Welcome back - to frustration

Saturday 12^th January.

vs Marina Sands Tigers 0-0

Team: Ciarán, Tom, Matty, Joe, Ben, Dan, Josh, Caleb, Adam, Ollie, Jake. Subs: Cormac, Elliot.

Welcome to Hightown – the home of football. It is good to be back after the winter break and a 10 o’clock kick off was eagerly anticipated by the boys and parents alike.

However the anticipation didn’t live up to the early parts of the game as both sides lacked any real cohesion and the shortage of match time certainly affected the quality early on.

Neither side were able to get hold of the ball and chances were few. The first half chance came to Crosby Stuart, though. A flick on by Caleb from Ciaran’s kick was touched on again by Jake to an on rushing Josh, his strike from outside of the box flashing wide. It was the start of some pressure on the Tigers defence – a number of corners resulted, but again no clear chances and the goal keeper not made to work.

The Tigers were not to be outdone, countering on a number of occasions really well, but good defensive work by Ben, Joe and Caleb averted danger.

Again Crosby broke out of defence with great purpose – good work by Adam down the left, lead to a corner. Further good work by Ollie set up a turn and a strike by Jake,  a great effort but again just wide.

The Tigers make an amazing seven substitutes in one go and rather than upset their pattern of play it leads to a counter attack which was averted with a great clearing block and defending from Joe. From a resulting throw, the Tigers get the ball into the box and scrappy defending sees Joe get away with a very clear handball: that was an escape.

As half time approached, the boys applied further pressure and really good run and pass from Dan down the right leads to a strike by Adam, which the keeper saves comfortably. Further good work in the box by Jake sees a lovely lay off to Adam, only to spurn a big chance by missing the target. They kept up the pressure and as a further cross is cleared, Caleb picks up the ball, rides three tackles, but takes a knock, could have been a penalty. Caleb is replaced by Elliot.

Half time whistle blows.

After a really positive and instructive half time team talk from Mike the second half starts off with greater intensity and concerted pressure from Crosby. More clever work by Jake in the box saw a further strike from Adam which the keeper parried around the post.

More good work from Dan down the right saw the ball come out to Ben, whose left foot strike is tipped over – yet another corner and yet another ball that went straight across the face of the goal: just a touch needed, but no one was in the right place. Surely a goal would come – it was all one way traffic.

A free kick on the left, drilled in by Ben, lead to a huge scramble in the box, another cross came in again from Ben down the left, which the keeper could only push out but no one was on hand to add the finishing touch.

Good strong midfield work by Ollie as the boys really turned the screw meant it was shock when Marina break:the defence had all pushed up but fortunately Ben was able to close down and avert the danger. It was a warning though and Crosby Stuart’s high line needed to be on the guard again following another break away. This time, Tom’s pace, on in place of Matty, was used to good affect and he saw off the danger.

Cormac and Caleb entered the fray – replacing Dan and Josh. The boys were camped in Marina’s half. It was a strong second half display, just missing the finishing touch. One goal would surely open the floodgates. Further pressure sees Adam’s strike cleared off the line and, from Ben's cross, deflected for a corner, another header goes wide.

More good work by the Tigers keeper saw a further good save – his kick up field was met by a good win from Caleb who almost puts Adam through; the cleared ball is again won back by Crosby, from which they were awarded a free kick: a scramble in the box, but no clear shot.

Disaster almost follows. The boys had pushed up and were thin at the back and the Tigers centre forward outstripped the defence and was one on one with Ciarán: having had little to do for most of the second half, he pulled of a great save.

A change of formation to 4 -3 -3 takes place. Will this unlock the Marina defence?Straight away, good work between Ben and Calebprovided a lovely through ball to Elliot, which the centre half cleared.

More changes – Josh back on for Adam – and immediately Josh won a free kick on 25 yards out. Joe ball is cleared , but they awarded another free kick. This time Caleb whips the ball in towards the back post and the keeper could only parry, but no one was there to pick up the rebound.

It just looked like it is going to be one of those days.

Ben Bellis - Man of the Match

With only a few minutes remaining, the unthinkable almost happens again – another break by the Tigers, leads to a good opportunity, but Ciarán shows good concentration and good hands to save comfortably. The Tigers were not giving up though and despite further pressure from the boy, they break again broke away and a long range speculative shot was defelcted away for a corner. Final moments – surely not? - strong defending from Ben saw the corner cleared and the referee brought the game to a close.

It was a battle of a game – second half showed superior quality from Crosby, just the final touch missing. Great effort all round from the boys, they deserved more, but shouldn’t be disappointed.

Man of the match – Ben… Some quality defending when needed and always providing an outlet down the left. Some good link up play with midfield and an added attacking dimension. Ben well played.