Heavy overnight rain was not enough to put paid to this fixture although it proved to be tough going for the players as they hosted Kirkby Malzeard Lions at a wet and muddy Percy Fields.
With a couple of players unavailable, the coaches started with Cameron in goal; David and Wilf in defence; a midfield trio of Darren, Oliver and Tom with Callum as the lone striker.
Scotton started the game brightly with Tom finding Darren with an excellent ball whose shot was well saved by the visiting keeper. Kirkby were expected to be tough opposition and it proved correct when they created their first chance of the game which Cameron saved well; with both sides sizing each other up, Scotton made the breakthrough, Darren finding Callum in space who lashed the ball into the net, 1-0 to Scotton.
The lead was short lived however as the Lion’s came straight back at Scotton, a fierce shot from distance almost broke the net to make it 1-1. Scotton did not let their heads drop however and Tom fired in a shot which was well saved as the game went from end to end. Wilf then found Callum whose shot was blocked; Scotton then forced a couple of corners as they put the visitors under pressure.
With the game evenly matched Kirkby then took the lead with another fierce shot as the hosts struggled to deal with some powerful running from midfield. 2-1 to Kirkby and Scotton were on the back foot.
Callum almost created an immediate reply with a shot which was deflected and fizzed just over the bar; this led to three corners in a row but Scotton could not force the ball in despite some good quality crosses into the box. Kirkby again hit Scotton on the break, another powerful run from midfield which the home defence did not pick up led to a third cracking shot of the game, 3-1 to the visitors and Scotton had it all to do. As half time approached Tom again tried his luck with a shot which the visiting keeper saved well. Half time 3-1 to Kirkby and the coaches made a change with Brad coming on for Oliver in midfield.
Scotton started the second half well, again Callum then Darren went close with shots which were well saved, but again Kirkby hit them on the break to make it 4-1. The game was drifting away from Scotton but the players kept on plugging away, David getting forward from the back helped force another three corners in succession but despite some good delivery Kirkby held firm.
Tom then saw two shots well saved as Scotton pushed forward in search of goals; Tom then played Callum in with an excellent through ball but with the keeper rushing out and Callum’s shot went agonisingly wide. The coaches made a couple of changes as Harry and Elliot came on with Tom picking up a knock. Harry was only on the pitch a couple of minutes when he fired in a lovely shot to make it 2-4, but with the clock ticking down Scotton could not find another goal and the game ended with Kirkby the winners 4-2. It was a tough game for Scotton against strong opposition, but the lads kept plugging away, man of the match was a close run thing but Callum edged it with a wonderful goal in the first half.
After a short break the second game kicked off with David going in goal; Darren and Elliot at the back, Tom, Harry and Callum in midfield with Cameron and Wilf up front.
Scotton did not appear to have a hangover from the first game as Callum continued his good form in front of goal firing in a fine effort to make it 1-0 to Scotton. Kirkby then created a couple of chances themselves as the game went from one end to the other, David saving well from one shot. Callum then almost got a second but his shot was blocked and cleared for a corner. From the retake Cameron had an effort saved and Scotton forced another corner. Kirkby then broke downfield but David again did well to keep the ball out with a well timed save.
Tom, having recovered from a knock in the first game then set up Cameron with an excellent dribble through the heart of midfield, Cameron lashed the ball home and Scotton extended their lead to 2-0.
Kirkby recovered quickly however and after some pressure they pulled a goal back to make it 2-1. Scotton did not let this set back affect them, Tom whipped in a shot which was well saved then from a long Harry throw in; Wilf found Cameron whose shot hit the back of the net to make it 3-1 to Scotton.
Scotton had the initiative now and Callum, Cameron then Tom all had shots which were well saved; from a corner a Kirkby defender almost put through his own goal as the ball fizzed over the bar; Cameron then fired in a chance as Scotton tried to extend the lead. Just before half time they did just that, as Tom yet again created a chance from midfield, played in Callum with an excellent ball and Callum got his second of the game to make it 4-1.
As half time approached Harry then tried an audacious shot from 30 yards out which went just over the bar; the half time whistle blew with Scotton 4-1 ahead and looking good for the lead with Darren and Elliot having marshalled the Scotton defence superbly denying Kirkby any space in the first half.
Wilf took over from David in goal for the second half and he was called straight into the action, with a fantastic double save to deny Kirkby. Tom then had two chances to extend the lead, both shots were well saved, Callum then played Tom in and again the goalie saved, denying Tom a goal.
Tom then found Brad with a good ball, who in turn found Cameron who finished well to make it 5-1 to Scotton and an excellent hat trick from Cameron.
At this point the game seemed over but Kirkby had other ideas, as they did in the first game they started to attack the Scotton defence with real purpose and in quick succession pulled the game back to 5-4; at this point the lads were hanging on with everyone back in the Scotton half defending for their lives; with time ticking away Brad then broke forward and caught Kirkby light at the back, as he fired in the shot it went agonisingly wide but it was enough to take the pressure of the Scotton defence and the full time whistle went with Scotton holding on for a 5-4 victory.
This was another tough game with all the players contributing to an excellent match, Cameron got a well deserved man of the match award for a wonderful hat trick which ultimately won the game for Scotton.
