OB Club Football
OBs v Blundell's 1st XI 2012
An end to end game which saw the OBs respond magnificently to the school's opening goal resulted in a 6-1 victory for the school. The OBs found the school's energy and organisation too much for their weary legs towards the finish of the second half. Matt Pynn is to be congratulated on his 12th consecutive cap for the OBs.
OBs v Blundell's 1st XI 2010
Once again Kwabena Asare brought together a seasoned squad of soccer players for the match against the School on Saturday 20th April.
Although talented and extremely fit for their ages, the OBs were not able to cope with the Schools' teamwork. Despite judicious and imaginative substitutions by the OBs, the School ran out 4-2 winners.
Post match drinks and supper were enjoyed in the Beale Centre.
OBs v Blundell's 1st XI 2009
The most recent OB event was the football match against Blundell's 1st XI on Saturday 10th January. The following report was written by Dr John Balsdon, the master in charge of football at Blundell's. (Please click on the images for larger versions.)
Under the leadership of Kwame Asare, the Old Boys returned with an impressive squad of nineteen players of varying fitness and even a good number of supporters – there must have been quite a party somewhere that evening around Tiverton! The OBs started brightly and looked full of running and invention, particularly when Liam Lewis and Matt Pinn were on the field. Ryan Mason gave them a deserved lead with a neatly taken goal after five minutes of play following some hesitancy in the 1st XI defence. The OBs created further chances but some good fortune (Kwabena Asare being unable to find the old turbo of days gone by!) and eccentric goalkeeping by Julian Strong kept them at bay.
As the game developed, the lack of a convincing and coherent OB fitness regime began to make itself felt and the boys gradually dominated more of the possession. The school side then started to play some excellent flowing football, though too often hesitant finishing led to a failure to convert their chances; that is until Joe Packer-Byrne scored the equaliser following a well worked move starting from the edge of our own penalty area. Unfortunately, just when the OBs were looking a spent force, one of their rolling subs, Shaun Mardell, stunned us with a late winner. The OBs were ‘over-the-moon’ but the school knew they had been ‘mugged’, the result had been ‘burgled’ and they were generally gutted!
