Final Score 3-3
As the week progressed towards this game, I was looking down the squad list with a sinking heart, as more and more of our starting 11 were being pulled out either via injury or given the chance to shine with the first team,
WHY OH WHY I ask myself now, starting 11 with an ave age of 17, were fired up pointed in the direction of the pitch and released, and did they play, YES they did,
What did we have to lose, Grendon are a good side, well organised and well drilled, beating the development squad early in the season 3-0 which at the time was made up with a majority of the first team players,
Anyway that was then this is now, we have the ethos within the squad to stand and play as one, to develop with each min that passes, to never let a ball die and ensure that we play one way “forward”, we may have our setbacks but this game as like the last, you pick yourself up dust down the mud and start again and this is exactly what happened,
Team, ZAC (GK), SAM BE (RB), HAYES (CB), OLLIE (CB), JOE (LB), COREY (RM), JIMMY (CM), JEFF (CM), JAMIE (CM), JARED (LM), JOSH (STR), Subs , JAKE, DANNY, SCOTT,
Right from the first whistle the guys took the game to Grendon; they ensured that we passed the ball with quick precise movement,
With HAYES stepping into at centre back for the first time to partner the returning OLLIE, we looked to put JIMMY in as holding midfield for cover, a role normally taken up by LIAM or SCOTT, and what a game JIMMY had, a young 16yr old bossing the midfield, breaking down the Grendon play, allowing Both JAMIE and JEFF to push forward on the break to assist the ever present JOSH holding the ball up awaiting their support, Add in both wings of COREY and JARED, giving the distribution into the middle and ensuring they battled back to assist both SAM BE and JOE,
The Break came when Joe was able to push forward from LB, Skipping through and slotting the ball home, the game was back and too, with JOSH and the supporting Midfield chasing down every loose ball, then JOSH was rewarded with a delightful through ball which he was first too, the goalie coming out and a quick thinking JOSH chipped the keeper, ball nestling into the back of the net. With Grendon taking a chance with a dropped catch by ZAC his one and only mistake, a keeper that is destine for greater things, the half finished 2-1,
Second Half, after hearing the noise coming from Grendons changing room, the guys were fired up again and sent into battle, Grendon pushed back at us, coming level after a set piece saw one of their player’s loose at the back to slot home their equalizer, 2-2. At no point did our heads drop, the determination to keep going was so obvious throughout the team, and their attitude showed through, and even as they tired, JAMIE kept chasing down any loose ball to the fact that he got on the end of Grendon clearance and ran through Goalie to beat, BANG, back of the net, the discussions started on the side-lines led by Mr CHAIRMAN to remember JAMIES last Goal, we worked out it must be at least 18 months ago.
A last push by Grendon saw them come level again, this was not the end, with mins left we went for it, as I said earlier what did we had to lose, JAKE came on earlier for JEFF and was pushed further up the field, DANNY replaced a tired COREY, and the call went out for them all including JARED from the left to take their chances and risk the shots, and within the dying seconds this nearly paid off, with a shot superbly saved by their keeper from JARED, now that would have been the goal of the season so far.
The whistle goes a well-earned draw,
Mentions:
ZAC: World class saves,
SAM BE: Pure power,
HAYES: OUTSTANDING (STAR PLAYER)
OLLIE: Mr reliable,
JOE: Improves every game,
COREY: Total Battler,
JIMMY: What a Find,
JAMIE: was on it BIG TIME,
JEFF: Feet of FANCY,
JARED: Half pint Rocket
JOSH: Ten times the Player he was before Xmas,
JAKE: Coming back slowly after injury, Futures Bright
DANNY: Will be something very good,
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