8th September
2012
Vs Marina Sands Tigers 7-2
Team: Ciarán, Elliot, Tom,
Matty, Adam; Joe H, Josh, Caleb, Jacob; Danny, Joe T. Sub: Cormac.
After a shaky start, the
boys began their U12 careers with a solid win - a five goal margin over the
Tigers is becoming a habit.
Terrible defending from a 4th
minute throw allowed the Tigers’ forward a free run on goal and Ciarán was left
red-faced as the ball went through hands and legs and trickled over the line.
The boys were looking to
play a mature passing game wherever possible and they slowly worked their way
back into the match. A ball from Jacob down the inside left channel opened up the
defence for Joe T but they held firm and the forward then set up Joe H as the
Tigers conceded a corner.
Caleb put an 11th
minute free kick onto Jacob’s head, forcing a great save from the Tigers’
keeper and he denied Jacob again from the resulting corner.
Joe T’s movement up front
was too good for the Tigers’ defence as he opened up space to create a chance
for Danny, who had another chance after a backward defensive header landed at
his feet.
Although Adam and Jacob had
to double up as the Tigers broke upfield, they continue to press in search of
the equaliser. Caleb saw a free kick fly over the bar and Joe T’s smart play on
the edge of the box in the 23rd minute forced another flying save
out of the keeper. From Caleb’s corner, Joe H was on hand to nod it over the
line.
A minute later, the boys
were able to take a lead into half-time when Danny was upended in the box and
Caleb coolly put the penalty away.
The Tigers came out fired up
as Jacob cleared a 30th minute corner off the line but another
series of defensive errors gifted them the equaliser two minutes later.
Tom took a knock in the
build up to their goal and was replaced by Cormac. The reshuffled defence, as
Joe H dropped back, took a few minutes to settle but Elliot’s solid tackling and
a corner dealt with safely ensured the Tigers did not take any advantage.
Danny was left in a heap
from a poor challenge long after the ball had gone, which went unpunished but
the referee gave a free kick for a foul on Josh after 40 minutes, which Caleb
rifled home to retake the lead as the
keeper grasped at the air.
The chances were now coming
thick and fast as the boys pressed home their superiority in midfield and on
the flanks. Cormac shot straight at the keeper after Joe T had stretched them
on the left and the boys went two goals up in the 43rd minute as
another Josh under the crossbar was again headed home by Joe H.
Caleb unleashed a rocket
from 25 yards that pulled another great save out of the keeper and they should
have been three ahead as first Joe H and then Jacob missed headers from another
dangerous Josh corner. The relief for the beleaguered Tigers defence was short
as Jacob was on hand to bundle over the next Josh corner to make it 5-2 in the
47th minute.
Ciarán made up for his Pepe Reina
moment after 53 minutes with a great save as the Tigers broke out but the pass of the game from Caleb a minute
later left Jacob in acres of space to bring it down and slip it under the
keeper for his second goal.
Jacob had his sights on a
hat-trick and should have completed it a minute before full time: the keeper
made the save but Josh was on hand for the rebound just ahead of Cormac, his
goal a worthy reward for the wicked corners that had provided goals for his
teammates. There was still time for Jacob to be denied twice at the near post
by the keeper and then by the final whistle as the boys ended in total control.
With a number of boys
deciding to move on, a thin squad with only one training session put in a good
display after taking some time to get going. They conceded goals from silly
defensive mistakes but there was plenty of good movement and passing going
forward to build on in forthcoming matches. Caleb took greater command of
midfield the longer the game progressed, Joe T was lively up front without
getting any reward but Jacob took a tight Man of the Match vote for an
all-round display.
