On Monday 6th June Maltings Academy Six Form took on local rivals Colne Community College from Brightlingsea in the final of the Essex Academies’ Cup at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Stadium.

The Maltings Academy side is in its first league season with teacher and senior 6th Form tutor Alan Bailey at the helm. The team has already secured promotion following a successful league campaign and can now proudly display their trophy and winners’ medals, having secured a solid 2-0 victory.

Alan Bailey said: “The boys have worked really hard to make 100 little details 1% better. They now understand that only perfect practice makes perfect and have shown great commitment in training after school and in the holidays to improve the team’s performance.”

Maltings took 24 players to the final and were able to name a squad of 16 for the match itself, with a mixture of year 12 and year 13 students. The team performed well and enjoyed all the build up of a true cup final with smart dress, pre-match photographs and lunch prior to arriving at the stadium.

The game itself was well played by both teams, with Colne perhaps edging the first half in terms of possession and quality, but Maltings having had the better chances.

In the second half the crowd of well over 100 staff, students, parents and friends were treated to an improved passing game from the Maltings side. This improvement led to the first goal on 55 minutes from midfielder Jack Stracey. A second came on 75 minutes following a cool finish from centre-forward Connor Holland, and from then on Maltings always looked in control of the game.

Daren White, Head of Witham Six Forms, said: “We are all very proud of the lads and their achievement. I would like to formally thank Alan Bailey and Marti Cullum for all of their work and everyone who came along to support the team. Most importantly, there is a tremendous belief amongst this group of players and one that I’m sure will continue to grow following this recent success.”

Maltings offers a City and Guilds NVQ in Football Coaching and students have achieved FA level one coaching and refereeing qualifications as part of this, however the squad itself is made up of students studying a wide variety of courses at level two and level three.