Date	Sunday 3rd March 2013
Match	Shelford & Stapleford Strikers v Royston Town Youth Colts
Competition	Cambridge & District Colts League Div 13A
Result	Won 1-4
Royston Scorers	Tom T, Mick, Keiran, Lewis
Man of Match	Adam (Tremendous work rate & non-stop effort

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

 

In the last of a series of four away matches we travelled to Sawston on a great afternoon for football. The weather was milder and dry and there was little wind. The pitch however, was poor with longish grass in places and it didn’t look like it had seen a roller for many months.

 

We urged the boys to be concentrated and ensure that complacency didn’t affect their approach to this game. Our normal brand of football would be difficult on this uneven surface but we still asked them to try and play their usual patient game.

 

In a ramshackle and fragmented first half the Royston boys dominated possession and chances on goal but too often their shooting was wayward and a lot of this had to be down to the pitch. Keiran’s corners were superb and dangerous but SASS defended resiliently and dealt with most efforts well.

 

The only goal of the first half came from Tommy T who found himself in the six yard box with his back to goal and made a cute turn hitting a low shot into the net. 0-1. Adam was working hard up the left and Jake was getting stuck into his former team-mates with relish. Half time 0-1.

 

We asked for them to try and adapt to this pitch, keep moving the ball, keep putting pressure on the SASS goal and bring Jordan more into the game.

 

The second half started in a similar fashion with a lot of huff and puff but no real quality. We switched to a more familiar line up and the quality did improve. Mick made it two with a good run and firm shot. 0-2. The game stayed this way for about ten minutes. SASS got one back with a swift breakaway and we asked for even more effort. Keiran was now in midfield and his qualities began to control this match. A free kick was won wide left and Keiran took it sending a brilliant unstoppable drive into the far top corner. 1-3. The football was now much improved and with Jordan now much more involved he set up Lewis for a tap in to complete the scoring. 1-4.

 

This was a “win ugly” sort of game that the boys dominated in football, possession and chances and the final score was probably a fair reflection of a scrappy game but credit to the Shelford & Stapleford guys who defended resolutely as a team, got a good goal and never ever rolled over.

 

League Cup semi-final at home next week so at least we know the playing surface will be better.