5 Jan 2008 - Match Report KHFitC Falcons U9s (Friendly)

KHFitC Falcons 6 v 0 Ferndale - report by Matt Dalton

With no great expectations except to try and switch the boys on after the Christmas pudding we set out to enjoy the game. The teams seemed evenly matched; perhaps Ferndale appeared better drilled with greater awareness of positional play, often with players staying out wide and not getting drawn in. On ten minutes Tom opened the scoring with an unexpected shot, a tight angle from the right of the goal found its way between the post and keeper. Possibly against the run of play we were one nil up. Minutes later Harry delivered a great cross for Lewis E to push home, two up and relieved. Immediately Rory came under attack and excelled himself, looking far more confident in goal, picking the ball up cleanly, diving on the ball at the feet of others, diving onto shots and holding the ball preventing opportunities for anyone following in on the shot. Ferndale to be fair seemed jinxed; they had two certain goal scoring chances one on one with Rory but shot wide both times.

The goal mouth continued to be charmed in the second half too, Ferndale were kept out by the poor quality turf in the goal mouth, another was cleared off the line, another with Rory beaten the crossbar did enough to keep the sheet clean and another came back off the post . Anthony placed the ball beautifully past the keeper just inside the right post to make it three in thirty seven minutes, Anthony then tried to chip the keeper but failed only to try again minutes later, this time the keeper had to make the save but failed to hold the ball, Joel had anticipated this and converted it for number four. Ferndale pressured and had many shots on goal, Rory appeared to be using "the force" to push shots wide or high, it became almost hilarious with parents from both sides willing the jinx to fade, no matter what Ferndale did the ball would not cross the goal line. Lewis E followed in on another Anthony shot to make it five and Anthony played a lovely through ball for Ben to take wide across the goal and shoot back on himself generating a deflected own goal from a defender. All the boys played well, Rory deserved man of the match for his heroics.

Goals: Tom, Joel, Anthony, Ben, Lewis E [2]

MOM: Rory