On Saturday 23rd May the U15A team travelled to Mantes-la-Jolie to the west of Paris to take part in the FC Mantes summer 11 a side tournament. A tournament which sees some of the best teams from Paris and the surrounding areas compete for one of the largest trophies ever seen. This was the third trip for this team who have reached the semi-final and knockout phase previously, but always fallen short due to the excellent technical ability of the French teams and the dreaded penalty shoot-out. This year we prepared well practicing penalties in training, although having assessed our penalty taking Rob and Mike decided we had best go for a win in normal time !
The Tournament started early on the Sunday morning and the boys were drawn against the ALJ Limay team and it was obvious that the 3am late night at the accommodation meant we weren’t really awake. The game was a fairly quiet affair with ALJ coming closest to a goal with a free kick which hit the cross bar. The game ended 0-0 and there was much to improve in the next match. The second group game came quickly and saw RR against FC Versailles who we had played the year before and drawn with. This year was a much different affair with RR clearly the stronger, better organised team coming out 2-0 winners with well taken goals from Ethan Grant. The final group match was against CSM Rosny sur Seine who we dominated throughout the game always looking on top although not taking our chances. Finally a smart move was finished off by Louis Jump and RR had topped the group.
After a BBQ lunch the knockout phases began. RR played the second placed team from the white group FC Goussainville on the main stadium pitch. We were quite frankly devastating going ahead with two quick goals from Ethan Grant and Jono Barry knocking the stuffing out of the opposition. Goussainville then tried to use a bit of physicality to re-establish themselves in the game but RR were more than equal to challenges and could have scored a further 2 or 3 goals.
The semi-final saw us play FC Mantes 1, the home team and without doubt the best team at the tournament in terms of technical ability, pace and power. They were in a confident mood having dispatched our group opponents ALJ 4-0, so we knew we were in for a tough game. The match was very even with limited chances for both sides as the two midfields slugged it out in the centre of the pitch. Ethan’s dazzling pace drew gasps from the crowd in the stand but unfortunately the break through goal just wouldn’t happen for us. The final whistle went and penalties would decide the result. Jono Barry and Sam Drake scored and were cancelled out by FC Mantes penalties, Luke Cooley struck a pen which hit the inside of the post and the opposite side netting. The final penalty for FC Mantes was blazed over the bar and we were in the final.
The final was played in front of a decent crowd and the officials led the two teams onto the pitch with the Champions League music blaring from the speakers. Each player was introduced to the crowd OFC Les Mureaux and RR both loving the occasion. The match was a very tense affair with both teams trying not to put a foot wrong, and despite a couple of decent chances for RR the match ended 0-0, could we really win a second penalty shoot out? As before our same three lads came forward and swept their penalties into the net giving the excellent keeper no chance. The OFC final penalty was taken by their keeper, and was a rather tame effort which Ben Stone saved to his right which was followed by a mass bundle.
After the match RR were presented with one of the largest trophies in sport, and the award for sportsmanship voted by the referees. In return RR presented the president of FC Mantes with a No. 15 Ruislip Rangers shirt. A great victory, great tournament and an amazing weekend…. A huge thanks to all at FC Mantes, Mantes-la-Jolie council, and Mantes-la-Jolie school for a memorable trip.
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