Scotton’s Under 9’s squad travelled to Kirkby Malzeard for the latest round of games with a healthy squad of Year 4 players. With some excellent facilities available the boys had the luxury of two pitches to play on, so lots of game time and not too much hanging around. Darren’s team started the first game with Lewis in goal and an outfield of Chris, Tom, Ewan, Joseph, Daniel and James. Luke and Jack started on the bench.
Scotton started with real intent, getting at their opponents from the kick off, a couple of quick corners were won and from the second one the defence could only clear it to Tom who fired home from just inside the box; 1-0 and an excellent start by the visitors. Kirkby mounted their first attack of the game but Ewan showed us his defensive qualities clearing his lines well and finding Chris on the left, who in turn fed Tom with an excellent pass, Tom unleashed an excellent shot which was well saved but Chris was alert to the chance and scored Scotton’s second goal, 2-0 to Scotton.
The third goal arrived soon after, Tom and Daniel exchanged passes with Daniel finding Chris with an excellent through ball, and Chris made no mistake and planted the ball in the back of the net, 3-0 to the Scorchers who were on fire. Chris was then replaced by Luke just as Joseph tried to get amongst the scoring with a shot that was well saved. Luke then got straight into the action finding James down the right whose mazy run led to another Scotton corner. Tom whipped in a cross which was met by Ewan, his shot going just wide.
Back in defence Ewan mopped up efficiently and found James who quickly played Tom in for a break whose shot was eventually well saved; Tom whipped in another shot from the resultant corner which again was well saved. Darren then made another change, with Chris returning in place of Joseph, and it was not long before Chris got a well deserved hat-trick, Daniel and James combining well and the ball was crossed into the box with Chris quickest to respond. 4-0 to Scotton and the referee blew for half time.
Darren changed things at half time; James went in goal for Lewis whilst Jack and Joseph replaced Daniel and Chris.
The game continued as it had finished in the first half, Scotton creating an early chance from Lewis, whose shot went just wide. The home side however tried to create an opportunity in the Scotton half only to be thwarted by Joseph’s tenacity in the tackle. This was the only respite for the Kirkby defence as Tom shot just wide and then straight away blocked the subsequent clearance and hammered the ball right past the ‘goalie’ to make it 5-0.
Joseph then got into attacking mode, skipping past three challenges and hitting an excellent cross from the bye line, Tom picked the ball up and placed an excellent pass for Ewan to run onto and he slotted the ball home with aplomb to make it 6-0. The home side had no time to recover before Lewis played in Tom whose pass from the edge of the box found Ewan steaming into the box to make it 7-0. Darren then replaced Tom with Chris and Ewan for Daniel.
Luke showed some nice touches in midfield skipping past a couple of tackles in an attempt to create another Scotton attack, whilst at the other end James was called on to make an excellent save to keep Kirkby out; it wasn’t long before the home side finally breached the solid Scotton defence despite excellent defensive play from Lewis, Joseph and Luke, a shot fired in which just evaded James to make it 7-1.
Joseph made sure the home side’s joy did not last long, with a fantastic shot from distance to make it 8-1 after Lewis saw his shot go just wide. Lewis then created another chance for Scotton, this time producing an excellent cross / shot which could only be cleared to Chris who got his fourth of the day to make it 9-1. As the final whistle approached there was still time for Jack to show us some excellent dribbling skills in midfield, and finding Chris and Lewis whose shots were well saved. And just as full time approached the home team added a second which James could do nothing about. Full time 9-2 to Scotton and an excellent overall team performance.
Game 2 started with Chris in goal and an outfield of Daniel, James, Tom, Ewan, Lewis and Joseph. Jack and Luke starting on the bench.
Both teams started brightly and exchanged early attacking opportunities, Ewan produced the first shot on goal from the right wing which was well saved. Joseph continued to marshal the Scotton defence with some excellent tackling and quick passing which opened up the play for Lewis to fly down the wing, cut in and unleashed a shot which was well held by the home ‘keeper’. Scotton kept up the pressure, Tom winning a couple of corners, the second finding Ewan whose shot went just wide.
Ewan tried his luck again, but found the goalie in excellent form, and then Tom cut in from the right and fired just over. Tom then produced a fantastic bit of magic, dribbling past two defenders before slotting the ball coolly past the ‘keeper’ to make it 1-0. Darren then brought on Luke for Daniel as Scotton took the upper hand; a fine through ball from Lewis found Tom whose shot was blocked. Joseph then produced the skill of the day, showing his ‘Ronaldo’ touch to get past two defenders and work the goalie with an excellent shot which was well saved. Lewis and then Tom then peppered the goal with good shots which the keeper saved. Jack then entered the play in place of Lewis. Luke and James exchanged passes out of defence and found Joseph whose marauding run through the middle led to another shot on goal which was cleared for a corner. As half time approached Tom got in another shot as Scotton continued to press for more goals. HT 1-0 to Scotton.
Luke went in goal for the second half and the game re-started with Jack showing some good touches, Tom picking up the loose ball and firing at the keeper. Scotton then had two corners in a row, Tom getting in another shot which was well saved. Kirkby managed a passage of play in the Scotton half but Joseph, James and Chris defended well, and when the shot came in it did not trouble Luke in the Scotton goal. Scotton then broke quickly, Joseph finding Tom on the half way line, who in turn found Ewan, the two exchanged a quick 1-2 on the edge of the box and Tom fired home to make it 2-0.
The team then came under a period of sustained pressure, with James defending the area well, whilst Ewan blocked a shot which was heading for the bottom corner. Tom and Ewan again combined well, as Scotton launched another attack, Tom’s shot sailing over the bar. James was then replaced by Daniel and Lewis came on for Jack as Scotton forced the play again winning three corners in succession, Tom’s header just going wide.
As the players tired Joseph continued to keep the defence organised with a good clearing tackle. Joseph then got forward to win Scotton a corner which Ewan took; Tom met it on the half volley to make it 3-0 the shot going in off the post. Jack then came on for Tom with a few minutes left of the game, but there was still time for Daniel to work the ball to Ewan whose shot was well saved. Full time 3-0 to Scotton to round off an excellent morning of football by both teams; Darren was left with the difficult job of selecting the player of the match with all nine team members contributed to a great performance by Scotton, in the end Tom just edged it.
