Another outing at Percy Fields for the Under 9’s as they entertained Hampsthwaite on a glorious spring morning. The first game started with Lewis F in goal, James H and James E in defence, James C and Joseph in midfield with Lewis D and Tom J up front with Tom S on the subs bench.
Scotton started as brightly as the weather, Tom J creating space down the left and whipping in an early shot which was blocked. Scotton continued to apply pressure on the visitors defence but had to be careful of the counter attack, fortunately Scotton’s defensive rock James H was and cleared well. Joseph showed us some early invention in midfield, getting down the bye line and crossing a dangerous ball in which was cleared to Tom who made space outside the box and fired in a shot just wide.
James H was on the ball again looking to get Scotton moving from the back, supported by James E they found Joseph with a pinpoint pass who unleashed a thunderbolt which deflected for a corner. The corner was fired in and found James C whose shot was buried in the back of the net, 1-0 to Scotton and an excellent start.
Joseph was running the show in midfield, another fierce shot went just wide as Scotton tried to extend their lead, knowing how dangerous their opponents are on the break, this was the case soon after as Hampsthwaite got in two shots which were saved well by Lewis F, the rebound hitting the post.
Joseph continued to make things happen in midfield; winning a corner on the right the ball was cleared, Joseph picked up the ball and crossed for Lewis to meet it with his head only for the visiting keeper to make a fine save. The coaches changed things around with James C coming off with a knock and replaced by Tom S. Seconds later Joseph took a crack to the head and had to be replaced by George. Scotton did not let the changes disrupt their play, winning a corner Tom J found James H who returned the ball to Tom J for a shot which was cleared. Tom S then got in on the action at the back blocking a Hampsthwaite shot as the game went from end to end.
George then combined with Lewis D to feed Tom J whose shot was also blocked as the defences started to dominate, with George getting back to help out in defence. Lewis tried to create a chance down the left as half time approached before being checked by the visiting defence. 1-0 to Scotton at half time as the coaches made some changes introducing Cameron L and Max and Joseph returning to the fray after recovering from his head injury.
The visitors were straight out of the blocks from the kick off and caught Scotton cold with an early chance which made in 1-1, game on! George was showing his pace down the left with some good determined running and interplay with Tom J, Tom J finding Cameron L whose shot went for a corner, which was cleared by the visitors. Lewis F in goal was then called on to make two fantastic saves in quick succession. The second was well held and Lewis F quickly cleared the ball finding Tom J on the left, trying to cut in Tom J won a corner; quick thinking by George and Tom J saw them work a short corner, Tom J moved the ball forward to give him some space to shot and from just in from the touch line he whipped in a shot which was buried into the top right hand corner of the Hampsthwaite goal, what a shot! 2-1 to Scotton.
Scotton saw their chance to take the game by the scruff of the neck; Joseph winning a corner from the right; whipping it in he found Tom J’s head five yards out only for the defender to clear it off the line for another corner. James H came back on the pitch in place of James E as the coaches tried to keep things freshened up as the clock was ticking towards full time. Hampsthwaite were not finished however and again hitting Scotton on the break they fashioned another chance which was finished with a cracking shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-2 and another stunning goal.
Hampsthwaite now had the initiative, looking to press home their advantage a cross into the box hit a stray hand and the referee pointed to the spot. Lewis F made himself look big as the Hampsthwaite penalty taker took four steps back and blasted the ball over the bar, a lucky break for Scotton!
Max, playing alongside James H in defence showed us his pace with a break from defence, Lewis D back on the pitch having replaced Tom J linked well with Joseph, finding Cameron L in the box, the shot was cleared but only to Joseph who tried his luck with a long range effort which went just wide. George then created another opportunity from just outside the box skipping past a couple of challenges he fired in a shot into the bottom corner, with the keeper beat the ball hit the post and bounced out to Cameron L who could not get away his shot and the visitors cleared their lines. The home side tried one last chance down the left but the ball was put out as the referee blew for full time; an excellent game, 2-2 and a fair result capped by some quality play from both sides; the coaches awarding the man of the match award to Tom J for his excellent second half goal.
Game 2 kicked off with Joel (Keeper), James C, Josh, Luke, Elliot, Tom S and Daniel; the game started with both sides sizing each other up, but it was not long before Scotton tested the visitors defence, Luke splitting the back line with an excellent pass which found Daniel whose shot was blocked and cleared away.
As in the first game the visitors looked dangerous on the break and it was not long before Scotton were tested, Daniel getting back with some superb defending to clear the danger for a corner which was well defended. More pressure from the visitors as they looked to gain the upper hand, a shot was fired in which went wide and then they tested Joel in the home goal with a shot which was well saved.
Josh and Elliot were working hard at the back to sweep up the Hampsthwaite danger, however the respite was short lived as another shot was fired in which Joel did well to tip over. The corner was swung into the box and half cleared by an alert James C, but Hampswaite fired in another shot which Scotton could do nothing with, 1-0 to the visitors.
It was backs against the wall stuff for the Scotton defence as Hampsthwaite came straight back at them, Joel saving well from another shot on goal. Daniel did well down the left hand side as he tried to take the pressure of the home defence and create an opportunity for Scotton to equalise but Hampsthwaite soon created another chance, although Josh was equal to it and cleared well. Again the ball was not fully cleared and another shot rained in on the Scotton goal, which hit the back of the net, 2-0 to Hampsthwaite and Scotton have it all to do!
The coaches made a couple of changes, Lewis F and Cameron L came on for Tom S and James C. Straight away Joel was called on to make another save before the visitors added a third with another fine shot from the edge of the box, 3-0 to Hampsthwaite
As half time approach Luke showed some good determination in midfield to hold off two Hampsthwaite whilst trying to play in the Scotton attack, the danger cleared by Hampswaite, who counter attacked again, the shot hit the back of the net to make it 4-0 and the half time whistle went which provided the coaches with an opportunity to re-organise the team.
The coaches rang the changes, Elliot going in goal replacing Joel and Josh was replaced by James H and Lewis D. Scotton started the second half in lively fashion; an early chance by Lewis F forced a corner which was cleared. James H was back in the groove at the back calmly clearing a dangerous move from Hampsthwaite. Again Lewis F tried to force the play in the visitors half making a good run down the right but the ball was cleared up field. Elliot then kept the visitors at bay with a good save as the coaches brought on Joseph for Luke. Almost immediately the change paid off, Elliot launched an excellent kick out which found Joseph who ran onto the ball and slipped it past the keeper to make it 4-1, is there a famous comeback on the cards?
Scotton had the initiative now! Lewis D was in great form finding Cameron L with a good pass, Cameron let fly with a thunderbolt of a shot which was saved well but the rebound came back out and Cameron tried his luck again but the keeper was equal to it. Cameron was then replaced by Tom J as Scotton worked to get back in the game with the clock ticking down.
Lewis F created a chance for himself which was saved, Lewis D then pounced on the rebound only for his shot to go wide. Tom J then played in Lewis D whose shot was deflected for a corner which came to nothing. The two Lewis’s were replaced by Daniel and Luke for the last few minutes, Daniel was straight in the action, his shot well held by the Hampswaite keeper. Josh also rejoined the game and quickly got stuck into the visitors attack clearing a dangerous break down the right.
Joseph then had a jinking run down the right wing, finding Tom J with an excellent pass, Tom slipped past two defences before shooting just wide from the angle. With the last kick of the game James H fired in a long throw in from the right and Tom J hit it on the half volley but the ball screamed just over the bar as the whistle went for full time, 4-1 to the visitors but an excellent second half performance from all the players who did not let their heads drop and kept going to the end. Man of the match was Josh for his stout defending in the face of an attacking barrage from Hampsthwaite.
