Date	Sunday 17th February 2013
Match	West Wratting v Royston Town Youth Colts
Competition	Cambridge & District Colts League U13 Division A
Result	Won 2-5
Royston Scorers	Jordan 2, Adam 2, Mick
Man of Match	Joe – brilliant, dogged defending and surging forward runs

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

 

We travelled to West Wratting on a morning perfect for football. The sun was out and it was chilly but dry and calm. The pitch was in very good condition considering recent weather and this big playing surface would suit our game. We had played Wratting at home twice already this season coming out on top both times – 11-0 in league and 5-0 in the cup – but we came up against a very determined and committed side today.

 

We would be without Keiran today – but welcomed back Foxy after a long injury lay-off. We warmed the boys up asking them to be up for this game from the start, to play the ball on the ground quickly and to win the ball back as soon as possible. Royston would play up the slight incline in the first half.

 

The game started with Wratting showing they were not going to be a soft touch. They has the better of the first five minutes creating a few half chances that the Royston defence of Joe, Jonah, Kyle and Olly dealt with well. Our boys dug in and their good football slowly pushed the game further up the pitch and a corner was won that Adam put over well to see Mick’s snap shot go just by the post. A surging run up the right by Jordan was finished off with a fine cross that saw Adam arrive perfectly to stab home. 0-1. West Wratting continued to probe and a header from a corner went just over and you could see the home team’s confidence growing. Continued determined defending kept them at bay and in a good footballing move we saw Foxy pass to Mick who set up Jordan for a shot that brought a fine save from the Wratting goalie. Lewis was now on making a nuisance of himself and some good pressure culminated in a Mick corner being headed over by Callum. A Wratting free-kick was well defended and George was called upon to make a good save just before the break and the tight and tense half finished at 0-1 to Royston.

 

We were pleased with the first half performance and the level of effort being shown. Unfortunately Olly had to come off with an injury and we moved the excellent Callum back to centre-half alongside Kyle. We asked for even more effort as we knew our hosts would come out strong and we sent them out again.

 

Jordan had an early one on one with their keeper with the goalie just doing enough and a Wratting breakaway shifted the play quickly and despite a good initial save by George the score was levelled. 1-1. Almost immediately the boys regained the lead with Jordan this time superbly rounding the keeper and finishing well. 1-2. A period of midfield battling followed with Foxy, Adam, Tommy and Jake all working their proverbial socks off. Jake had a half chance blocked and Mick set up Adam for a shot that went just wide.  Undeterred the lively Adam pounced on a half chance and put in a long accurate shot that the goalie couldn’t quite stop. 1-3. Another good breakaway saw West Wratting pull one back well and the game was poised in the balance for a short while. 2-3. Lewis was working hard and created a chance for Jake from distance that went just over the bar. Mick was having an unusually quiet game but took his only real chance of the half well – picking up the ball just inside the Wratting half and driving forward to slot by the keeper despite the valiant despairing effort from the home defender. 2-4. With Wratting pushing on they were exposed by a fine pass from Mick and Jordan finished coolly and calmly to seal the win. 2-5.

 

This was an excellent and really competitive match against a combative and resolute Wratting side. Despite having to re-jig at time due to injuries – before and during the game – the boys defended brilliantly, with George backing them up and tall the midfielders playing their part and when called upon the strikers did their jobs. After last week’s goal-fest it was good to come up against a team determined to get the best out of the game and their effort was a credit to them.

Man of the match was awarded to the brilliant Joe, who was un-passable, steely and strong and whose total effort and determination personified the attitude of the whole team today. Special mention for skipper Callum, who had a great game and who took one for the team today and we wish him well soon