A Promising Start

Saturday 14^th September

vs. Marina Sands Jags 5-2

Team: Ciarán; Elliot R, Tom, Sam, Elliot H; Adam, Caleb, Ollie, Louis; Joe; Jacob. Sub: Cormac.

The boys got their U13 season off to a flying start with a convincing win over a Jags’ side with one or two very familiar faces.

They were at their opponents from the start with Caleb setting up Adam in the 2^nd minute, only for his shot to be cleared off the line. The boys struggled to get a good passing rhythm going and, when the Jags broke after 7 minutes, Ciarán was called on to smother the shot.

Sam rose to meet a 9^th minute corner, only for his header to be cleared off the line and Caleb’s long range effort went wide as they began to take control. The game was being played almost entirely in the Jags’ half: Jacob shot high and then the defender slid along the line to deny Ollie after Adam and Joe had combined to set him up. From the resulting corner, Jacob’s header was blocked as the Jags hung on.

Sam was looking solid at the back on debut but slack defending on the right wing allowed the Jags to set up a chance and take the lead, totally against the run of play in the 21^st minute. A poor restart left them on the back foot again and it took a flying save from Ciarán, tipping the ball round the post to prevent the Jags from quickly doubling their lead.

The boys got the equaliser they deserved after 29 minutes as Adam freed Joe to thunder home from outside the box, the keeper having no chance. Confidence suddenly began to ooze through the team, Caleb got his footwork going and they regained control of the game. It was route one football that set up the lead in the 33^rd minute, though, Ciarán’s clearance bouncing through for Joe to pick up, control and slide past the keeper for his second. Ollie and Louis then combined to set up Jacob just before the break, only for his shot to be saved.

Cormac replaced Ollie for the second half, looking to put more stability into the midfield, and the boys extended the lead in the 39^th minute. From a cross on the run from Joe, Jacob laid it back for Louis who was denied by keeper and crossbar. Adam picked up the rebound, rolled it out to Caleb who found the narrow gap between keeper and post with dead-eye accuracy.

Ollie returned, giving Joe a break, in the 43^rd minute as a Jags’ free kick flashed across the box but this was a rare chance as Caleb and Cormac now had a stranglehold on midfield, stifling anything the Jags tried to create.

Louis was rotated off after 49 minutes and Joe took only two minutes back on the pitch to complete his hat-trick. Set up by Ollie, the keeper was badly out of position as Joe took full advantage to slot it into the open half of the goal.

Another replacement produced the fifth goal – and Joe’s fourth of the morning – in the 54^th minute as Louis came back on at Adam’s expense and almost immediately slipped the ball down the left for Jacob who shrugged off the defender and slipped it square to Joe. The Man of the Match was far quicker to the ball than the keeper, who was soon turning back to fish the ball out of his net again.

Ciarán needed to stand up big and tall as a Jags’ free kick ricocheted off the crossbar in the 61^st minute in a rare chance for the newest Marina Sands off-shoot. Adam, back on for Caleb, broke on the left, and combined with Jacob to create a chance for Elliot R – who had grown into the game in his first appearance – who shot narrowly wide.

A Red Arrows fly-past was a fitting salute to the boys’ performance and even the Jags’ consolation goal in injury time could not take the shine off an excellent performance.

The boys put the disappointing results since Christmas and changes in personnel behind them to start with a morale boosting and fully deserved victory. Credit must also go to Ian’s selection, with Joe pushed up front to great effect. After a rusty start, the defence of Sam, Tom and the two Elliots began to work as a solid unit. The creativity of Ollie and Caleb in midfield was shored up after the break by Cormac’s work rate and Adam and Louis supported Joe and Jacob, frustrated by his lack of goals but never less than willing up front. Perhaps early starts at Buckley Hill suit them?