Post by redman1 on May 22, 2009 9:30:28 GMT
Match Report:
21/05/09:
U14 Lge Div 1
Willen Jnrs Blue 1
NPTFC Lions 2
Squad:
Luke Parker, Tom King, Matty Cullis, Jack Croxford, Mitch Tofts, Liam Scott, Jack Westbrook, Alex Collard, Haig Stringer, James Sage, Jack Allen, Marcus Bayley, Daniel Booth.
Goal Scorers:
Liam Scott 2
“Lions leave it late to hang in there as we go to the last game of the season”
An extraordinary match in many ways, a very, very, late winner headed home by Liam in the last minute of the game, saw the Lions clutch a victory from what looked like the jaws of a depressing draw.
The Lions began the game knowing only a win would put us in the best possible position, and keep matters within our control, as we get ready for Saturday’s last match. The boys looked much sharper than Monday night and a step improvement was there to be seen, barely a minute had gone by when Liam struck home the opening salvo, and into the lead we went, but we had a long way to go in this game.
We needed a second or third goal ideally, as we continued to dominate and press throughout the half, chances came and went from some good creative play from the flanks. One of the best chances fell to Westy who curled a beauty towards the back post, it had the keeper beat, it hit the post and rebounded along the goal line and out somehow. It was frustrating but we had to remain patient, this amount of possession would surely pay off.
Willen hardly had a look in during the first half as the Lions played around them, but with Liam off for a back problem we had to re-shuffle the deck much earlier than anticipated, I’m sure we lost some momentum at this stage, as several players shuffled about to fill the gaps.
HT 1-0
The second half got underway, and Willen had made some changes, and some encouragement no doubt from their coaches, saw them pick up the pace and start to make an impression on the game. Marcus in truth had hardly had anything to do in the first half, but we sensed he may be busier this half, covering some long-range efforts from Willen that went over and wide.
We continued to be competitive in the midfield, with Crox making once again one of his customary crunching tackles to win the ball that sounded something like the sound barrier had been broken! Firm but fair from both players, as the full back walked away a little gingerly.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, a ball popped around in our penalty box was not dealt with properly a couple of headers that seem to just go up rather than out saw Luke Parker give it a good old lash to clear but it came of the outside of his foot spiralled up again, looped over a stumbling Marcus who was trying to gauge where the ball was going, and in went to level the visitors.
Now we had to start making that possession pay, we had to a get a goal from somewhere, a draw or god forbid a loss was no good to us. We continued to press forward, down the left Tom King put in a couple of good runs, that just saw the ball edge away from him at the vital moment and into the keepers arms, the Willen keeper had an excellent game, and pulled of the save of the game when Sagey moved up front and struck hard, any other day and it goes in, but last night the lad was on top form and kept the Willen lads in it.
Nerves were beginning to jangle on the sidelines, as the game seemed to be starting to get away from us, as the clock ran down. There had been a couple of injuries and it was how much time had been added on that was the great unknown, no Sky Sports here yer know.
In literally the last minute of regular time, the Lions were awarded a free kick between the halfway line and the penalty box, I’m sure to everyone this felt like the moment when, if we were going to get anything out of this, this was our moment.
Alex stepped up and chipped the ball into the box, a glancing header saw the ball head towards the by-line and out for a goal kick, but Matty quickly got to the ball set it back, a little chip into the box, saw Luke Parker advancing with great determination from the right and as we all held our breath, the ball looked to be heading in the direction of the left hand side of the gaping net, surely it had to go in, then just as it seemed to hang over the line a lunge from Liam saw him head it in to make absolutely sure.
Jubilation! The normally very reserved and quiet Mark Stringer jumped for joy, I remember his words clearly, he said **** at ********* last! So profound. Seriously though everyone got just a little bit giddy. Somehow we looked like we were going to grab a victory from a game that looked like it was slipping away. With still a full 3 minutes of added time the Lions had to be focused and close this game out, which they did, and the victory was theirs, and hopes are kept alive as we go into our last match on Saturday.
It was a game where it all happened and both ends of the clock as far as the Lions were concerned, and proof positive, if ever it were needed, that you must keep going right to the end. Heads must not drop while there is still a chance to win.
Well done to Willen, who really made a game of it, particularly in the second half, and played their part to the full. Good luck for next season.
Well done to the team tonight, who played much better than Monday night, and now some important rest before we play the final, so important, 70 minutes of the season, extraordinary when you think that over the last 10 months it comes right down to that. The boys I’m sure will be motivated and focused on what they can try and do on Saturday against MKW who gave us a good game on Monday.
And Relax!
See you all on Saturday
21/05/09:
U14 Lge Div 1
Willen Jnrs Blue 1
NPTFC Lions 2
Squad:
Luke Parker, Tom King, Matty Cullis, Jack Croxford, Mitch Tofts, Liam Scott, Jack Westbrook, Alex Collard, Haig Stringer, James Sage, Jack Allen, Marcus Bayley, Daniel Booth.
Goal Scorers:
Liam Scott 2
“Lions leave it late to hang in there as we go to the last game of the season”
An extraordinary match in many ways, a very, very, late winner headed home by Liam in the last minute of the game, saw the Lions clutch a victory from what looked like the jaws of a depressing draw.
The Lions began the game knowing only a win would put us in the best possible position, and keep matters within our control, as we get ready for Saturday’s last match. The boys looked much sharper than Monday night and a step improvement was there to be seen, barely a minute had gone by when Liam struck home the opening salvo, and into the lead we went, but we had a long way to go in this game.
We needed a second or third goal ideally, as we continued to dominate and press throughout the half, chances came and went from some good creative play from the flanks. One of the best chances fell to Westy who curled a beauty towards the back post, it had the keeper beat, it hit the post and rebounded along the goal line and out somehow. It was frustrating but we had to remain patient, this amount of possession would surely pay off.
Willen hardly had a look in during the first half as the Lions played around them, but with Liam off for a back problem we had to re-shuffle the deck much earlier than anticipated, I’m sure we lost some momentum at this stage, as several players shuffled about to fill the gaps.
HT 1-0
The second half got underway, and Willen had made some changes, and some encouragement no doubt from their coaches, saw them pick up the pace and start to make an impression on the game. Marcus in truth had hardly had anything to do in the first half, but we sensed he may be busier this half, covering some long-range efforts from Willen that went over and wide.
We continued to be competitive in the midfield, with Crox making once again one of his customary crunching tackles to win the ball that sounded something like the sound barrier had been broken! Firm but fair from both players, as the full back walked away a little gingerly.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, a ball popped around in our penalty box was not dealt with properly a couple of headers that seem to just go up rather than out saw Luke Parker give it a good old lash to clear but it came of the outside of his foot spiralled up again, looped over a stumbling Marcus who was trying to gauge where the ball was going, and in went to level the visitors.
Now we had to start making that possession pay, we had to a get a goal from somewhere, a draw or god forbid a loss was no good to us. We continued to press forward, down the left Tom King put in a couple of good runs, that just saw the ball edge away from him at the vital moment and into the keepers arms, the Willen keeper had an excellent game, and pulled of the save of the game when Sagey moved up front and struck hard, any other day and it goes in, but last night the lad was on top form and kept the Willen lads in it.
Nerves were beginning to jangle on the sidelines, as the game seemed to be starting to get away from us, as the clock ran down. There had been a couple of injuries and it was how much time had been added on that was the great unknown, no Sky Sports here yer know.
In literally the last minute of regular time, the Lions were awarded a free kick between the halfway line and the penalty box, I’m sure to everyone this felt like the moment when, if we were going to get anything out of this, this was our moment.
Alex stepped up and chipped the ball into the box, a glancing header saw the ball head towards the by-line and out for a goal kick, but Matty quickly got to the ball set it back, a little chip into the box, saw Luke Parker advancing with great determination from the right and as we all held our breath, the ball looked to be heading in the direction of the left hand side of the gaping net, surely it had to go in, then just as it seemed to hang over the line a lunge from Liam saw him head it in to make absolutely sure.
Jubilation! The normally very reserved and quiet Mark Stringer jumped for joy, I remember his words clearly, he said **** at ********* last! So profound. Seriously though everyone got just a little bit giddy. Somehow we looked like we were going to grab a victory from a game that looked like it was slipping away. With still a full 3 minutes of added time the Lions had to be focused and close this game out, which they did, and the victory was theirs, and hopes are kept alive as we go into our last match on Saturday.
It was a game where it all happened and both ends of the clock as far as the Lions were concerned, and proof positive, if ever it were needed, that you must keep going right to the end. Heads must not drop while there is still a chance to win.
Well done to Willen, who really made a game of it, particularly in the second half, and played their part to the full. Good luck for next season.
Well done to the team tonight, who played much better than Monday night, and now some important rest before we play the final, so important, 70 minutes of the season, extraordinary when you think that over the last 10 months it comes right down to that. The boys I’m sure will be motivated and focused on what they can try and do on Saturday against MKW who gave us a good game on Monday.
And Relax!
See you all on Saturday