At last the parents were rewarded with some better spectator weather as the Under 9’s faced Hampswaite in a tough away fixture on a fine spring morning.
For the first game the coaches started with Cameron L in goal and an outfield of Max, James, Ewan, Tom, Lewis and Cameron B. The boys started brightly with Ewan putting the home side under early pressure down the left and providing Cameron with an early chance which was snuffed out by the Hampswaite defence. James took Ewan’s lead by making an excellent darting run down the right wing, finding Tom with an excellent pass; Tom then exchanged passes with Ewan just outside the box before having a shot which went just wide.
Tom then turned provider, picking up a throw in from Ewan he produced an excellent cross which Cameron steered just wide. Max then got in the action, making a strong run to the edge of the area before finding Tom who tested the goalie with an excellent shot. Max then forced a corner which found Ewan whose shot went just over the bar. Excellent pressure from Scotton, which continued with further saved efforts from Cameron and Tom. The first goal then came after excellent play by Max and Lewis whose through ball found Cameron who made no mistake to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Cameron had his sight firmly on the goal now, an excellent cross shot was well saved and from the subsequent clearance Tom almost buried one on the half volley, his shot clipping the post and going wide. Ewan then got in on the act again his shot blocked by some last ditch defending, which led to a rare Hampswaite break which was cleared by James with an excellent tackle, and Lewis swept up the loose ball.
Cameron was at the heart of all Scotton’s attacking play, breaking down the right he won a corner after some neat interplay with Max. Hampswaite then started to get more into the game, Tom and Ewan clearing well after good movement by the home side, but Scotton continued to take the game to the home side, Tom saw another shot saved and Cameron planted the follow up into the net to make it 2-0 for Scotton.
Cameron was on fire and soon after collected the ball down the left hand side and cut in and fired in an excellent shot which the keeper could not stop, 3-0 to the visitors and another excellent hat trick from Cameron as the half time whistle went.
The coaches changed things around at half time, giving Cameron and Max a rest and introducing Tom M and James. Scotton started the second half like the first putting in some early pressure on the home side’s goal. Tom J got in another shot which was well saved by the keeper who was having an excellent game, Tom M then got into the action finding Ewan with an excellent pass, and Ewan with a trademark thunderbolt had the net bulging again to make it 4-0. Again Scotton came forward, giving the home side no respite, Tom J again trying his luck with a good shot that was saved, James H then showing his defensive abilities sweeping up at the back, Cameron L was then called upon to make his first save of the day; the follow up corner was scrambled away by the Scotton defence. Cameron and Max then rejoined the fray replacing Lewis and James H; Cameron was straight into the action again, picking up a ball from Tom M he fired just wide. Max then show us his defensive skills clearing well to keep the home side out and finding Ewan in midfield who exchanged passes with Tom J and found Cameron in space in the Hampswaite area, Cameron’s shot was blocked but Tom J was on hand to follow up and squeeze the ball home and make it 5-0.
Lewis and James replaced Tom J and Ewan for the final few minutes; Cameron continued to search for further goals, his shot went just wide and then he found Tom M whose attempt was saved. James H was still alert at the heart of defence clearing well and when Hampswaite did get another shot in then Cameron L was equal to it with an excellent save. Full time 5-0 to Scotton and an excellent all round performance, particularly Max who was deservedly named man of the match.
Game 2 saw the coaches ring the changes, with a line up of Ben in goal, Daniel, Sam, Oscar, Joseph, James and Luke. The game started with Hampswaite eager to make amends for the first game, early pressure from them was snuffed out by good tackling by James, finding Joseph in midfield who battled well to keep hold of the ball and exchanged good passes with Oscar. Sam then did well to break up another attack from Hampswaite, with Joseph and Daniel on hand to get the ball clear. Then the home side managed to breach the visitors defence but Ben was equal to the shot and made an excellent save. Another shot came in from the home attack which went over the bar, the danger over for the time being.
Despite some excellent defensive play the boys were being pushed back and Hampswaite made the breakthrough soon after with an excellent shot from the edge of the box; 1-0 to the home side.
Daniel and James got in good tackles in midfield to stifle another Hampswaite attack but another break down the left gave the home side an opportunity which they took, firing in the shot from the angle. 2-0 to Hampswaite and Cameron L came on for Oscar as the coaches looked to change things around.
Cameron was soon in the thick of the action with some good interplay with James. Hampswaite came forward again and Ben saved well from a good shot, with the rebound cleared by Cameron as the half time whistle went, giving the boys a chance to regroup.
The second half started with the home side again applying pressure on the Scotton goal, Joseph blocked well in the box and the ball was cleared by Cameron, another chance was cleared by Luke as Hampswaite peppered the visitor’s goal with a succession of shots which went wide. Daniel was replaced by James and straight away the game changed Joseph created a chance for Scotton firing in his shot to make it 2-1 and game on!
Tom M then replaced Luke as Sam and James put in excellent tackles to break up another attack, whilst Tom M got himself into a couple of excellent positions in the box, the keeper doing well to block his attempted shot. James was then replaced by Oscar as the coaches looked to get the team back level. Cameron did well to break down the left; cutting inside his shot just missed the goal. Cameron then found himself back defending as Hampswaite realised they were in a game now and tried to turn the game back in their favour.
Hampswaite broke again and despite an excellent defensive block from Oscar they squeezed the ball home to make it 3-1. Straight away Hampswaite were back on the attack, firing in an unstoppable shot to make it 4-1. As the game drifted away from Scotton, Hampswaite won a corner which was only partially cleared and the follow up shot hit the back of the net to make it 5-1, three quick goals killed off Scotton’s hopes of a comeback. As full time approached there was still time for Hampswaite to add another goal to make it 6-1 at the final whistle. Despite the loss the boys gave their all and Cameron L was named man of the match for an excellent display across the pitch.
