Date	Sunday 27th March 2011
Match	Royston Town Youth Colts v Letchworth GCE Eagles Oranges
Competition	Royston Crow Youth Football League U11 Division 2
Result	Won 4-1
Royston Scorers	Mick 4, Tom T
Man of Match	Mick (Strong, Skilful, Fast & Deadly)

 

 Team:   Rory, Charlie, Brad, Jamie C, Jamie P, Joe, Tom T, Cal l um, Matt, Tom F, Jack, Lewis, Mick, Keiran

 

The run in to the end of the 2010/2011 season is getting exciting and today we welcomed Letchworth GCE Orange to the Heath on a dry and calm – but busy -morning to play on a good pitch surface compared to when last time the two teams met when it was more of a mud-bath.

 

We had a couple of players turn up a bit late today that we can only put down to the lost hour – but we had a squad of 14 this week and started with Rory in goal, Joe and Brad full backs, JP and Tom T centre backs, Keiran left midfield, Jack on the right, Callum and Matt in the middle with Mick and Lewis upfront. Foxy and JC were on the bench with Charlie, who would have the second half in goal.

 

We asked for total commitment and effort, we wanted to see good football and correct decision making. We reminded them what we had worked on in training and sent them out to have fun.

 

The game started with Royston applying pressure high up the pitch and Lewis got in an early shot that was easily dealt with. Some loose challenges in midfield were not impressing us and we asked for tighter marking and quicker closing down. The Oranges surged forward and a total shutdown from midfield and defence resulted in half a tackle but no real clearance and we saw the ball stuck into the net well by the Letchworth striker 0-1. This certainly boosted Orange’s confidence and the next few minutes were all Letchworth as they tried to increase their lead. Matt and Callum were trying to get a foothold, whilst JP and Tom T were working overtime behind them to thwart the attacks. Andy and I were asking for better play and Brad and Joe settled into their usual games and we started to relax a bit. Lewis made a couple of good lively runs and Mick had a surge forward but the ball bobbled horribly as he pulled the trigger and the ball went high and wide. The first bit of quality Royston football brought the equaliser as Keiran controlled and passed to Lewis who set up Mick for a good solid finish 1-1. This was better – Lewis hit the bar following some quick feet and the midfield were now competing for the first and second ball and this strength won a free kick just over the half way line. Tommy T stepped up to take and sent in a dangerous ball that Mick reacted to quickest and challenged the defenders well to nick the ball and bury it for the Colt’s second 2-1. Almost immediately JP sent a long ball through that looked keeper bound only for Mick to cause panic again and he controlled the loose ball deftly before finding the empty net for 3-1 and a first half hat-trick. This totally mixed bag of a half came to an end at 3-1.

 

Score-line = Good

Performance = Ordinary

 

We made a couple of changes bringing on JC at the back and Charlie in goal and asked for a bit more composure – we assured them chances on goal would come from their natural football rather than the high pace panic game they were playing at times that caused as much problems for our own defence as that of Letchworth.

 

Second half started with the Oranges up for it and they put in a good long shot that Charlie will tell you he had covered and that went just wide. An early Mick run and shot went just by the left hand post. Callum and Matt were now in this match and were imposing themselves on midfield and you could see the whole team round them relax a bit. Mick won a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area and picked himself up to take it. Mick sent in a cracking shot that hit the net before the keeper could react and the score was now 4-1. Good Callum pressure set up Tommy T whose shot went just wide. A good save by Charlie told us Letchworth were not finished and an equally good save by the Orange’s keeper kept them in it. Better football all round and Mick put in a good run and cross for Foxy to stretch for but couldn’t quite connect. Joe was doing quality work whilst JP and JC got their act together after letting the ball go over them a couple of times and started to regain full control. Charlie made a good catch from a well struck free kick. The scoring was completed with a move started by Callum that Mick flicked on only to see it hit the bar and rebound to a hungry Tommy T who buried it with relish for 5-1. JP pounced on a stray clearance but his long shot went wide. The second half came to an end with a hard earned 5-1 win for the home team.

 

This was not our best performance of the season and the boys knew it. At times we looked a bit lost but when we relaxed and did the basics right the good football followed. We need to get these basics right and some high quality performances over the next few weeks to see us through. Special mentions for Joe (quality work) and JP (important tackles) and for Mick who took control of this game when it could have got away from us and scored four good goals to wrestle this result from Letchworth.

 

Well done everyone – see you all at training.