Charterhouse beat Eton 2-0 to win the Final
A crowd of over 2,000 spectators watched Charterhouse and Eton College, who have been opponents on the playing fields of England since 1900, battle it out to claim victory at the Boodles ISFA Cup on 10th March.
Gary Lineker watched as son, Harry, scored the first goal and commented, 'Harry’s goal was excellent. He made a really good run, got his head on it and finished it off nicely.'
Captain, Jack Ryder-Smith, scored the second goal, ending an outstanding season in which he has scored 20 goals from midfield.
At full time Gary said, 'It was a terrific game. The boys all worked really hard and overall, they were the better team. Eton did well and they did have their moments but Charterhouse deserved to win.'
Full match report below.
Match Report
Charterhouse 2 Eton College 0
Charterhouse claimed their second Boodles ISFA Cup on Thursday 10th March when they defeated Eton 2-0 in front of a large and partisan crowd at Stadium: MK, home of the MK Dons. Under the control of Premiership referee, Martin Atkinson, the game was played at a hectic pace but, in a largely forgettable first half, neither side was able to produce football of any real quality. Indeed, most of the interest in the first half centred on which set of supporters could produce the better chant.
Eton had studied their opponents well, and denied the Charterhouse captain, Jack Ryder-Smith, any room to play in a crowded midfield. Charterhouse played as if more afraid of losing than determined to win and it was Eton who went into the break the more buoyant. They had denied Charterhouse any scoring opportunities and were enjoying watching the frustration build in their more-fancied opponents.
The second half saw a different Charterhouse emerge: they were determined to impose themselves on the opposition and, in a reversal of the roles of the first half, force them into making mistakes and hurrying their play.
The game was effectively decided in the 53rd minute: the ball fell to Ryder-Smith on the left side of the penalty area and his fierce shot was heading into the goal but Jo Morris stuck out a boot and cleared it off the line. Before anyone had time to decide that this might not after all be Charterhouse’s night, Nick Orr crossed the ball back into the danger area and there was Harry Lineker to score with a deft header.
Charterhouse settled at last and began to play the flowing football which has become their trademark over the season. Ryder-Smith struck another rasping shot which swerved narrowly wide and the introduction of Fraser Payne gave Charterhouse a greater threat from the dead ball.
Eton rallied and gave everything they had but, despite winning a series of corners, could not carve out any real scoring opportunities.
Three minutes from time it looked as though they may finally have found a way through when a curling cross found two Eton players unmarked in the penalty area, but their header sailed harmlessly wide and the danger was over. Almost immediately, Charterhouse went back up the Eton end and put the icing on the cake. Payne’s long throw was headed clear by the Eton defence but the ball feel straight to Ryder-Smith on his favourite left foot and the captain made no mistake from 15 yards. It was a fine way for him to end an outstanding season in which he has scored 20 goals from midfield.
It had not been a match of great football and chances galore, but Charterhouse deserved their win by dint of having just a little more cutting edge. Full credit to Eton who never gave up and who made life very difficult for their opponents. As some consolation it has to be acknowledged that their fans won the chanting!
Harry Lineker scoring the first goal.