It seems like an age since the boy’s were in competitive action, but Saturday saw two squads travel to Wetherby JFC for a mini tournament with the hosts and Knaresborough Celtic.
Craig, Mark and John’s squad consisted of Cameron L in goal, Max, James, Tom, Ewan, George and Cameron B with Luke, Danny and Sam starting on the bench for the first game against Knaresborough Celtic.
Scotton kicked off and went straight on the attack, Ewan found some room for a shot which was buried with confidence in the back of the net, 1-0 to Scotton and an excellent start to the game. Scotton kept up the pressure and both Cameron B and George went close after good approach play. Tom then worked some magic down the left wing and found George with a perfect cross to make it 2-0.
There was no respite from Scotton; Ewan and Cameron exchanged passes with Tom whose shot went just wide, Max then produced an excellent break from the back, finding Tom down the left resulting in the award of a couple of corners in succession. Cameron B and Tom both tried their luck again with shots which were blocked but George (fox in the box) was at hand to get his second of the game, 3-0 to Scotton. A fourth quickly followed when Tom took on the defence down the left hand side, cut in and powered a shot which the goalie could only parry into the net.
Luke and Sam joined the action and it was not long before it was 5-0, good play by Max at the edge of the box found Tom who buried the shot into the back of the net. As half time approached Cameron B used his strength to make progress down the right wing, unleashing a shot which went for a corner. Tom took the set piece and found Cameron B who made no mistake, 6-0 to Scotton at half time.
Celtic had been pinned back for most of the first half however they came out looking to create some chances, Max however had other ideas, picking the ball up in defence he powered forward and found Cameron B with an excellent pass, Cameron crossed the ball and found Tom who made it 7-0.
Cameron B continued to pose a threat in the Celtic defence, getting another shot away which was blocked and cleared, whilst at the back Sam and Luke were alert to any break by Celtic, and Sam got in an excellent tackle to break up play. James rejoined the game as Scotton pressed Celtic again, Cameron B and Ewan both seeing their shots blocked. Ewan then won a corner from an excellent kick out by Cameron L and swung it in for Danny to score with an excellent shot to make it 8-0.
Luke, Max and Sam were keeping thing tight at the back when called on, Luke showing great determination in midfield to stop Celtic creating any chances and when they did get through Cameron L kept his concentration to make two fine saves. With time running out James had three excellent shots blocked in quick succession, the Celtic defence just about managing to clear the ball but Danny cut out an chance of a break away and found Ewan on the left whose shot at the edge of the box was unstoppable, 9-0 to Scotton and the full time whistle was blown – excellent display from all the team.
Game 2 against Wetherby JFC kicked off with Cameron L in goal, and an outfield seven consisting of Tom, George, Ewan, James, Luke, Cameron B and Max with Danny and Sam on the bench.
The game started with both teams trying to gain the upper hand in midfield, Scotton had the first chance on goal when Cameron B was caught just outside the box after some excellent play through the middle. Tom took the free kick which went just wide of the left hand upright.
Max, James and Luke were kept busy in defence with Wetherby trying hard to get on level terms, but all three did well in protecting Cameron L’s goal. Ewan mounted an attack from midfield finding George with an excellent pass, George found Tom whose initial shot was blocked, the rebound fell to Ewan, again the hosts defence held their own as Cameron tried his luck. Scotton started to exert some real pressure on the Wetherby defence, Tom found Cameron B with a great pass, Cameron then slotted an excellent ball to George who picked out Ewan who found some space and unleashed an excellent shot towards goal where George got on the end of it to keep up his excellent scoring record for the morning to make it 1-0 to Scotton.
The hosts came back strongly but Max and James were putting in a great shift at the back, using the ball well to feed the midfield, James even go up front and tried his luck with a shot which just went wide. Cameron B then picked up a nasty knock and was replaced by Sam and the half came to an end with Scotton still 1-0 to the good.
Ewan replaced Cameron L in goal, Cameron taking his place up front with Danny joining the fray from the bench. Wetherby went straight on the attack and it was not long before Ewan was called on to make a great save to retain the visitors lead, Ewan then made another great stop which was swept up by Sam in defence and the danger was cleared.
Scotton started to take the game to the hosts with Tom then George seeing good shots blocked. Cameron then made progress down the right hand side winning a throw in just to the edge of the box. Tom picked up the ball and dribbled into the box and fired in an unstoppable shot to make it 2-0.
Wetherby tried to get back by hitting Scotton on the break, again the defence of Sam, Max and James held firm and when Ewan was called into action he saved well to preserve the lead. As full time approached Tom dribbled past two defenders down the left wing, found George with a good pass who in turn whipped an excellent ball into the area for Cameron whose goal bound shot was cleared off the line, shortly after the ref blew the whistle for full time and an excellent 2-0 win for the boys.
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The other, younger Scotton team consisted of Joseph, Lew D, Charlie, Liam, Jack, Owen, Jack Ch, Elliot and Dan W; and started against Wetherby.
It was clear early on that this was going to be a competitive and even game. Scotton had lots of early pressure, racking up the corners - taken long and short by Joseph - but without being able to turn any of them into the net. Jack went through and only a last gasp tackle kept him out. Jack picked himself up from a heavy fall fall to be ready for the corner - another one we did't capitalise on!!! Were we going to pay for not taking chances.
Sadly - we were. Another break away from Charlie saw him lose the ball close to Wetherby's goal. A quick break away from the boys in orange saw them power into our penalty area and take the lead. 1-0 at half time.
Straight at the restart, the boys switched off and allowed a wetherby player wide on the right to move into free space. Unchallenged he raced in on goal and made no mistake - 2-0 down and now we were up against it.
Rolling their sleeves up from the restart, Scotton applied the pressure - a shot from Charlie struck the post and unluckyly for Weatherby deflected in - we had one back with 5 minutes to go. The game was end to end with some desparate defending as well as more attacking - Charlie again going close; just over the bar. The final whistle went for a grateful Wetherby who held on for a 2-1 win. A defeat, but a good game.
Game two and the boys switched pitches to take on a Knaresborough team looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat against the other Scotton team. Early pressure was Celtics, with a shot just past the post. Time for some Scotton pressure, with Jack just missing wide of the post and then Joseph striking a great shot that smashed against the bar. Liam then saw his header go just wide and then Jack again was unlucky seeing his shot saved at the near post.
With only a minute til the break, Celtic went on the classic counter attack, breaking through and stabbing the ball home to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
Out for the second half and Joseph drives forward again, powering past three defenders, finding Charlie who's shot flashed wide. Another strike from Joe saw the Celtic keeper make a great save. Surely we must score? The chance came from a handball in the area from an under-pressure Celtic defense. Joseph calmly spotted the ball and went for power..... great save by the keeper, and on the rebound the keeper again did magnificently to deny Joseph again. It wasn;t to be the boys day and final whistle went - the boys again unluck to be on the wrong end of a very close game.
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The third and final game saw the two Scotton squads face each other for a ‘friendly’ kick around to finish off the tournament whilst Celtic and Wetherby battled it out on the other pitch.
With both teams showing signs of fatigue Craig’s team dominated proceedings romping to a half time lead of 5-0 with Cameron B in imperious form up front bagging a first half hat trick (and an understated celebration which needs some further work); George continued his excellent form in front of goal with another to take his tally to 4 for the day and saving the best until last Luke scoring a cracker from just inside the box.
The second half continued in the same form, Cameron L got an early goal to make it 6-0 before Tom got in on the act scoring a quick fire hat trick including one from the spot and one with his left foot, this was sandwiched between a consolation for Jack who found the back of the net well after good build up play. In the end Craig’s team finished as 9-1 winners but this was a productive tournament for both Scotton teams.
Thanks to Paul J and Mark H for taking the match report notes and big thanks to Dan W's Mum for stepping up as 'Kit (wo)Man' and wash the boys shirts. Much appreciated.
