Then join this League winning team!

Trials- Wednesday 15th February 2012

Email Colin Sharpe on;

csharpe@centralbeds.ac.uk

to secure your place!

Central Bedfordshire College crowned Champions!

An outstanding second half performance saw Central Bedfordshire College win their second successive league title  3-1 against Bedford College.

Only victory in the last game of the season would have been good enough to secure a second league title for Central Beds and on the back of a terrible performance against second place Watford it didn’t look very likely.

Eight changes were made to the starting line up and with so many changes Central Beds found it very difficult to settle into any shape or particular pattern of play and paid the price after only 15 minutes when a 40 yard cross field ball beat right back Kyron Jackson and found the Bedford winger who cut inside and finished extremely well.

Central Beds were still unable to settle and were put under even more pressure from the dominant away side that came very close to extending their lead on several occasions but were unable to capitalise on their opportunities.  Central Beds continued to try and force the play and create things that were not really on which gifted possession back to the away side.  The home side frustration was becoming very clear when Sam Peveral was booked for a sloppy challenge.

However 3 minutes before half time Sam Edwards was hauled down by an out of position goalkeeper and Josh Gooding stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home sending the keeper the wrong way, making it 1-1 at half time.

At half time Central Beds were given a bit of an ear bashing about their lack of application, work rate and poor quality of football.  This had to have a hugely positive effect on the players as they stated the second half extremely well creating a few half chances.  An early second half substitution was a major turning point in the game when David O’Brien was introduced to the game; David really started to pull the strings in central midfield with his excellent ability on the ball, his vision and his work rate.  This had another positive effect on the team and when Ryan Adam delivered a telling cross into the box, Bryn Reynolds was able to put the opposing centre half under enough pressure, which made him head over his own keeper who again was in no man’s land giving Central Beds the lead.  In amongst the goal celebrations there was an incident with Josh Gooding and the away side goalkeeper, which resulted in Josh receiving a straight red card, gifting Bedford a massive advantage and opportunity to get back into the game with an extra man with 30 minutes to go in the game.

This prompted another tactical change in the game and last season’s top goal scorer Ryan Ellingham was brought into action after a knee operation, and he like O’brien had a massive impact to the team and game.

Ellingham only having been on the field 5 minutes raced through onto a through ball from O’brien, took one touch and lashed it across goal leaving the keeper no chance and giving Central Beds a two goal advantage.

Although Central Beds were down to ten men they were dominating the game playing some great football and creating chance after chance and should have extended their lead with O’brien, Tom Christie, Sam Edwards and Bryn Reynolds all having their efforts saved by the keeper.  With the away side struggling to win the ball back and create any chance of getting back into the game Central Beds work rate allowed them to see the game out with relative ease in the end, securing their second league title in a row.

Football Development Manager Colin Sharpe commented “this is an excellent achievement for all the players, coaches and staff involved at the College.  To win the league last year was great, but to be promoted and win it again is an even better achievement for all involved.  I would like to think that the players have learnt a lot this year, as this is a massive step up in the standard of football.  We play in the highest level of College football in the country.  We play against Premiership, Football League and Conference College programmes such as Chelsea, Wycombe wanderers, Watford, Oxford United, Cambridge United to name a few.

In our league we are the only stand alone college that is not linked with any semi of professional club and with more programmes setting up in the area, This just supports that fact that being linked to a professional club and all of its marketing ploys has no more impact than what we offer and have a proven track record of success on the field, and most importantly in the classroom with last 15 of our 17 Level 3 students headed off to their chosen universities, two of those receiving scholarships in California

Not forgetting our second team who also won their league in March.  With our success this clearly put us at the forefront of College football in Bedfordshire and possible further afield”

The College will be holding its final open trial for current school leavers and year 12 students on Wednesday 1st June 12pm – 2pm^t.  For more information simply visit www.centralbeds.ac.uk/football or call Colin Sharpe on 01582 861607 for all the information you need to join this winning team.

The away side were feeling confident after beating Chelsea earlier on in the season, in what was then a very close game. Central Beds could not have got off to a better start, with a goal after just three minutes. Bryn Reynolds latched onto a superb 40 yard ball from Sam Peverall to finish to the highest standard smashing the ball into the top corner of the net.

Central Beds continued to dictate the game creating several more chances but  were unable to make them count. However, they soon extended their lead with a fantastic move, starting with the keeper and after some great interchanging in midfield and over passes the move was finished by Sam Pervall from outside the box with an expertly chipped effort, once again leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.

Chelsea got back into the game after Central Beds failed to clear their lines, and a shot from outside the box found its way through a crowded penalty box to the bottom corner of the net, making it 1-2 to the away side at half time.

Peveral was on target again at the start of the second half after running onto a perfectly weighted pass from Kyron, making it 1-3, with Chelsea heads starting to drop.

Anderson received the ball 25 yards from goal beat two centre halves as though they were not even there and then coolly passed the ball into the net giving the keeper no chance.  Anderson continued to show some exceptional touches throughout the rest of the game.

The last goal in the game came from the right full back Kyron Jackson who went on a run and was picked out by skipper George Higley who played an exceptional ball over the back four. Jackson was left facing a charging goalkeeper who completely miss judged the ball, allowing Jackson the simplest of tap in’s.

Football Development Manager Colin Sharpe commented “This was a great result for us today and the manner in which we achieved it was probably the most pleasing.  We played some excellent football and we were patient on possession which really worked in our favour. We were almost faultless in our performance, which is great. Sam Peveral, Josh Gooding and Baynole Fasida had their best performances of the season.”

Central Beds 2^nd Team win the League

On the same day as the Chelsea match, the College second team also secured the title in the SESSA College and University League. This was an exceptional achievement making it two consecutive titles in a row.

Central Bedfordshire College comfortably beat Southwark College 4-1 with goals coming from Terry Campbell, Tom Holliman, David Stewart and Jordan Riley.

The 2^nd team will start their cup competition with a home game against Barnfield College.

The Academy will be open to all female players who are currently in Year 11 or 12 at school. All players are required to attend an interview before attending the practical trial on the 1st June 2011. More information on the trial will be given at the interview stage.
The College already hosts a highly successful male programme that has been running for over 8 years and the female academy will follow the same protocol.

Last year 14 of the 17 students on the male Football Development Programme gained university placements in this country and abroad, and we hope that the female students will be able to follow suit and achieve their academic and career ambitions whilst training and enhancing their football attributes.

This evidence shows that this course can meet the needs of all students allowing them to really enjoy their college experience and be very successful on all fronts.

Colin Sharpe, Football Development Manager, commented ”this is fantastic opportunity for all female players to study at these levels which will allow them to pursue their career aspirations whist receiving top class training.

The players will receive sports psychology lessons, nutritional advise, regular fitness testing, which will all enhance their performance. It really is a fantastic opportunity for female players within Bedfordshire. We are also very pleased to have the full support of the Bedfordshire FA with this programme”.

After a slow start to the game, Central Beds then upped the tempo. 15 minutes into the game Kyron Jackson swung a superb cross into the box which was met the head of Bryn Reynolds and was emphatically despatched. After the restart, Central Beds pushed hard for the second. Reynolds was at the forefront of the attack terrorising the opposition defence. He out muscled two defenders and struck the ball home for his and Central Beds second. A demoralised Amersham and Wycombe team were getting over run in midfield. Dave O’Brian and Sam Peveral where dictating play in the middle of the park, with Jake Bewley sitting just behind them sweeping up anything in his path.

Just on the verge of half time Jake Bewley hit an astonishing 30 yard ball which was plucked out of the air elegantly by Reynolds. Reynolds in an instant struck fiercely across goal. The keeper did well but only managed to push the ball into Ryan Ellingham’s path, where he smashed the ball into the roof of the net. The game seemed to be over.

However, in the second half the opposition came out all guns blazing, putting the Central Beds defence under immense pressure. Captain George Higley was organising the defence well as Central Beds looked impenetrable. But a slip at the last minute from Connor Smith gave away a harsh penalty which was cooly converted. This gave the visitors a much needed lifeline.

Key man Sam Pevral started rallying the team putting in a man of the match performance, winning every header and tackle that came his way Central Beds where now dominant. The lightning pace of Ellingham and the neat tricks from Ryan Adams were exploiting the oppositions defence. Chances were being created at will, but Central Beds failed to score and put the game to bed. Out of nowhere the visitors scored. An unlucky deflection gave Central Beds keeper Ryan Darby no chance. This put the game on edge with 10 minutes left to go. But tidy ball retention by Central Beds helped see out the rest of the game with out any scares. All in all, an impressive performance from Central Bedfordshire College and a well deserved 3 points.