Junior Academy East Mallorca Cup Day Three & Four
Day three and four bring fantastic results for both sides.
Day Three
Day three’s schedule would see three games, one early morning start and two late afternoon meaning a long rest for the Chippenham Whites.
Chippenham Blue 1-1 Ciutadella
Goal: Harry
Chippenham made a slow start against the Menorcans, but once they settled, they began to create the clearer chances.
The first real opening saw the Spanish keeper produce a superb fingertip save to push a rising effort onto the bar.
A brief delay followed as bizarrely referee received treatment, but Chippenham quickly regained their rhythm after the restart. Their pressure was rewarded when Harry struck from distance on the left, his effort finding the bottom‑right corner.
From there, the Bluebirds controlled the tempo and dictated much of the remaining half, though they couldn’t extend our advantage.
Ciutadella emerged sharper after the break and levelled through a dangerous throw‑in that bounced across the box and wasn’t dealt with.
Chippenham responded well, immediately taking the game back to the hosts. A driving run from midfield was halted on the edge of the area, and the resulting free‑kick beat the wall and the keeper but struck the right post.
A speculative long clearance then sent the Spanish left‑winger through on goal, but Harry produced a superb recovery run and a perfectly timed last‑ditch challenge to prevent a certain goal.
Chippenham continued to push forward, troubling the keeper with several close‑range efforts and another teasing free‑kick from the left that forced a strong save.
As the half wore on, the tourists took full control, pinning Ciutadella deep and restricting them to very little. A late long‑range free‑kick almost won it, the keeper scrambling to turn it around the post.
Despite a dominant display, the Bluebirds couldn’t find the decisive goal and had to settle for a draw.
Player of the Match: Harry
The hotel then kindly allowed the two teams to use the gym as Student Sports Therapist, Amelia, took them through some more in depth and educational activation work telling them why they were doing what they were doing. Ultimately it did end up with a load of sea lion poses!
Hombrucher SV 6-0 Chippenham Town Blue
Chippenham Town Blue faced last year’s tournament champions in what was always going to be a stern test. The early exchanges were evenly matched, with the Bluebirds showing composure and organisation against a classic German side who showed discipline and structure.
Chances were limited until a thunderous long‑range strike from Hombrucher rattled the Bluebirds’ crossbar, a sign of the pressure to come. As the half progressed, the Westfalians’ shape and movement began to take control. A strike from just outside the box broke the deadlock after Chippenham failed to close down quickly enough.
Arijus produced a superb fingertip save moments later, pushing another fierce drive over the bar. But the Germans continued to press, and a slick move down the right ended with a pull‑back to their unmarked No. 9, who calmly slotted into the bottom corner.
Chippenham battled on and were unlucky not to halve the deficit when a speculative effort clipped the bar with the Hombrucher keeper beaten.
A misplaced pass in their own half nearly cost the Bluebirds again, but Arijus came to the rescue with a brilliant double save to deny what looked a certain goal.
Just before the break, a flowing German counterattack ended with a square ball across the box for a simple tap‑in, giving the reigning champions a commanding 3-0 lead at half‑time.
The Germans came out strongly, and Arijus was called into action once more, pushing away another powerful strike. With the Westfalians in full rhythm, their crisp passing and movement carved open the Bluebirds’ defence for a fourth goal.
A curling effort into the top corner soon made it five, leaving Chippenham with a mountain to climb.
Despite the scoreline, the Bluebirds refused to fold. Barney’s mazy dribble opened up space, and his squared pass found Rowan, who went agonisingly close to grabbing a consolation.
Hombrucher continued to move the ball with confidence, and a well‑delivered corner was headed into the far corner for their sixth.
In the dying moments, another dangerous cross caused chaos, and Tyler had to clear off the line to prevent a seventh.
Chippenham came up against a high‑quality, well‑coached German outfit who showed exactly why they are reigning champions. Despite the scoreline, the Bluebirds showed heart, and a refusal to give in.
Final Score: Hombrucher SV 6-0 Chippenham Town Blue
Player of the Match: Tyler
A fantastic all‑round display full of determination, energy, and tireless running.
Inter Ipiranga 3 – 2 Chippenham Town Whites
HT 2-2
Goals: Lucas, Bobby
The Whites’ final game of the day turned into a fiery and frustrating encounter, defined as much by cynical tactics as by football. What unfolded was something far closer to a Champions League night at the San Siro than an under‑11 youth match.
We began brightly, almost scoring within minutes as the Inter keeper was forced into an early save.
Good footwork from Bobby allowed him to lose his marker and slip in Lucas, who calmly finished into the bottom corner for the opener.
The Whites were in full flow, and soon doubled their lead. Jude’s fierce free‑kick was parried, and Bobby reacted quickest to stab home for 2-0.
However momentum was broken by the “Dark Arts” as Chippenham continued trying to play football, it quickly became clear that Inter’s approach was to disrupt rather than compete. Shirt‑pulling, late challenges, and general gamesmanship crept in.
The disruption worked. A conceded corner allowed Inter to pull one back with a header, and another long ball moments later led to an equaliser after Freddie’s save spun agonisingly into the net.
Despite being rattled, Chippenham kept pushing. Bobby was brought down after spinning his marker, and the resulting free‑kick forced a superb save. A series of long free‑kicks caused chaos in the Inter box, but the ball simply refused to fall for the Whites. Three goal‑line blocks in one sequence summed up the half.
The Whites came out with intent, firing narrowly over straight from the restart. But a cheaply conceded free‑kick allowed Inter to score low into the corner, giving them a 3-2 lead.
From that point on, Inter parked the bus. Time‑wasting, delays, and long hopeful balls became the pattern.
Freddie had to turn one such effort around the post, while Lucas rattled the bar with a brilliant volley.
Lucas then twisted into the box and was tripped from behind, a penalty everyone expected except the referee, who waved play on to the disbelief of players and spectators alike.
A rare Inter break required a last‑ditch tackle from Jackson, but otherwise the Whites dominated territory. However, every attempt to build momentum was broken up by time wasting and stoppages the referee simply didn’t address.
With the game deep into stoppage time, the event timekeepers informed the Chippenham bench that 3-4 minutes should be added however Incredibly, the referee blew for full time after barely a minute, cutting short any chance of a deserved equaliser.
This was a fiery match overshadowed by cynical tactics and time‑wasting more suited to elite European football than an under‑11 youth game.
Instead of encouraging development, enjoyment, and fair play, Inter approached the match with a “win at all costs” mentality and unfortunately, the officiating allowed it to shape the outcome.
Chippenham, however, can take pride in sticking to their football, showing resilience, and refusing to be dragged into the chaos around them.
After a tough and emotional day the squads did split into two and went to a restaurant with staff as a break away from the football and the hotel. Many laughs were had and some dodgy dancing observed with a slightly later night being allowed due to the late start on day four.
Day Four
After another activation session in the gym the day was going to see the Whites final group game followed by the decisive preliminaries to decide which cup competition both teams would find themselves in. Either way a fantastic way of guaranteeing football on day five.
Cala Millor 1 – 4 Chippenham Town Whites
Chippenham Town Whites produced a fantastic team performance against the hosts Cala Millor, combining determination, creativity, and relentless pressure to secure a well‑deserved 4-1 victory.
The Whites started brightly, firing an early shot straight from kick‑off and building promising moves, though without an immediate final product.
Cala Millor, however, struck first when a slick passing move carved open the Bluebirds’ defence for an early goal.
Despite the setback, Chippenham dominated possession and created a series of half‑chances as they settled into their rhythm.
A throw‑in led to the equaliser. Bobby twisted and turned past three defenders inside the box, creating just enough space to fire home and level the match.
Moments later, more good work from Bobby allowed Henry to unleash a powerful strike that rattled the crossbar. The Blues kept the pressure on, but Cala Millor managed to clear their lines.
The hosts were restricted to long‑range efforts, with Chippenham controlling the tempo.
Jasper then produced a brilliant run down the right.
Despite being marked by three defenders, he carved out a dangerous cross that deflected off a Cala Millor defender and into the net, giving the Whites a 2-1 lead.
Bobby continued to cause problems, releasing Jonas, who drifted past two defenders and stung the keeper’s hands with a sharp effort.
Jonas then turned on a sixpence on halfway, driving forward to win a free‑kick that came to nothing.
Cala Millor’s then broke forcing Freddie into a smart save, and he reacted again to block the follow‑up from close range.
HT 1-2
An early mazy run from the hosts was stopped by Lucas, who sprinted the length of the pitch to make a superb recovery tackle.
Chippenham pushed on and forced a corner. The hosts blocked twice before Jasper turned and shot, the effort saved but turned in on the rebound by Lucas to make it 3-1.
A long clearance then fell to Jasper, who showed great composure to dispatch his finish and extend the lead to 4-1.
Freddie was called into action again late on, while Jackson produced a last‑ditch tackle to snuff out a dangerous break.
Lucas almost added another with a header late on and with the game in the dying moments, Jonas was then cynically brought down after being played through by Lucas, and the resulting free‑kick from Lucas crashed off the underside of the bar.
Full‑Time: 4-1
A superb all‑round performance from the Whites disciplined at the back and ruthless in attack.
MOTM: Jasper
Club MOTM: Jonas & Henry
A fantastic display from every Chippenham player.
Knockout Stage, one half only of 25 mins
La Salle p (5-4) 1-1 Chippenham Town Blues
Chippenham Town Blues battled fiercely in their knockout clash with La Salle, producing a committed performance full of energy, resilience, and moments of real quality. Ultimately, the tie was decided by the narrowest of margins in a tense penalty shootout.
La Salle created the first chance of the match, but it was Chippenham who struck early.
A well‑delivered corner was met brilliantly by Tyler, who powered home a header inside two minutes to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.
Rowan soon tested the defence with an early run and shot, while La Salle responded with a free‑kick that curled narrowly wide of the post.
Chippenham pushed forward again, winning a free‑kick midway through the half. The resulting strike was saved and scrambled away under pressure.
Isiah then drove forward on a strong run and was brought down just outside the box. His resulting free‑kick was tipped over, and the corner was cleared.
Barney followed up with a powerful run and shot that the keeper could only parry.
Moments later, Isiah was taken down again on another driving run, but this time no foul was given, much to the frustration of the Blues bench.
La Salle then found a route back into the game. A shot was charged down but struck a Chippenham hand at close range inside the box, and the referee pointed to the spot. The penalty was converted into the left corner to level the match at 1-1.
Chippenham were forced to defend a dangerous throw‑in shortly after, but the Blues keeper reacted well to secure the ball.
The remainder of the match became a tight midfield contest, with neither side able to carve out a clear chance. Both teams worked tirelessly, but the deadlock remained.
FT: 1-1
Penalty Shootout
1. La Salle – scored (1-0)
2. Rowan – scored (1-1)
3. La Salle – scored (2-1)
4. Harry – scored (2-2)
5. La Salle – scored (3-2)
6. Tyler – scored (3-3)
7. La Salle – scored (4-3)
8. Barney – scored (4-4)
9. La Salle – scored (5-4)
10. Alex penalty saved
La Salle win 5-4 on penalties.
Despite the heartbreak of a shootout defeat, Chippenham can be proud of a strong performance full of character and commitment. The Blues now move into the Silver Knockout Competition, where they will look to bounce back and continue their tournament journey.
Bellamar 1 -1 Chippenham Town Whites p (4-3)
Chippenham Town Whites produced a dominant display against Bellamar, controlling much of the game but ultimately needing penalties to secure their place in the main competition.
The Whites began brightly, forcing an early save straight from kick‑off as a driven shot was pushed past the post, though the resulting corner was cleared.
Lucas was heavily involved in the early stages. His free‑kick from the left was parried away, and moments later he drove from deep and fired into the side netting.
With the Bluebirds in the ascendancy, the breakthrough finally arrived. A long ball forward caused problems for the Bellamar defence, and Lucas chased down the keeper, applied pressure, and finished well to put Chippenham 1-0 ahead.
Bellamar responded with a long ball of their own that slipped through the Blues’ back line, but the striker fired over.
Chippenham continued to make the running, but it was Bellamar who struck next.
A free‑kick was conceded just outside the Chippenham box, and Bellamar dispatched it neatly into the bottom corner to level the match at 1-1.
As the game tightened, chances became limited. Chippenham forced a late corner but couldn’t convert, while Bellamar looked to threaten on the break.
Despite dominating possession and territory, the Whites couldn’t find a winner in open play.
FT: 1-1
Penalty Shootout
1. Bellamar – scored (1-0)
2. Jackson – scored (1-1)
3. Bellamar – scored (2-1)
4. Jasper – scored (2-2)
5. Bellamar – scored (3-2)
6. Jude – scored (3-3)
7. Freddie – saves (3-3)
8. Lucas – scored (4-3)
Whites win 4-3 on penalties and progress in the main competition.
Not too much to report on for the evening as the boys who had together been through two penalty shootouts. It was about time together and some with parents to prepare for the day of knockout phase.
