Shootouts add some tension

It was the 13th year of the annual competition, which hosted 318 teams from across the region, aged between six and 15, at the club's Leafy Lane Playing Fields in Rudloe on Saturday and Sunday.

Rule changes meant the tournament's traditional system of sudden death after extra time was replaced with penalties for the first time in the two-day competition's history.

But while it may have been unlucky for some club chairman Peter Fellows said penalties was as good a way as any for deciding a match after extra time.

"It's six of one and half a dozen of another," he said. "Taking a penalty can be a struggle for some people, but if that's the way it's got to be decided, that's the way it's got to be decided.

"People know what they are playing for in extra time. Some teams practice and others don't, but it was the same for everyone and it worked out fine."

Fellows said the tournament was a great success and he highlighted the tremendous spirit the matches were played in.

He said the club wrote a special letter to participating teams before the match encouraging parents and coaches to relax during the tournament.

Fellows said their response was brilliant and their were very few incidents.

"In previous years we've always had a couple of problems, no more or less than anywhere else, but I have been to several tournaments this year and there's a growing feeling that's there's a real problem with discipline," he said.

"We just put out a message to say that we wanted everyone to enjoy the competition and winning wasn't the be all and end all. The message to parents and managers was really let the referees do their job and the kids enjoy their football."

Matches started at 9am each day and on Saturday alone there were more than 500 games. The tournaments were six-a-side except for the U7s and U8s teams, which were five-a-side.

The weather was glorious, but on Sunday a sudden downpour, complete with thunder and lightning, stopped play for nearly an hour.

Corsham's junior teams won several awards, including a sportsmanship prize for the U7s, but they were unable to capture any of the team titles.

Fellows said: "We had some teams in the last 16 and a few quarter finalists, but unfortunately we didn't have any winners."

There was also a section of the tournament for girls, which was strongly represented with ten U12s teams and six U14s teams.

"We invested in the girls section of the competition two-years ago and it seems to be paying off," Mr Fellows said. "This year we doubled the number of under-12s girls teams."

Fellows said organising the tournament logistics was a massive task and planning for this year's competition started at Christmas time.

"We try to get volunteers to help from all the club's junior teams and take on specific jobs, such as organising car parking.

"The response from all our parents this year was brilliant."

Roll of honour

Under 7: Sportsmanship award winners: AFC Corsham Cougars; Highest Achievers, Group A: Derry Hill Sparks; Group B: Ferndale Rodbourne Tigers; Group C: Bristol Rovers SFC; Group D: Trowbridge Town B; Group E: Warminster Highbury; Group F: Shaw FC.

Under 8: Sportsmanship award winners: Slimbridge Youth Green; Highest Achievers, Group A: AFC Corsham Cougars; Group B: Trowbridge Wanderers; Group C: Calne Town Youth; Group D: Frome Town Colts; Group E: Wootton Bassett A; Group F: Melksham.

Under 9: Winners: Bath Arsenal; Runners-up: Eveswell United.

Under 10: Winners: Abbeymead Rovers; Runners-up: Trowbridge Town.

Under 11: Winners: FC Chippenham; Runners-up: Trowbridge Wanderers;

Under 12: Winners: Trowbridge Wanderers; Runners-up: Newport Cornthians.

Under 13: Winners: Frome Town; Runners-up: Trowbridge Wanderers.

Under 14: Winners: Henbury Colts; Runners-up: Stonehenge Youth.

Under 15: Winners: Shaw & Whitley; Runners-up: Trowbridge Wanderers.

Under 12 Girls: Winners: Frome Town Ladies; Runners-up: Swindon Town Ladies.

Under 14 Girls: Winners: Swindon Town Ladies A; Runners-up: Swindon Town Ladies B.