Date	Sunday 25th September 2011
Match	Borehamwood Youth v Royston Town Youth Colts
Competition	U12 County Challenge Cup
Result	Won 4-8
Royston Scorers	Billy 4, Lewis W, Jamie C, Jamie P, Callum L
Man of Match	Billy (Ran the opposition defence ragged and didn't stop all day. Class!)

The county cup can is interesting as it can pit you against teams you never get to play normally. You can also be taken to every far-flung corner of the county on a Sunday morning, and as it was we had the long trip to north London and Borehamwood.

 

The day started badly, with cry off from 3 players leaving us down to only 9 starters, and the real possibility of Steve and myself calling the match off. However, we decided to go for it and arrived at a Sunny Borehamwood to find a pitch not dissimilar to our homeground Heath – Sloping and Windy. The electricity pylon overhead made a nice feature and was in constant danger of getting hit by the ball.

 

However, we told the lads to not worry about the score or the danger of electrocution, and kicked off down hill with nothing to lose.

 

The first half seems a blur. Right from the off Billy was terrorising their defenders and they ended up putting 3 players to mark him. This left Callum and Tom free to run down the wings feeding balls in and Charlie A with Jamie P to dominate the midfield. We quickly went 1- 0 up and then 2 – 0 both from Billys quick feet. At the back Jamie C, Stephen and Lewis W had little to do other than mop up the occasional ball through. The only real attack Borehamwood had ended in a breakaway goal to make it 2 –1. However, just before half time, Lewis W received the ball in his own half and volleyed it high in the air towards the goal. The keeper starred at it as it plummeted down covered in ice, and then saw it bounce over his head into the goal! 3 –1 and wild cheers from the sidelines.

 

The half ended 3 – 1 to the Eagles and we tried to calm the lads down. They were buzzing after an immense first half display, but as Steve and I told them – The job was only half done. For the second 30 minutes we would be playing up hill against the wind and the job would be very tricky.

 

As we thought, Borehamwood came back strongly and scored a quick goal to make it 3 – 2. Our heads could so easily have gone down, but if anything we came back even stronger and some brilliant skill from Callum down the left wing saw him slide it in the goal for 4 –2. Jamie P quickly made it 5 – 2 with a great run through midfield before Borehamwood made it 5 – 3.

 

We were not finished though, and Billy continued to run their defence ragged, latching onto a ball through midfield to calmly put it in the corner for 6- 3. Borehamwood came back again for 6 – 4 but that was all they could get. Stephen, Lewis and Jamie C in defence shut up shop and they had no more chances to score. Jamie C headed in from a well taken Tom corner (one of many that always looked threatening) and Billy finished off the scoring to make it 8 – 4 to the Eagles and 4 to Billy.

 

Steve and I were immensely proud of the lads today. It was without doubt an incredible performance against a big Borehamwood side. They played with heart, spirit and a lot of skill and deserved their victory. The crowd applauded them off and they went home with big grins on their faces.

 

Team – Jamie C (Captain), Jamie P, Billy, Tom, Lewis W, Charlie C, Charlie A, Callum, Stephen