Date	Wednesday 1st May 2013
Match	Royston Town Youth Colts v Plantation Youth
Competition	Cambridge & District Colts League U13 Division A
Result	Won 5-0
Royston Scorers	Olly 3, Keiran, Mick
Man of Match	Joe – Top Match. Tenacious tackling and surging forward runs Olly – Good defending. Lethal at set plays – hat-trick hero!

Team – George, Joe, Kyle, Olly, Jake, Callum, Keiran, Jordan, Adam, Mick, Tom T, Lewis, Dan.

 

We welcomed Plantation Youth to the Heath on a beautiful sunny Wednesday evening. The wind was negligible and the pitch surface excellent.

 

With Jonah still out resting his injury we asked the boys to be concentrated as sometimes evening games can be approached differently with the boys distracted from school matters, other sports (boo!) and general end of day tiredness.

 

The low sun would prove to be a factor with all the boys losing the ball at times. Once again this exciting group of players took the game to their opponents early and started to create good goal-scoring chances forcing Plantation to defend deep. Jordan had an early chance well saved and a Mick throw was flicked on by Callum and Keiran shot just wide. George made a good save from a Plantation break. We seemed second to the ball for a short period and we urged Jake and Callum to take control of this midfield area. Mick showed good strength and his creative flick shot shaved the post. We had other chances created by some really good football but the shooting wasn’t of the highest quality and it can be seen the Plantation defended well and kept trying to push on with high and long kicks from their keeper. The scoring was opened with a Keiran corner evading everyone and ending up in the net 1-0. More good control and set up from Mick set up Adam but his shot was dealt with. Keiran executed a quick turn and shot and again this was saved low by the decent keeper. Callum put in a snap shot just wide. The move of the half was a determined bit of play by Jordan who slotted a top quality pass up the right wing to the hard running Jake who took it by a player and crossed low and accurately to Tom who shot first time just wide. Great football. A Mick run just before the break nearly got the second but the defenders did well. Half Time 1-0.

 

It had been a positive half and we couldn’t fault the boy’s effort and endeavour to play good football and the chances created to score were numerous but the final bit in front of goal was just lacking tonight. To create so many chances, but the only goal coming direct from a corner was a bit baffling. We asked the defenders to be strong and move the ball forward quickly and off we went again.

 

Good pressure early on from Olly set up Adam but his quick left foot shot went wide. The second goal came from a Keiran free-kick with Mick and Adam applying good pressure the ball eventually fell to Olly who stabbed it home. 2-0. We were now competing for the first and second ball and Callum and Jake were now bossing the midfield. Callum broke up play setting up Keiran who shot over. Good link up between Adam and Mick set up Jordan for another effort. Joey was dominating his player and was adding to this with good forward support play and the combination work between him and Adam was very good to watch. Mick collected the ball with his back to goal and dipped right only to be fouled and a penalty awarded which he powered in. 3-0.

 

The boys desire to play football was excellent to watch and they began to totally dominate this match creating still more good chances bringing the best out of the visiting keeper and forcing resilient and last ditch defending from the Plantation boys. Lewis and Kyle were doing good holding work at the back and containing the breakaways well. Step up Olly for a fantastic last 15 minutes. Keiran delivered another corner that Olly really thumped home with his head 4-0 and 3 minutes later he met another corner with an absolutely fantastic glancing header that flew into the far corner to complete an impressive hat-trick. Top Class. 5-0.

 

It had been a slightly disjointed first half but more controlled second half but the boy’s effort and domination of all aspects of the pitch paid dividends and despite creating uncountable chances on goal, not scoring from open play, but still notching five good goals. The clean-sheet was just as pleasing and all the defenders and George should take a bow. Well done everyone and joint men of the match went to Joey for a really superb game and to Olly for his sound defending and his quality hat-trick – especially the third.

 

Bring on the League Cup final – Sunday 5^th May 2pm kick off at Cambridge Stadium, Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8FA.