17 Nov 2007 - Match Report KHFitC U9 Hawks (S&DYFL)

Photo: Men of the Match

KHFitC Hawks 1 v 1 Kidderminster Lions Cubs - report by Matt Evans

Well this had been the match we were dreading, how many are they going to beat us by was the thought of the coaches. The players obviously had other ideas. We turned up 45 minutes prior to a 10am kick off so we could set up the pitch and we were shocked at what we saw. As we made our way through the foggy field to our shock the Lions were already there. Cones set out, coaches every where. I think they had been out training all night, I am sure as we arrived a van was taking away their flood-lights. the fear set in, we were up against a well-oiled machine. Prior to today in the 7 games they had played in the league they have scored at an average of 3.428571428 goals per game and conceded at an average rate of 0.285714285 goals per game. Impressive stats even at this level, it was like a pub team turning up at Old Trafford. 

We had our usual warm-up and got the boys focused and ready for a battle. We tried out a new formation which was aimed at stopping the Lions play in the hope we could nick one from a set piece or break-through. The first half came and went with the game locked at 0-0. The Lions were getting frustrated as everywhere they turned there was a sea of red. Haydn and Jordan had the games of their lives at the back and cleared everything that came their way. I am sure Lewis has been having secret Goalkeeping lessons, we have never seen him play like that, everything that came his way was dealt with easily. Jack, Dan, David, Byron, Alex, Gareth, Jamie, George and Jack O were all superb battling from start to finish. 

Just after the break we were in dream-land, a David corner was nodded into the back of the net by Dan. Thank god we bought the thicker nets or it would have burst straight through. We always knew there was a good chance the Lions would score and in the end they did with just under 10 minutes to go. Then either side could have stolen a winner.

This was our best performance of the season by a mile and a hard fought draw was a fantastic result.

Man of the match today goes to the whole team as every single one of them did their bit.