The Under 9’s squad travelled to Burton Leonard for their latest league game and after a night of heavy rain found the surrounding areas pretty wet under foot. Fortunately the drainage was in good working order and the pitches were all playable.
Daniel captained the first game and started with Cameron L between the sticks and an outfield of Ewan, James, Tom, Max, Sam and Daniel. The game got underway and Scotton went immediately on the attack with a good break from Ewan. Daniel then led from the front getting in an important defensive tackle to prevent a shot from the Burton forwards. Scotton applied some further early pressure; Tom seeing a shot blocked and then after two quick corners saw his next effort sail over the bar.
Despite the heavy conditions both sides were looking to play the ball around, a Burton attack was broken up by Ewan who found Tom with an excellent pass, Tom controlled the ball and went past two defenders and fired home to make it 1-0.
Burton picked up the play in Scotton’s half but Sam and Max were defending excellently, finding the midfield with some good passing. Scotton won a throw in on the left, Ewan found Tom whose cross in was picked up by Daniel and the captain buried the ball in the back of the net to make it 2-0 to Scotton.
Scotton started to use the full width of the pitch, James, Ewan and Max interchanging passes in midfield and controlling the play well. Burton however were no pushovers and continued to probe the Scotton defence, after a good defensive clearance from Daniel, a corner was whipped in and Burton found the back of the net, 2-1 to the visitors and game on.
Again Burton attacked the Scotton goal but Daniel and Sam were in fantastic form at the back clearing the danger. James then showed his pace on the ball, getting down the wing and firing in an excellent cross which was cleared. Ewan and James then combined well to keep the pressure on; a cross from the right won Scotton a free kick at the edge of the box. Tom tried to lift the ball over the wall but it clipped it and was cleared. Ewan then found his shooting boots, seeing two efforts blocked, the ball found its way to Tom whose shot was half stopped by the goalie but crossed the line to make it 3-1, as half time approached Burton put the Scotton defence under pressure but Sam showed his defensive qualities to clear the danger. HT 3-1 to Scotton.
Burton came out looking to score early, an early effort on goal was saved by Cameron and then the ball was cleared after a goal mouth scramble. At the other end James had a shot blocked and Tom and Ewan saw efforts saved by the home goalie. The follow up corner was whipped in and Daniel just shot wide after he got into an excellent position. Max continued working the ball well from the back, finding Ewan with an excellent ball and then sweeping up as Burton tried to break.
Scotton started to create more chances up front, Tom finding Daniel in the box whose shot went just wide. Meanwhile at the back Sam and Max continued their excellent work, stifling any Burton attacks. Daniel then saw a couple of good shots go wide as Scotton tried to extend their lead. The fourth goal arrived when Sam and Max worked the ball out of defence and found Daniel, the captain looked up and played the ball into Tom’s feet as he bore down on the Burton goal, reaching the ball just before the goalie and slipping the ball past him to make it 4-1 and a hat trick for Tom.
Max continued to defend stoutly, providing excellent protection for Cameron’s goal. As the clock ticked down to full time Ewan found Tom in midfield, Tom slipped past one defender and shot from just outside the box to make it 5-1 as the full time whistle went. An excellent performance from all the lads, with the captain Daniel getting a deserved man of the match award.
The second game started with Cameron L in goal, Lewis D (captain) & James E in defence, Lewis F & Joseph in midfield and Cameron B & Jack in attack. James H started as reserve and rolling subs were used throughout the game. Scotton started brightly with several attacking moves coming from the midfield and strikers. The first goal was not long in coming when Joseph was set up by Cameron B and scored in the bottom corner (1-0). At the other end Cameron L made a good low save from Burton Leonards first real attack.
The home side levelled the scoring when Scotton did not clear their lines from a corner (1-1). This was against the run of play but from the re-start we took control again. Cameron B had a long range shot go just wide and he was then involved in a goalmouth scramble with Jack. Somehow the ball stayed out of the net. Jack was eventually rewarded with a goal when he slid in at the back post (2-1).
Lewis F then got in on the action with a good poachers goal (3-1) before the home keeper made an excellent save to deny Scotton adding a fourth. This did eventually come before half time when a shot by Joseph was turned in by Jack (4-1). The first half saw some good attacking football on a wet muddy pitch which was a credit to the way they all played as a team. A change at half time saw Lewis F go in goal, James H & James E in defence, Joseph & Cameron L in midfield and Cameron B & Lewis D in attack, Jack starting as sub.
The second half started as the first had gone with Scotton pressing for another goal and dominating the game. Some slick passing ended with the home goalkeeper making a good save. Cameron L soon added another goal, going around a couple of defenders before shooting past the keeper (5-1).
Scotton kept on pressing with good shots by Lewis D and Joseph going just wide. James E took a quick throw in to set Jack free which also went just wide. If the shooting in the second half had been more like the first half we could have seen a score in double figures, such was Scotton’s dominance. Even though they were good going forward the boys also worked hard in defence when they lost the ball, with the two James’ breaking up the home team’s attacks and quickly launching Scotton’s next attack.
It was like watching Man Utd or Arsenal at their counter attacking best with the ball moving quickly from one end to the other with several players involved. The defence as a team was so good that Lewis F did not have a save to make and finished with the cleanest shirt on the pitch. The final whistle went with Scotton winning 5-1 and Cameron B picking up the man of the match award. Well done to all the team.
