Date	Sunday 23rd October 2011
Match	BSFC Athletic v Royston Town Youth
Competition	Royston Crow Youth Football League U13 Division 2
Result	Won 3-4
Royston Scorers	Ben, Owen, Kye, Charlie

We tried to stress the point to the team that this Stortford side would be a completely different prospect to last weekend, the need to start the game strong and be positive in our play. Unfortunately for the first 10-15 minutes we looked as though we were still asleep. The opening passages of play saw Athletic in the ascendancy, putting pressure on our defence with long ball tactics, throw ins being their main weapon. It was from one of the throws that we conceded, again we let the ball bounce in the box, Athletic reacted first and slotted neatly into the net.

 

That seemed to snap us out of our slumber suddenly we had purpose in our play, bite in our tackles and defensively we looked stronger. We started to win more first ball and not let it bounce Connor L and Josh became more physical, Ollie and Matt supporting well going forward. A slight tactical switch saw Connor S with a point to prove, buzzing around the field and at the centre of all our good play. Our pressure soon paid off as Ben, on his debut finish from close range to level the scores. Now everything was going our way, debutant George produced some of his trademark tackles, Kye looked more composed on the ball and Mason kept asking questions of his defender. At half time an injury to Matt forced a defensive change with Gareth dropping in at left back and Owen replacing him on the wing. As play resumed, it was more of the same, with us attacking only to be denied by the crossbar, the Keeper or blocked by a defender. With the Charlie back on the pitch and linking up neatly with Connor S we sparkled again going forward, so many times so far this season Charlie’s powerful forward play has been the difference between teams, today would not be an exception. From a throw in Connor looped the ball over the fullback and set Charlie on his way, as he entered the box he eased the centre half to one side and shot, the keeper got a strong hand to it but Charlie reacted quickly for the follow up, but again the Athletic stopper got something on it and parried it to his right only for Owen too calmly pick his spot and put us into the lead. From the restart we won the ball in midfield pressed up field and forced a corner. Now we have been doing a lot of work over the passed few weeks with corners but for some reason Kye thinks they are a shooting opportunity, for the 2^nd time in 3 weeks he curled his kick around the keeper 1-3.

 

The game should then have been over, but in true colt’s league style we tried to throw it away. A 5 minute lack of discipline saw first a penalty (which the ref had no choice but to give) and a free kick just outside the box (which Ellis was unfortunate not to stop), the scores were level once again. Luckily for us a break in play gave enough time for some home truths to be told, no blame or shouting just honest talking, to our credit we came out fighting, our desire and hunger returned, we dug deep and got our reward and it was from our talisman Charlie, who put through on goal with a defender and keeper to beat did just that. 3-4

 

Conclusion

Pleasing points from this game were many, our belief in each other, our never say die attitude and how we all pulled together are just a few things but for me, when Owen scored his 1^st goal for the team the reaction he received was fantastic, every player wanted to celebrate with him, every supporter wanted to congratulate him and you could see the confidence that gave. We have something special with this team, we have a sprit, a sprit that if we build on it can only help us achieve greater goals and set our targets higher. Keep encouraging each other, every player makes a mistake during a game but its how we react to those together that make us a team!

 

Well Done Boys and thank you to all who supported us

 

Mark

 

Squad

Ellis W, Ollie J(C), Josh S, Connor L, Matt T, Kye B, George P, Mason B, Ben S, Gareth B, Charlie M, Connor S, Owen B