02 Dec 2012 - Croft Juniors Red (H)

This was a cracking game with committed play, great defending, skill, some great saves and some cracking goals from both sides!

We know Croft are a good side and they showed why with some good movement and nice passing and they nearly scored early into the game but Josh made an excellent save to push the ball around the post for a corner. The game was fast and frenetic with some strong tackling and good defensive work by both teams who were determined not to give anything away. We won a corner and tried a new routine that we had pinched from Stoke the other week but the shot didn't trouble the Croft keeper.

From the goal kick the ball went directly towards Nat in the air and he showed quick thinking to jump and head the ball back over the keeper and it dropped over the line to give us the lead. We almost made it 2 when Marshall and Nat made three neat passes to each other but the shot was just wide from Nat.

The next few minutes before half time were tense as Croft looked to level but some excellent defending and a last ditch tackle by Jamie stopped them. Oliver and Adam were getting stuck in with some good tackling but we could do nothing when a loose ball just outside the box went up in the air and the Croft player hit the ball on the volley sweetly into the top corner to equalize.

Right on half time, Croft nearly made it 2-1 when their tricky goal scorer jinked his way though, rounded Josh but was off balance from a challenge by Jamie and he just failed to roll the ball into the goal and it went wide! Half Time and 1-1

The second half was similar to the first but Croft took the lead this time when from our throw in on half way we gave away the ball and were caught out with a swift attack and another good finish into the bottom corner.

We pushed on and created 4 really good chances in succession when Nat hit the cross bar, Jack Holder had a shot cleared off the line, the keeper made a super save from a Marshall shot and then a cross/shot went just past the post.

But we got caught again and another nice passing move left the Croft player free and he hit another great shot which found the corner of the next and he claimed the match ball with his hat-trick!

The end of the game came and everyone was shattered!! We play Croft again next week in the away fixture so hopefully we can reverse the scoreline!

Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:39