Date	Sunday 14th April 2013
Match	Witchford Colts v Royston Town Youth Colts
Competition	Cambridge & District Colts League Div 13A
Result	Won 1-7
Royston Scorers	Mick 2, Keiran 2, Lewis, Callum, Jordan
Man of Match	Callum – great break up play and energy

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

 

In this strange season of stop/start fixtures it was great to get a game on. We travelled to Witchford to play them for the first time this season in what may be our last away game of this campaign. The weather was bright, warmer but a bit blowy and the pitch was in reasonable condition with a good grass covering despite being full size and adult sized goals.

 

We had 13 available today and they all seemed keen to play a match after our lively training session on Thursday. We warmed them up and spoke of the type of encounter they could expect today. We asked them to get the basics right and build on this as the game progressed.

 

The boys started the more assertive pushing Witchford back regularly and creating good chances to get shots in. The shooting though – as demonstrated in the warm-up – needs some work as efforts were being rushed and wasted. The lively Keiran had two chances one wide and one direct at the keeper but 10 minutes in sent a perfect lobbed pass through which Mick finished off expertly. 0-1. Again we were having the majority of possession and our superb defenders were limiting their dangerous striker to sporadic touches and no real threat on George’s goal. Adam put in a spritely run up the left and the ball came over to Mick who spun  and put a right foot shot wide and Mick returned the favour with a tricky run and set up for Adam who couldn’t quite pull the trigger. Callum and Jake had started brilliantly and it was their endeavour that was controlling this game. The second goal came from a Mick run up the left and his low delivery was met by Keiran who slotted home. 0-2. Olly and Kyle were tight in their marking and communication and were tackling well. Mick set up Adam who shot over and another Mick pass found Jordan who put in a good run only to see his good shot came back off the post. Half Time 0-2.

 

This had been a first half where the boys were totally in control but had not quite put this game beyond Witchford. Their determination to play football whilst all the time closing down and winning back the ball was great to see and we asked for more in the second half. We swapped Tom and Lewis for Adam and Jordan and sent them out again.

 

Keiran had an early shot go just wide but made amends finishing off a good move put together by Jake and Callum. 0-3. We lost Olly to injury and we re-jigged asking Keiran to play at centre-half which he did – despite being on a hat-trick – with no complaint and like the top class player he is slotted straight into this different position with no fuss, linking up with Kyle brilliantly. Jordan made a run up the wing crossing for Callum who saw his effort on target saved. A Witchford free-kick was well saved by George who then made sure the rebound header went wide. More Royston pressure brought a corner with Mick’s effort going straight in. 0-4. Witchford got one back with a bit of individual brilliance – their striker breaking through and unleashing an unstoppable high shot into the net – 1-4. This was their last sniff of a goal as the boys again closed ranks and kept the work-rate going. Another dangerous Keiran corner was bustled in by Callum – 1-5. Jordan saw a good effort go just over and Mick also put a free-kick high. Lewis was playing his normal game of persistent running and tackling and he arrived perfectly to pick up a Callum lob pass to finish low and accurately. 1-6. The scoring was completed with a route one kick from George being collected by Jordan and he powered home confidently. 1-7.

 

A slightly rusty but overall pleasing performance from the Royston boys and when they got going some of their football was great. Callum was awarded the man of the match and special mentions for Jake, Olly, Kyle, Joe and Jonah. Top class work and continued concentrated defending.