Date	Sunday 9th March 2014
Match	Royston Town Youth v Cambridge Celts
Competition	Cambridge & District Colts League U16 Division A
Result	Drew 1-1
Royston Scorers	Rhys

 

A sunny day and an ok pitch at Fowlmere as we welcomed Cambridge Celts for a return league fixture, we won the first meeting 2-1 but Celts reversed that score in our league cup game, a win for either side could determine who would gain the runners up spot with Godmanchester in pole position to win the league, so this really was a big game for both sides.

Celts are a team that like to play good football but also have a physical presence so we new today would be a real test, we had worked hard this week in training and for us it was about playing at a high tempo and making sure we worked in pairs to close them down and not let them settle. Decision making was spot on last week and we wanted exactly the same this week.

We started this game realty well and although there were no clear cut chances we were playing well and looking Sharpe all over the pitch, Celts were also playing there way into the game but any sights they had on goal did not trouble Robbie. We had to change formation as Celts started with one up top but this did not change the way we were playing. We seemed to be having joy down there left with Callum, James and Rhys linking up well. The midfield was very congested but our three in there AJ, Fred and Bradley were getting through a ton of work closing them down but also then getting us on the front foot. We took the lead when Callum took a quick throw to James he then passed back to Callum and his cross was meet by Rhys who had run across his defender and left the keeper with no chance. Ali made sure that the boys were switched on as getting to halt time in front would be cruscal. Jack M was a steady influence at the back and Eamon was rock solid as always at left back. Celts had an opportunity to equalise from a corner but the header bounced over, then just on half time after good play from Sam, Rhys hit the cross bar with a fierce drive, and that completed the action for the half and we went in 1-0 up.

An easy team talk it really was much of the same the work rate was up there with any game I have ever been involved in with us and we were passing the ball really well the only down side was we did not get that second goal.

Another good start to the half with chances coming and going Fred hit a shot just wide, Ali forced the keeper into a good save from a header from a corner and then another Rhys shot hit the bar and although Sam followed up his shot went wide. We suffered a couple of injuries with first AJ who was having an excellent game going off he was then replaced by Matt and James soon followed which meant Jack O came on for his first game in a month after being out injured. We had to make some positional changes but this did not affect the way we continued to play. This was also a very competitive game but never dirty although the ref did book Freddie for a miss timed tackle which in fairness to the ref was not the first one he had done. The longer the game went on the more Celts were throwing men forward and although they had there fair share of the ball they never really forced Robbie into any real saves. With five minutes left a good ball into our box was meet by a Celts player his shot took a deflection which left Robbie no chance and it was back to all square. Ross came on up top with fresh legs but the game ended as a stalemate 1-1.

We were all so gutted at the final whistle this seemed like a loss the effort put in was unbelievable and the work rate was just fantastic. We also at times played some really good football on a pitch that was far from perfect. Celts are a good side but just on the balance of chances I really feel we deserved to win today. This still leaves second spot up for grabs so we need to win the last three games and hopefully if results go our way we can grab it but it really is wide open with Sawston also up there if they win there games in hand so an exciting finish to the season.

Every boy played there part today but Eamon, Fred and Bradley kept up a level of stamina and performance that was of the highest quality today, well done today boys that really was an 80 minute performance but as we know from other games gone by football can be so cruel as you don’t always get what you deserve.

Another day when you made me so proud.