The sun shone on Saturday for the U7s league games vs Burton Leonard Bullets. As ever we ran two pitches- on one (the big pitch) the boys played 'competitive' games against a BL 7, and on the other (smaller) pitch we shared a few players with a short-numbered opposition to give all the boys some games.
In the first match on the smaller pitch, the Scorchers started strongly with the most enthusiastic tackling we have seen all season by every member of the team. However James H, playing for Burton Leonard dominated this first game and showed fantastic skill in scoring three well worked goals in quick succession to provide Burton with an unassailable lead. In the second half Alexander managed to snatch a goal back after a blistering run down the middle before Burton scored again to end the first match 4-1 winners. The result though, did not do credit to the Scorchers Team who had fought bravely for every ball.
After some well earned refreshments the second match began with Harry and Jacob now taking turn to switch allegiance to Burton Leonard and James H and Alexander recalled to the Year 2 Team for their second match. The Scorchers team had something to prove to their army of loyal supporters after a competitive first match, and Harrison with gritty determination forced his way through the Burton defence to score a fantastic goal to put the Scorchers in the lead. Burton responded with sustained attacking, but courageous tackling by James H and Ben held the Burton boys at bay. Harrison and Jon combined well upfront and within minutes Harrison snatched a superb goal from long range that was frankly unstoppable. Burton responded after half time when James swapped sides to play for the Burton Team and scored a superb goal shortly after kick off. The scorchers team responded again and Jonathon made a dash up the right before finishing with another spectacular goal to leave the Scorchers deserved 4-2 winners.
On a day when the entire team had played with spirit and courage it was extremely difficult to choose a man of the match. After much deliberation the MOM was awarded to Harrison who had played both games at 100 miles an hour, tackling with abandon, and clinically finished his scoring opportunities.
In game 1 of the big pitch - the line up say Joseph, Jon, Cameron, Lewis F, James E, Jack S and Ethan in goal facing the Bullets - cheered on by our injured super-striker Lewis Dobson nursing his broken elbow. A boggy pitch was going to make for a difficult game - but Scotton came out of the blocks on fire with jack scoring in seconds of the game start, closely followed by a brace from Lewis Francis, the second of which came from a great cross from Cameron. Burton kept battling, and grabbed a quick response with a good bit of pressure. 3-1. This seemed to sting Scotton into even further effort, with Jon and James battling for the ball and getting out wide and upfront. Cam benefitted from this work by grabbing his first of the game and Joseph fired in a screamer from the edge of the area, which rattled the cross bar before bouncing in of the back on an unlucky Bullets defender. 5-1 and the game was won. at half time. With the lead, the coaches were looking to see the boys show the same passing football and team play we say at Hamsthwaite, however the mud was making this difficult. Ethan was sticking to his task in goal with some great long clearances up the forwards and it wasn't the end of the goals, with a second half hat-trick (including a great free kick) from Jack 'The Poacher' Sherwin - always in the right place at the right time to guide the ball home. Final score was 8-1 but that didn't necessarily reflect some of the skill and play we say from the Bullets.
Game 2 saw some team changes, with Alexander and James Haveron swapping over to change places with Jon H and James E. The goal-fest in game 1 saw all the boys hungry for more goals - unfortunately this meant a dip in out team play and playing for each other which is something we need to work on in training. This, plus a fired-up Bullets saw the second game be a much tougher contest. A fairly even first half saw Scotton edge in front almost on the stroke of halftime. A lapse in concentration at the back for the Bullets lead to a penalty the ref could do nothing but give. This was firmly despatched by Lewis Francis to give the boys a slender 1-0 halftime lead. The second half was equally tight - but a great strike from Cameron doubled our lead before just before the end another back-post special from Jack Sherwin saw the Bullets bundle the ball into their own net. Final score 3-0.
A tricky, muddy pitch was hard for the boys, and in spite of 'playing solo' on occasion there was enough quality as a team to play the football to beat the Bullets. Two MOTM awards on the 'big pitch' went to our ever-present and ever-ready goalscorers; Jack Sherwin and Cameron Bedford. We now have a one-week break from training on April3 before returning on April 10; 0.30am at the CRicket Club.
