26 Jan 2008 - Match Report - KHFitC U9 Falcons (S&DYFL)

It was a weekend of two matches, Liverpool v Havant & Waterlooville and the Hawks v Falcons. The bookies would have had their favorites over the ninety minutes in both matches (ok, ok it's metaphoric!). Given recent goal scoring form the Falcons may have expected to overpower the Hawks as the match went on, as Liverpool did with Havant, but this is sport and anything can happen on the day. To the match…

During the warm up the Falcons were passing well but seemed somewhat troubled when we began shooting practice, with five minutes to go before kick off the Hawks were ready in position on the pitch, drilled, ready and eager. We hadn't picked the starting line up ……

From the kick off the Hawks rushed at the ball and continually hounded the ball carrier in a play ground rush affair that would see three of four tacklers trying to disposes our midfield with terrier like enthusiasm. The Falcons were deprived of any time on the ball and failed to adapt swiftly, a simple back pass would have spread the play, used the width and created the time we yearned. Instead our boys thought they could take on the Hawks one on one and emerge from the tackle with the ball, one on one became a swarm of eager bees almost immediately and we struggled to make rapid progress.

The first shot of the game came from the Dan S of the Falcons, a well placed ball but Lewis E in goal for the Hawks was well positioned to catch and hold with confidence. A reply from the Hawks saw Rory settled and equal to the shot. Lewis M found himself another run straight from fullback to striker and he released a long range shot that Lewis E (Hawks Keeper) could not hold, the ball bounced behind him and ran across the goal line to see us just beaten to the follow up in a goal line slide. Ben (our Byron type super sub) used his pace to break for goal but was bought down right on the edge of the box; Anthony put the well struck free kick just wide which was most unusual from that range. Half time came with little fluency from either team, I don't think I have witnessed a match with so many balls out for a throw in as tackles were made and balls cleared.

The second half started in a similar fashion, in the ninth minute Byron found himself well placed again to open the score line for the Hawks pushing the ball passed Rory. The Falcons with now only ten minutes left began to realise the match needed playing for. As we pressed opportunities came and went, more balls thrown in, more terriers, no width and still the Hawks kept fighting and saw an opportunity on the break, but little happened. Well played the Falcons possession may have been close; we had the territory but not the goal.     

Full credit to the Hawks and their managers (that was hard to write :o) they had done their homework, found a system that troubles teams and enthused their lads enough to run their socks off relentlessly. A lesson learned. Eat heartily for next week it's the Comrades at home.