With the season fast approaching its climax, Scotton Scorchers entertained Kirkby Malzeard in the final round of league games at the Cricket Ground on a gloriously sunny Saturday morning.
Craig selected Ben in goal for the first game with an outfield of Jack, Tom, Cameron, Elliot, Sam and Dan. The game started with early Scotton pressure, Tom sizing up an early chance with an overhead kick that went wide of the goal. Kirkby soon followed with their first chance of the game again shooting wide without testing Ben in the home goal. The game followed a similar flow with both sides exchanging some good attacking play without putting the goal under too much danger, Tom shot wide after some good interplay with Cameron whilst from a free kick the visitors tested Ben with the first save of the game. Kirkby followed up with another shot that went just wide and a corner which was well cleared with his head by Tom.
Scotton continued to make some good chances themselves with Tom and Cameron shooting just wide after good build up play down the wings. Dan then tried his luck with a couple of good efforts which were well saved by the visiting keeper. At the back Sam and Elliot were playing well to keep the visitors at bay, Sam looked in good form as he cleared a quick break from the Kirkby forward line. The breakthrough came soon after with the visitors taking the lead, an unstoppable shot into the top corner, 1-0 to Kirkby.
Scotton continued to plug away with Tom, Jack and Cameron working well together, a corner was won which led to a cross / shot from Tom which went just wide. The visitors extended their lead soon after breaking well and catching the Scotton defence in two minds. 2-0 to the visitors and Scotton has it all to do.
Again Scotton continued to probe the visitor’s defence, Tom providing Jack with a chance, his shot well blocked by the Kirkby defence. Craig then made the first change of the match replacing Jack with George in an attempt to get back in the game. Scotton continued to create chances, Tom’s cross / shot was well saved whilst George and Tom played an excellent one two only for George’s shot to be blocked. Meanwhile at the other end the visitors again picked off the Scotton defence with a clinical break to make it 3-0. A slightly harsh score line for the home side, and again they had no luck in front of goal, Tom found Cameron whose shot cannoned of the cross bar and was cleared for a corner.
The corner was whipped in but again Scotton were left exposed at the back as Kirkby launched another counterattack and made it 4-0 just before half time. The lad’s heads dropped at this point and Craig made another change, bringing Liam on in goal for Ben.
Tom again tried his luck down the left, winning a corner after his cross was blocked, Tom picked the ball up again and his shot was well saved; Tom then turned supplier, finding George who used his strength to get into a good position only for his shot to be saved as well, the visitors keeper was having a blinder! Liam then pulled off his first save to ensure no more goals for the visitors before half time, although Scotton did give themselves a chance with Tom shooting from distance and finding the back of the net to make it 4-1 as the ref blew for the break.
Craig again made a change bringing on Max in place of Sam. No sooner had the whistle blown for the second half the visitors made it 5-1 with a fine shot that Liam could do nothing with. At this stage it looked like Scotton were going to suffer the biggest defeat of the season, however the players rolled their sleeves up and tried to take the game to the visitors, Cameron shooting well from distance which was well saved. Max was in good form at the back doing well to bring the ball out of defence and create some momentum for the home side; Tom certainly had his shooting boots on in the second half as he peppered the goal with three excellent attempts which were all well saved as it looked as though it was not going to be Scotton’s day. George and Tom linked up well together with an excellent one two resulting in another shot which was well saved.
George then got in the attack shooting well but winning only a corner, then Cameron followed by Max had a go but their efforts were blocked, Tom then followed up with another attempt which was saved as the visitor’s goal led a charmed life. The pressure soon paid off however as George and Tom worked the ball well, with Cameron getting in the cross and finding Tom who made it 5-2, game on!
Scotton continued to press the Kirkby goal, Tom found Cameron whose shot went just wide, George then tried his luck but again the keeper saved well as the ball headed towards the top corner. Tom and then Cameron had two goal bound efforts saved as the visitor’s keeper kept Scotton at bay. Liam played his part at the back kicking well to ensure Scotton could launch another wave of attacks, Tom picked the ball up deep in midfield and fired past the keeper to make it 5-3 and a hat trick for Tom, the comeback was really on!
Liam continued to keep alert saving well as Kirkby had a rare second half break, George then stung the keeper’s hands with an excellent shot from the left, George then tried his luck again and yet again the goal bound effort was well saved, unlucky George! George then found Tom with a one two but Tom’s shot was parried away as the clock started to tick down.
Jack then reappeared in place of Elliot as Craig urged the lads forward, Jack then started one of the moves of the game finding Cameron who in turn passed to Tom in midfield, Tom looked up and moved the ball to George who quickly returned the ball and Tom advanced and slotted the shot home to make it 5-4 with only a couple of minutes left.
Scotton could sense Kirkby were hanging on and again Tom and George worked the ball well in midfield, repeating the move that got the fourth goal Tom again broke forward behind the visitors defence and slammed the ball home to make it 5-5 – what a comeback!! As time ticked down the home side could not create another chance and the final whistle went to end a fantastic game five each.
After everyone caught their breath, game two started with Liam in goal and an outfield consisting of Sam, Jack, Max, Cameron, Tom, and George.
As with the first game both sides looked to size each other up, the visitors made the first chance, shooting just wide after good play down the right. Tom then tried his luck, his shot was goal bound but well saved by the keeper. George and Tom then exchanged passes and Tom’s shot again was well saved. Max then launched a couple of strong decisive runs from defence, beating three players he found Tom whose shot again was stopped by the keeper.
Liam was then tested in the home goal, saving well as Kirkby pressed with two corners in succession, Sam clearing well to stop the danger. Liam again saved well as the game went from one end to the other; both keepers were on top form. Cameron then did a ‘Rory Delap’, his long throw finding Tom whose shot was blocked well and cleared. Scotton continued to press however with George exchanging passes with Tom who then found Jack, his shot going just wide. Sam then produced an excellent defensive tackle to deny the visitors, the follow up shot going wide of the Scotton goal.
Sam then found Tom with an excellent pass; Tom moved the ball to George whose shot went just wide. Jack did well on the edge of the Kirkby box, finding Tom who in turn fired in a shot which was well saved again. Scotton then peppered the visitor’s goal, first Cameron, and then Tom and finally George tried their luck only to be thwarted by the keeper. As half time approached Max kept Kirkby out and Liam saved well from a rebounded shot. Half Time 0-0
The second half started like the first finished with both sides looking to make the breakthrough, Max did well in defence to clear a Kirkby chance, the ball was played up to Tom, who moved in from the left and fired the ball in, the shot beat the keeper for the first time but not the post and the ball bounced clear before Jack could pounce. Tom then tried his luck again only to see his goal bound shot saved. At the other end Sam and Max kept their concentration in defence to ensure the visitors could not score. Tom then fed in George with an excellent slide rule pass, George’s shot seemed destined for the top corner only for the keeper to pluck it out of the air. Tom then tested the keeper twice in quick succession, both well saved.
The Scotton defence was then called into action as Kirkby won two corners in quick succession, the first led to a shot which hit the post; the second was well cleared by Max. Max then led a Scotton break from the back, finding Cameron with an excellent ball who in turn found Tom whose shot from distance went wide. Kirkby then hit Scotton on the break only for Liam to pull off an excellent save.
With the game going from one end to another it was a surprise that it was still 0-0, again Scotton went close with Cameron and then George seeing good shots saved. Then Cameron and Tom had good chances blocked as the game moved into the last few minutes, Cameron then found Tom with a good cross who found George, his shot just going wide.
Kirkby then broke forward and with time ticking away slotted the ball home to make it 1-0. There was still time for one last chance, Tom and George again combining well with a good one two, George lined up his shot which again was beaten away by the keeper. That was the last chance of the match as the visitors won 1-0, another excellent contest to round off some top drawer football. Craig had a tough choice to decide the man of the match award, with Tom edging it for his five goal haul in the first game but everyone played their part in an exciting couple of games.
----
