MATCH REPORT - SELKENT LEAGUE 13-14 (Autumn): JR Spartans vs Black Hawks 20th Oct 13
Our fourth league game of the season saw us back at home to Black Hawks FC for a 10am kick off. With a very wet start to the morning it looked like it would be a match played in torrential rain, but fortunately it stayed dry. The game started with the following line up of boys - Jack (GK), Kaci, George, Taran (Cpt), Lovell, Ben and William. The boys started confidently, but with in minutes of the start Ben unfortunately took a strong knock and was substituted for Alfie on the right wing. The game was end to end stuff with good defending and possession by everyone. Kaci, George, Taran and Jack (in goal) played really well and showed some great football. Kaci was brillant on the ball twisting their attack inside and out to clear the ball from defence. George threw himself into every tackle and made it extremely difficult for the opposition. This was never more evident when both George and Jack, between them, stop an almost certain goal after both made a last ditch save and tackle to stop the ball from being bundled across the line. Jack also made some other fanstasic saves, one from a long range looping shot that Jack tipped over the bar. It wasn't only in defence we excelled. In attack Lovell was, as always, making fast runs down the left wing. Alfie had some great first touches and runs down the right wing. Our striker William also worked really hard and never gave up chasing and running for every oppurtunity, supplying some great passes in the middle of the pitch. Taran, our captain, had a solid performance also working tirelessly in between the two penalty boxes. Taran battled hard in defence but also went close when from one of our many corners in the first half, found the ball at his feet just inside the box and his shot rebounded off of the keepers right hand post. All in all a solid performance but we did conceed one goal about halfway through the first half.
Half Time Score : JR Spartans - 0, Black Hawks - 1
The second half started, as always, with some changes. Ben came on for Alfie, George & Kaci made way for Shemar & Finlay and Wiliam was swapped with Callum. With us playing up hill, we came out of the half time break with renewed passion and energy. The boys knew we could win this game as at half time we highlighted the oppositions playing style and the fact the on goal kicks particularly they always did the same thing. The boys understood what was asked of them and soon into the half we got the equaliser from Lovell following great work from on the leftCallum. As a result BH seemed to be on the back foot, where as our confidence was growing. Shemar and Finlay worked hard in defence to stop any threat from the long ball that were being played at them. Time after time Shemar got in the last tackle, to stop any threat of a shot. Finlay also gathered the ball time after time on the left laying the ball up the wing to Lovell, Taran or Callum. Lovell, Ben and Callum continued to press the opposition from the halfway line (retreat rule) which unsettled there defence. The boys continued to push hard down the left hand side and after great dribbling from Lovell and Callum the ball came across the box to Ben who fired home his first league goal, to put us in the lead. Ben worked hard on the right and had some great stridding runs down the wing. We had to defend hard too and the boys did that with everyone taking responsibility at corners and thow ins. Towards the closing minutes of the game Jack made a brilliant save to his left pushing the ball round the post to maintain the win for us (Great save Jack).
Full Time Score : JR Spartans - 2, Black Hawks -1
Managers comment :- Boys this was a terrific performance, you came back from being behind to achieve the win. That shows great determination and character. What I mean by that is you didn't give up. You listened to the half time team talk, and as with the last league game, you did what was asked of you. The fact that you beleive in your abilities, not just as individuals, but also as a team is fantastic. You are all showing what great football we can play. Today was a hard game and you all rose to the challenge. Be proud of yourselves and the team because you all had to battle hard today and you won. I'm proud of you all.
A very big thank you goes out to William for not only assisting with putting out the goals with me this morning and setting up, but also for refereeing what was clearly a difficult game (Thanks mate you did a sterling job today)
Captain: Taran
Man of the Match: Shemar