Old Boys Vs Skinners 1st XI Football

On a raw and overcast Easter Saturday morning, Southfields played host to a familiar and fiercely contested fixture as 24 Old Boys dusted off the boots to take on The Skinners’ 1st XI, with the Peter Braggins Cup once again at stake.

Armed with the luxury of a rolling squad, the Old Skinners selected a strong starting XI, though they were met by a Skinners’ side well capable of holding their own. What followed in the opening 45 minutes was a battling, attritional affair. Chances were created at both ends, defences were tested repeatedly and the two goalkeepers emerged as early protagonists, producing a series of smart saves to ensure the sides went in level at the break.

The second half, however, told a very different story. The Skinners’ 1st XI struck twice to seize the initiative, but the Old Boys’ depth soon began to tell. Fresh legs and renewed impetus shifted the momentum, and the goals followed accordingly.

Jesse Scully led the charge with a clinical brace, while Gabriel Wegeland added the strike of the match,  a thunderous long-range effort arrowed unstoppably into the top corner — the sort of strike that would not have looked out of place on a Premier League highlights reel.

In the end, the Old Skinners ran out worthy 4–2 winners, overturning the deficit with authority and composure. Credit, however, is due to both sides for delivering an entertaining and competitive contest played in excellent spirit.

Richard Mosely, President of The Old Skinners' Society presented The Peter Braggins Cup which remains with the Old Boys for another year, following a morning of football that fully lived up to its billing.