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

Cookley Boys 1 v 1 KHFitC Falcons - report by Matt Dalton

We were robbed!!! - of two points at least. 

Cookley's previous results more or less mirrored our own, we have both won and lost by the same margins to the same teams leaving this match was set to be a fairly balanced affair.

The Falcons began strongly with Rory in goal, Tom and Dan at the back, Lewis M out of his solid sweepers role and into midfield with Joel and Anthony leaving Nathan to shine for us up front. The idea was to for Dan and Tom to pass out of defence rather than clear the ball and for Lewis M to intimidate in the midfield in order for Joel and Anthony to pick up the spilt balls and push forward and feed Nathan. Ten minutes in and things were pretty even, we had the control but the shape had gone, the game became more physical. They too had little shape but a defender that cleared well and a striker that looked sharp enough to cut himself, we held our breath each time he ran at goal. Harry swapped with Nathan to try and use his pace on a through ball…. but no through ball came….again we held onto the ball too long.

0-0  at the break was enough, we thought we could win this.

Changes early in the second half saw Lewis E in midfield and the play a little crowded with our own lads competing for the same ball, although we had possession nothing really threatened their keeper. One mistake and a quick break for Cookley saw their sharp number 12 one on one with Rory, Rory came out to close him down but was beautifully played around and the ball placed into an open goal. We still had the play…….Matt Came on at the back and did well to shut down Cookley; Ben came on upfront and showed us how to run at the defence yet again. A rugby tackle bought Ben to ground outside the box and whilst Anthony lined up his free kick to the top of the extraordinarily tall goal posts (remember that one Hawks) Joel received a bear hug on the line generating injury time for Cookley as Joel tried to wriggle free………a Penalty to us? Surely….but alas no! Anyway Justice was done as Anthony's shot was deflected in by a defender and we are back on track…Nathan gave Tom a rest in defence and stopped any advances, Ben put a lovely ball across the goal and continued to trouble Cookley being bought down twice, the last time was inside the box after he had beaten the player ...without doubt a penalty…..the ref said he went down too easy….if only he knew Ben, nothing stops him from getting up and chasing the ball (he watches rugby at home not  football Italia !). We pressed and pressed them into their box and had we played another five minutes something would have gone in somehow.

1-1 was a valiant effort, some creative football and excitable parenting.         

A cup match next week against the Foxes, I won't be there so don't you dare score six goals when I'm not there to see it. Good Luck lads, Matt.