Oxfordshire Schools Cup news

The boys' football team were defeated 2 – 0 in the second round of the Oxfordshire Schools Cup. The Oratory School provided stiff opposition in this evenly played match. St. Clare's travelled to Woodcote, Reading without the services of James Cavalot and Tito Gutierrez both recovering from foot injuries. This meant full debuts for Salah Al Athba from Qatar and Arved Pohlabeln from Germany. Yaron Lewin also from Germany made his first appearance in St. Clare's blue.

The game was still deadlocked after one hour with the St. Clare's back 5 playing outstanding. Giulio Zuccoli was excellent in keeping his goalkeeper and defence alert to all the challenges from the Oratory. Janez Kosec and Ridi Kotja were in fine form defending and supporting the attack. The front four were finding it difficult to keep possession but they continued to battle on. The turning point in the match was when one St. Clare's player was sent off for retaliating after being awarded a free kick. The Oratory, with the extra player soon scored. Arved Pohabeln did hit the cross bar with a header. With St. Clare's pushing forward the Oratory scored again. The team experienced a valuable lesson, fitness and technique and discipline win games.

The team on duty was:

Chung Yin (Nicolas)
Arved Pohlabeln
Matthieu Baudon
Rezo Makalatiya
Giulio Zuccoli (Captain)
Ridi Kotja
Janez Kosec
Daniel Galalae
Lodovico Castelli
Bledar Noka
Salah Al Athba
Replacements: Shi Yang Zhang, Francesco Garosci, Yaron Lewin, Alberto De Angelis.

February