The Under 10’s travelled to Pannal Ash for the second fixture of the season in the Harrogate & District Development League.
The squad was missing a couple of key players this week due to other commitments however the lads were in confident mood as Scotton kicked off with Liam in goal, Elliot and Michael in defence, Jonah and Owen in midfield with George the lone striker supported by Tom the captain for the match operating in a free role in front of the midfield.
The early exchanges were in the middle of the park with both teams sizing each other up; the home side had the first sight on goal which went wide of the post without troubling Liam. George then combined with Tom to fashion a shot for Scotton which whizzed just wide. Tom then peppered the home goal with a couple of rasping shots which were well saved, meanwhile in defence Michael and Elliot were in control as a home attack was sniffed out.
George was looking lively in attack and his shot from the right just went wide of the post as Scotton pressed the home defence. Jonah and Owen were working hard in midfield to stop any Pannal attacks as the game went from one end to the other.
Scotton then took the lead in spectacular fashion, Elliot played a great ball out of defence and found Tom in midfield, his pinpoint pass found George with his back to goal, and turning on a six-pence he left the defender for dead and cracked the ball into the top right hand corner, 1-0 Scotton and an early contender for goal of the season!
Tom then had a chance to extend the lead but his shot was well saved; Pannal then launched another attack and a fierce shot hit the back of the net to make it 1-1. Game on!!
Tom then tested the keeper again with a thunderbolt only to see him turn the ball onto the post and the ball was scrambled out as the half time whistle went, 1-1 and the game was evenly poised. The coach made one change, Josh replacing Jonah in midfield.
The second half started with Scotton on the back foot, and it was not long before the hosts were in the lead, despite Liam’s best efforts the ball hit the back of the net, 2-1 to Pannal. The lad’s heads did not drop however and Scotton’s defence held firm as Pannal tried to extend the lead, Michael and Elliot working hard and supported by Josh and Owen in midfield. As the clock ticked down, George played in Tom whose instinctive shot nestled in the bottom corner as Scotton pulled it back to 2-2 with only minutes to go. Despite trying to go for the winner there were no more goals and the game ended 2-2. An excellent effort by all the players, and the man of the match award went to George for an excellent striking performance which was topped off by a fantastic goal.
Game 2 kicked off with Liam and George swapping places, George, captain for the match taking his place in goal and Jonah replacing Owen in midfield. Pannal started the game brightly and Scotton were immediately on the back foot, Michael and Elliot did well to keep the home side out. It was not long though before Pannal was ahead after firing in from close range, 1-0 Pannal. With Scotton struggling to get at the home defence Pannal attacked the Scotton goal again and made it 2-0. Scotton were not beaten however and the lad’s pulled their socks up and took the game to the hosts, Tom firing in an excellent shot to make it 2-1.
As we approached half time it looked like Scotton were taking control of the game but Pannal created another chance to make it 3-1 as the half time whistle went. Owen came on at half time to replace Jonah and Liam went back in goal allowing George to move back into the striking position.
The change had an immediate effect as Tom played George through to bury the ball into the back of the net, 3-2 and Scotton were back in it. Michael and Elliot were working hard to break up play at the back and Josh and Owen were helping them out but Pannal got a fourth with a fantastic lob shot over Liam who could do nothing about it, 4-2 to Pannal and the game seemed over.
Scotton kept going however and Josh won a corner which he took himself, picking out Tom who powered a header into the net to make it 4-3. With time running out Scotton pushed for an equaliser, Tom had a weaving run beating three defenders before shooting against the post, so close but the ball was cleared. Scotton could not create another chance and eventually the game ended with the home side winning 4-3. Despite this all the players deserved a round of applause for an excellent effort and Michael won the man of the match award for a sterling performance at the back.
