🔵🟡 FROM MUD TO MAGIC – KESTRELS BOOK THEIR PLACE IN THE COUNTY FINAL 🏆

Fixture: Badshot vs Kestrels
Competition: Surrey Youth Cup – Semi Final
Venue: Away
Kick-Off: 10:00am

The Setting
An early 10am away kick-off.
A tight, extremely muddy pitch.
Big home support.
A physical opponent from the Surrey Youth League Premier Division.
A referee performance, where less said is probably best.

We knew this would be a proper test — and with a place in the final at stake, the game absolutely delivered. The conditions made it scrappy, the pitch made it compact, and every duel became a battle. It was never going to be pretty — it was about heart, resilience, and belief.

First Half – Early Blow, Big Response

The Kestrels started sharply and were unfortunate not to take the lead from the very first kick-off. The intent and energy were clear.

Badshot began to adapt to the conditions and looked to play direct. A long ball forward created the opening for them — Henry made the initial save, but the follow-up was tucked away to give the home side a 1–0 advantage.

Despite the setback, the lads didn’t drop. They worked tirelessly against a strong and physical side. The midfield battle was relentless, and the muddy surface made every touch and pass that bit harder. Tactical adjustments were made from the sideline to support the shape and give us more control, and the game became a fiercely competitive, end-to-end cup tie.

Half-time arrived with Badshot leading 1–0 — but the belief in the dressing area was strong.

The message was simple:

• You are matching one of the best teams in the area.
• Believe in yourselves and each other.
• The next goal changes everything.

Second Half – Courage & Character

The response was outstanding.

Midway through the second half came the moment that swung the momentum.

Bobsy threw himself into a perfectly timed, committed challenge to win possession in midfield. The ball was worked quickly out wide to Zac, who beat his man with confidence and delivered a superb cross into the box. Archie met it with composure beyond his years and finished brilliantly.

1–1. Game on.

From there, it became tense. Every tackle mattered. Every clearance mattered. The defensive unit was exceptional, using the offside line intelligently and frustrating the opposition repeatedly. Discipline and commitment were first class.

Defensive Heroics

As the clock ticked down, Badshot had two huge moments to win it:

• A powerful cutback effort destined for the top corner — but Henry produced an outstanding fingertip save to turn it around the post. A top-level stop at a crucial moment.
• Shortly after, their striker broke through again — only for Maxi to show unbelievable desire and recovery pace to get goal-side and clear to safety.

Those moments define semi-finals. Big players. Big interventions.

Penalties – Composure Under Pressure

Full-time: 1–1.
Straight to penalties under competition rules.

The instructions were clear:

• Henry: pick your corner and commit.
• Takers: pick your spot and hit the target.

The composure shown by every single player who stepped forward was incredible. Calm, confident, clinical.

Kestrels win the shootout 4–1.

And with that — we are heading to the final of the Surrey County Cup.

What This Means

To reach the County Cup Final in our first season together as a team is a remarkable achievement.

This group has shown:

• Resilience in tough conditions
• Belief after setbacks
• Tactical discipline
• Physical courage
• Togetherness

As coaches, we couldn’t be prouder. The growth from this squad has been incredible. The parents’ support, the energy from the sideline, and the unity around this team make moments like this even more special.

This isn’t just about winning a semi-final.

It’s about proving to themselves that they belong at this level.

And now — we have one more step to take.

🏆 Man of the Match – Bobsy

A massive performance in a huge game. Bobsy was physical, relentless in his work rate, and constantly encouraging those around him. His perfectly timed tackle sparked the move for our equaliser and shifted the momentum. To top it off, he showed real composure under pressure, calmly converting his penalty in the shootout. 👏

⭐ Special Mention – Henry

Some outstanding saves during the match, including a huge stop late on to keep us in it. He stepped up again in the shootout, with confidence.

A big-game contribution when it really mattered most. 👏

📅 Next Up

• Training: Thursday @ Ash Manor, 6–7pm
• Next Match: League AWAY vs MFC Popley (details to follow)

👉 Please confirm all attendance on Commentary Box.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend — recover well — and we go again Thursday.

UTK’s! 🔵🟡⚽️