Date	Sunday 19th September 2010
Match	Hormead Hares v Royston Town Youth Colts
Competition	Royston Crow Youth Football League
Result	Won 8-1
Royston Scorers	Mick (4), Tom T, Lewis, Keiran, O G
Man of Match	Jack (Greased lightning & dangerous)

The second game of the season saw us travel to Hare Street, Hormead, to play at a ground where we had never played before. The pitch was quite hard and very bobbly and the weather was dry and overcast and good for football.

We had a full and fit squad and the boys looked lively and keen to get going as we warmed them up and the spirits in the whole team were high. We wanted them to build on the good start, but not get complacent. We looked to them to play attacking and fast football, even on the uneven pitch, and to keep their shape throughout the game. We would continue our squad rotation policy ensuring all players got as much game play as possible.

 

The game started with the Royston boys on the front foot and most of the first few minutes were spent in the Hormead half and the team were passing the ball around well, keeping good possession. An early foul and free kick saw Mick shoot just wide and a speedy Jack run and cross brought a snap shot from the up for it Matt whose shot was deflected and the Hormead keeper made a very good early save. Strong work from Bruce through the middle but no shot and a Mick corner was headed wide by the again inspirational skipper Callum. Hormead put in a shot and Rory in goal dealt with it confidently. Mick broke the deadlock with a great turn and shot that found the back of the net 0-1. A strong penalty claim following a strong run by Callum as he was brought down was denied and a shout for handball in the box was also waved away. JP did some great work at the edge of the box to plant the ball in the goal only to see the referee disallow it and restart the game with a drop ball in the box much to everyone’s confusion. Keiran was showing some of his early season magnificent form and a probing corner found JP’s head and this effort went over. A competitive scramble in the box left a Hormead player down in their box and I thought the referee would stop play but it was allowed to continue and Lewis, correctly playing to the whistle, powered the loose ball into the net for 0-2, which was how it stayed up to half-time.

 

Andy and I spoke to our players and asked them to be patient. We were certainly on top in possession and goal attempts but Hormead were defending resolutely and had a decent player upfront who was potentially dangerous on the break.

 

The second half started a bit slower from the Royston boys and Hormead showed their attacking side with a good ball over the top that brought a strong shot on target that Rory saved well. Another Jack cross following a lightning burst of speed again found JP’s head but went wide. Tommy T, doing his usual reliable and versatile job, took great pleasure scoring against a lot of his school mates, by notching the team’s important third with a powerful low drive from the edge of the box. 0-3. This goal seemed to break the Hormead fighting spirit as Royston stepped up a gear and continued to pile on the pressure. A great volley from Mick from a Lewis cross made it 0-4 and a strong run and shot from Mick brought the score to 0-5. Foxy was moved into centre midfield and some good work from him set up Lewis for a shot that went just over. Jack kept the defence and the keeper under constant pressure and this tremendous work rate forced a loose ball to fall to Mick who doesn’t miss many for 0-6. Some really good team football brought the goal of the game as the ball was eventually crossed over and volleyed by Keiran into the net brilliantly for a 0-7 scoreline. The eighth goal came following a fast, tricky and mazy run by Mick whose shot bounced off the crossbar for Jack to pounce on and power the ball back into the danger area for it to be cruelly deflected for an own goal – 0-8. Hormead scored a well taken consolation goal following a Royston defensive lapse and their striker ran on and shot well to make the final score 1-8.

It was another good and exciting performance from all the Royston team who coped well with all the player and positional changes really well. We mustn’t get complacent with our defending even when we are leading as all teams at this level are capable of scoring. Top job everyone – keep it going. Man of the Match was Jack but special mentions for Mick, Matt, Callum, the rock that is JC and the great supporting work of Brad and Joe.

 

Team      Rory, Joe, JC, JP, Tom T, Keiran, Callum, Matt, Jack, Mick, Bruce, Foxy,

                Lewis, Brad.