teams for their brilliant efforts and fantastic sportsmanship and congratulations to St Margaret’s of Troy Town Primary School on progressing to the semi-finals.
Our next Half-Time-Shoot-Out competition will see the first of our semi-finals when reigning Champions, Featherby Junior School face Minterne Community Junior School when the Gills play Port Vale at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.