Football Match Report: Uplands Academy v Uckfield College

Our Year 7 boys took to the field on Monday 3 February for an eagerly anticipated away fixture against Uckfield College. Spirits were high as they made the journey, full of excitement and determination for the challenge ahead.

The match started as a closely contested battle, with Uplands seeing plenty of the ball in midfield. Noah and Gabriel were pivotal in breaking down Uckfield's attacks, making crucial tackles and distributing the ball well. At left-back, Harry was superb, demonstrating excellent positioning and anticipation, while captain Tommy took control of defence. On the right side, Angus was relentless, making strong shoulder-to-shoulder challenges and keeping Uckfield's wingers at bay.

With only minutes before the half time whistle, Joey and Harry provided creativity on the flanks, supporting Elliott Barden up front. The game plan was clear: contain Uckfield and hit them on the counter-attack, using Joey's pace and Elliott's finishing ability.

However, it was Uckfield who struck first. A breakdown in midfield allowed them to thread a ball through to their striker, who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner, giving Jack no chance in goal.

Despite the setback, Uplands stuck to the game plan and found an equaliser just before half-time. Harry played a perfectly weighted pass down the wing to Joey, who delivered a amazing through ball to Elliott. One-on-one with the goalkeeper, Elliott showed great composure to place his shot off the post and into the net.

Half-Time: 1-1

Fresh legs were introduced after the break, with George, Harrison, and Bertie coming on to provide renewed energy. However, Uckfield also made changes, and their substitutes injected a new level of intensity into the game.

Uplands remained disciplined but found it difficult to escape their own half as Uckfield pressed forward relentlessly. Eventually, the pressure took hold. A low shot was well saved by Jack, but the rebound fell kindly for an Uckfield attacker, who reacted quickest to slot home and restore a 2-1 lead.

Moments later, Uckfield struck again in spectacular fashion. A long-range free kick was rocketed into the top left corner from an improbable distance, an unstoppable strike that left everyone stunned. Their momentum continued as the same player pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box, firing a half-volley into the bottom corner. In the blink of an eye, a tight contest had turned into a three-goal deficit.

To their credit, the Uplands boys never let their heads drop. They continued to battle and carved out a couple of half-chances, but Uckfield delivered the final blow, adding a fifth goal late on to win 5-1.

Despite the tough result, the boys showed incredible resilience and fought bravely for the majority of the game. They fully embodied the MARK values and should be proud of their effort and determination. Congratulations to the whole team!

Mr. S Doe - Head of PE