NOTTINGHAM Schools' FA held their annual memorial game in honour of those members of the Schools' Football committee who are now dead.
Between 80 and 100 people, parents, committee members and former players and members attended to watch the youngsters of Nottingham U11s play against and beat neighbours Derby for the Memorial Trophy, which has been played for on five previous occasions at different age groups.
On two of those occasions, the opposition was Derby – the tally being one victory each. Thursday's game was the first time the trophy had been contested at U11 level ever before.
Nottingham were quickly able to put pressure on the Derby goal with a series of sustained attacks.
From one of these, on four minutes, Nottingham went ahead with a fine finish from in-form striker Elliott Morley (Brocklewood).
The ball fell to him half way into the Derby box and he struck a sweetly judged shot high into the net.
Most of the pressure was centred around the Derby goal in the early stages, but the visitors fought back and drew level on ten minutes with a neatly-worked equaliser.
However Nottingham's pressure, helped by the stiff breeze, continued for much of the half and it was no surprise when, ten minutes later, they retook the lead in the clash.
Again the scorer was Morley and this time he was rewarded for being alert. Yet another Nottingham attack came down the right and the Derby keeper managed to keep out an effort on goal from close in when he parried a shot but Morley reacted quickly and stabbed the ball back first time into the net for 2-1.
The Nottingham boys continued their good showing after the restart when they scored almost immediately through Ewan Betts (Old Basford), who finished coolly after a determined attack.
This was followed straight away by a Derby goal to keep the match alive.
In a rousing second half the two teams provided excellent entertainment; Kenton Small (Milford) went on a characteristic run to bring a good save from the Derby keeper.
The game ebbed and flowed and Derby went close two minutes from time with a well-struck free-kick which was cleared off the line by an alert Sammy King (High School) to enable Nottingham to hold on to their lead and win 3-2 in a highly entertaining match.
After the presentations to the players, in a moving tribute to her late husband and former Nottingham player Ray Hall, his widow presented to the Nottingham Association her husband's England cap along with a number of other items of memorabilia.
