Date	Sunday 3rd April 2011
Match	Bassingbourn Youth v Royston Town Youth Colts
Competition	Royston Crow Youth Football League U11 Division 2
Result	Won 2-6
Royston Scorers	Tom T 2, Mick 2, Callum, Bruce
Man of Match	Jamie C (Cool, Calm, Strong and Determined)

 Team – Rory, Charlie, Brad, Jamie C, Jamie P, Joe, Tom T, Callum, Matt, Tom F, Jack, Lewis, Mick, Bruce 

CHAMPIONS

 

The mighty Royston Town Youth Colts won the league title with a great display of intelligence, determination and all round skill against their main rivals Bassingbourn Youth on a bright but cool April morning. The pitch was very hard and bobbly but much better than the last time we played there and had a decent covering of grass. We had a squad of 14 to play with this week as unfortunately the influential Keiran was out with ankle problems and we all wished him a speedy recovery  – but it was great to see him on the touch-line supporting his team-mates in this crucial match.

 

We lined up with five in midfield with a starting team of Rory in goal, Brad and Joe at full-backs, JP and JC centre backs, Tom T on the left, Jack on the right, with the immense force of Foxy, Matt and Callum in the middle and Mick on his own upfront. Bruce, Lewis and Charlie were on the bench, with all of them giving us tremendous options when called upon.

 

The game couldn’t have started any better for the boys as a longish ball forward wasn’t collected by the keeper and Mick made a nuisance of himself and stole it from between keeper and defender and finished coolly for an early lead. 0-1. This took the edge off all their nerves, but they still knew there was a long way to go. The Bass keeper made a good stop from a sharp Callum shot. The five in midfield tactic seemed to be working as the boys were stifling most Bass attacks and the home team’s flat back four were almost spare dealing with Mick on his own allowing Callum, Matt and Foxy to boss the match and release Jack and Tommy T wide at every opportunity. A free-kick was won just inside the Bass half and JP stepped up to take it. JP put in an excellent ball that Mick flicked on and the keeper fumbled only to see the menacing Callum pounce to finish well for 0-2. The third goal was great football. The two Toms combined brilliantly with a series of passes up the left and Mick was found well and he finished coolly past an out-rushing keeper. 0-3. The lively Jack was working hard up the right keeping them busy with a series of good runs and we gave Foxy a rest bringing on Lewis at left midfield and pushing Tommy T into the middle sticking with 4-5-1 for the moment. We got a fourth from another JP free-kick with this time Tommy T connecting well and finishing superbly on the half volley. 0-4. Rory was called upon to make a good save and the first period came to an end.

 

What a good half of football from the Colts. They had defended sensibly and solidly, fought for and won dominance in the midfield and consistently supplied the one man attack. The keeper (Rory) was looking good and when opportunities for the Colts had come they had buried their chances well. We reminded them that the job wasn’t done and that Bassingbourn would keep trying. We asked Foxy to slot in at right back, giving Brad a well earned rest and we put Bruce upfront for Tommy to get his breath back and went 4-4-2.

 

The second half started with some more Colts pressure and a Mick corner was put just over the bar by Callum. Great midfield work created another chance on goal and Bruce did what he does best – he ran on strongly to a good through ball and slotted an exquisite finish by the keeper to make the score 0-5. Bassingbourn reacted well to this and pushed on for a good 10 minute period of play forcing firstly a half clearance from the defence that fell to a Bass player and was finished well with a long high shot into the net giving Charlie no chance. 1-5. Bass were gifted a second with a cheaply conceded free-kick for their player to put in a good strike through the wall beating Charlie with a tricky bounce and with Charlie getting a nasty knock in the process forcing him to have to be subbed for Rory. Another good move from the home team led to a really good scoring opportunity in front of goal that was shot over and we urged our boys to keep concentrating and keep working hard. Mick was doing some tricky stuff upfront and the non-stop effort from Callum and Matt swung the run of play back in favour of the Colts. JP and JC regrouped with some fine defending and along with Foxy and Joe again looked in control. Some great passing work between Tom T and Bruce up the right led to a strong right foot shot by Tommy that dipped just under the bar to go in the top corner for a good and important goal and the game came to an end at 2-6.

 

Cue celebrations. The Bassingbourn coaches and players congratulated the Royston boys on their achievement and we took a minute to think about the season so far and how when needed there was always someone from this superb squad who stepped up to the mark and saw their team through with effort, desire and skill. Brilliant stuff.

 

It was a very good performance on the day that brought us the result we needed and with three games to go we hope the boys can relax and play the football we know they have in them. The colossal Jamie C was awarded the spectators player of the day for his solid display of concentration, determination and strength and a lot of mums went home extremely proud of their boys on this very special Mothers Day.