19 Jan 2008 - Match Report - KHFitC Falcons U9s (S&DYFL)

On paper this was to be our toughest match since the end of November, our boys had recently enjoyed enough time on the ball to build passages of play and convert their efforts onto goals. In this game we expected to be closed down more swiftly and were keen to see if the boys could adapt quickly and up their efforts. 

The game started untidily with neither team settled, Droitwich had the first set piece, a free kick nicely struck but just wide. Rory then had to make two saves, a strong shot blocked with his shins landed his bum in the mud followed by a lovely two handed push passed the post for a corner after a one on one with their striker. Harry put a nice ball through for Anthony who had to hold of the defender in order to release an early shot from outside of the box on twelve minutes. The passing began to come together for both sides and the play improved, we were awarded a free kick inside their half for shirt pulling on nineteen minutes, Anthony slotted it beautifully into the top right corner, their keeper got his hands to it but could not keep it out.

The second half saw Joel cross into the box for Ben to have his shot blocked and the rebound to be placed by Dan towards the top left corner, there keeper found himself well placed to catch it. Droitwich had a lovely shot across Rory drawing a great goal keeping dive, without the benefit of an action replay it's hard to say whether Rory was beaten or whether he knew exactly where the posts were letting the ball go for a goal kick at the last second. Lewis M took his ball on a run straight up the middle with his final slotted pass being just too strong for Ben to take before the keeper rushed him, the rebound went to Lewis inside the six yard box who had to put it over the spread-eagled keeper and he unluckily hit the bar. A speculative cross/shot saw confusion as to who had it covered resulting in the equaliser, a shame but you make your luck and in these conditions legs were heavy. Lewis E put Ben through into the left corner, Ben fended off one defender then beat another in the corner to escape and release a perfect low cross that Joel just couldn't strike cleanly. With four minutes left the referee was shielded from a hand ball incident which Droitwich capitalised on and struck home a lovely long range goal over Rory's head. The Droitwich coach commended his players stating that it had been their best ever performance in the second half, that's praise enough to be strong enough for them to need to play their best football in order to secure the win. Well done lads.  Local derby next week - the Hawks at home.