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2008\9 Season Under 16s |
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Match Reports |
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Away Vs Knowle Robins |
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The lads had to be up bright and early for a 9.00 meet in Northfield and a car journey over to Knowle`s home pitch in Henley in Arden. Some of the Holywell lads had not even heard of Henley in Arden!
Arriving an hour before the KO gave us plenty of time to work with the defence and go through a thorough warm up and how well it paid off we he game got under way.
The team was set up slightly differently in order to have a look at the first division leaders, but we should not have worried Ollie K and Dexter were on fire and the defence was solid as a rock with both Jack and Ollie H slotting into their new full back roll extremely well. In the first 10 minutes Ollie K had three left foot cross shots flash across goal, but it was not long before all the hard work paid off when Freddie ran onto a ball from Ross to slot home, the lads now full of confidence really began to move the ball from left to right dragging the opposition midfield into areas where they did not want to be. A great move down the right started by Derrell which left Dexter on the top of the box and he swivelled neatly to crash in a left foot shot. The defence held firm as Knowle began to press forward after being surprised by the speed of Holywell attacks with Matt S and Reiss defending everything down the middle.
Half time and 2-0 to Holywell and the weather turning nasty, strong winds and driving rain greeted the teams for the 2nd half and the wind was in the face of Holywell, we knew they would come at us and although we managed a few very dangerous breakaways through Freddie and Wesley the lads were finding it difficult to get Ollie k and Dexter on the ball. Then from a bit of sleepy defending all over the pitch we allowed Knowle back into the game as they ran in to score2-1 all to play for.. game on and a worry for Paul and Gail on the side. Unfortunately Reiss had to come off with a sore thigh and Matt P slotted into a holding Midfield roll with Dexter becoming the other centre half with Matt S. After a flying save by our goalie following a horrible deflection we thought it was our day, but then unfortunately a fumble on sliding out to collect the ball on the now greasy surface allowed Knowle Centre forward to slot home the equaliser.. extra time or the way our luck goes quite often deep down we all feared the worse. The lads dug in and bravely kept trying to play their football with some neat passing through the middle and driving runs from Freddie and Wesley. Aaron had come on and as Taniya so we needed all the squad involved as the extra energy the game needed was starting to tell. At 2-2 Matt P was asked to move back into a more central midfield and with Wesley becoming more dangerous on the right we started to believe again although time was running out fast and we needed to keep the door shut at the back.
Then with only a few minutes remaining Ross played the ball through to Wesley who put a lovely ball into the corner for Freddie to run onto he managed to win the race, control the ball and look up at the same time Matt P from the top of his own box had seen what was taking place and had set off on a marauding run through the middle of the pitch, as the ball came across from the right corner I am sure he was still just past half way when Ollie K jumped well beyond his stature to plant a firm header which was going in just under the bar but their goalie made a tremendous save and pushed the ball onto the bar as it came down into the box Matt P was there flying in to sweep the ball into the net.. what a great goal and real piece of captaincy from Matt showing absolute desire to be on the end of the rebound first…he was duly mobbed. We had seconds to keep the ball out and did so to earn a tremendous victory away to the League one leaders a big well done to the whole squad the cup run continues. |
