Date	Sunday 25th November 2012
Match	Fulbourn Falcons Colts v Royston Town Youth Colts
Competition	Cambridge & District Colts Football League U13 Division A
Result	Won 2-8
Royston Scorers	Keiran 3, Mick 2, Jordan 2, Jake
Man of Match	Keiran (Another superb game in various roles – well taken hat-trick)

Team – George, Tommy, Joe, Olly, Kyle, Callum, Jake, Jordan, Adam, Mick, Keiran, Lewis, Jonah.

 

After two days of continuous rainfall we arrived at Fulbourn on a dry breezy afternoon to find a leaf-strewn damp pitch but pleased to find the game on after a week off last Sunday. We had played Fulbourn in the league at home in September coming out 8-0 winners but looking at the pitch and weather conditions we knew that it was going to be a different game today. We talked about this to the boys and asked them to be sure with their passes, move the ball as quickly as possible and be confident in possession.

 

Jordan had the first chance of the day after two minutes shooting over from a Mick set-up. A minute later and Fulbourn surged forward and their striker rattled George’s cross bar and the defenders mopped up well. Royston took the lead on 6 minutes when a Mick pass fed Jordan whose shot was blocked leaving a simple tap in for Keiran. 0-1. Some sloppy defending with no real tackle saw Fulbourn come back level two minutes later with a good finish from their attacker. 1-1. Five minutes later and the Fulbourn goal-keeper made a world class save from a Keiran shot that looked goal-bound until the keeper dived and tipped it round the post – Great stuff all round. On the quarter hour a Mick cross was met firmly with a Keiran header which was well saved only for the rebound to fall to back to Keiran who made no mistake. 1-2.

 

It was a lively match with both teams trying to move the ball through the leaves but a few short passes were causing some hurried defending that Royston had seemed to adapt slightly better too and we moved the superb Keiran back to help out as he seemed to have adjusted quicker than others today. Some quick thinking and throw by Mick to Adam who put in a shot that again was blocked but this time Jordan was well placed to finish it off. 1-3. Jordan put a good shot just wide and a Callum header from a corner also went just past the post taking us into the half-time break with the score at 1-3.

 

The first half had been won mainly through the battle in the midfield, Callum and Jake were putting themselves about brilliantly winning most tackles and pushing forward at every opportunity. Adam was his usual tenacious self and Tommy T was working hard for his team despite carrying an obviously painful knee injury. Olly, Kyle, Joe, Keiran and Jonah were soaking up most of the pressure with their usual clean tackling and were keeping the shots on George’s goal to a minimum. George himself had done well making a couple of pick ups and good kicks. Lewis was on closing down well and Mick and Jordan were involved in most moves forward.

 

The second half started with Royston beating the “offside trap” and Mick shot went just wide and Jordan warmed the hands of the keeper with a fierce shot. Callum picked up the ball and sent a defence splitting ball through to Mick who set up Jordan for him to finish off a great move. 1-4. The fifth goal was all Mick as he took the ball on skilfully and shot past the advancing keeper and made it five. 1-5. The boys conceded a soft goal when chances to clear weren’t taken. 2-5. Tommy T had a good opportunity to get on the score-sheet but saw his powerful shot go over the bar. Keiran – now on the left wing – completed his hat-trick with a top quality volley. 2-6. and Jake got a deserved goal jinking through a few challenges in the penalty area and slotting home a controlled low and accurate shot. 2-7. A Jordan run and pass found Mick who again went wide and George was called upon to make a good solid save. The scoring was completed with Mick rounding the superb Fulbourn goalie and shooting home. 2-8. A surging run from Olly fed Mick and his effort was saved and Adam had the final chance of the game latching onto a good Jordan lay off but his shot was blocked. Full Time 2-8.

 

In difficult pitch conditions the boys showed they have a tough side to their play. They dug deep in a sometimes ugly match and ground this one out. They kept trying to play their own style of football but supported each other when the play broke down. It was another excellent team performance. Man of the match was Keiran – for the second week running – who was lively and dangerous when upfront   and solid and outstanding when asked  to defend. It is the League Cup quarter final next  week!!!  

 

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