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Bushmead U11 v Hitchin Town Hurricanes U11

Sunday, January 21 2007

Hurricanes take sweet revenge on Bushmead for their League Cup defeat with a fantastic 4 -1 win! Even though it seemed like the longest game in history!!  It seemed like an age since their last game before Christmas, but despite lack of match practise The Canaries ripped Bushmead apart at a wind swept chilly Luton on Saturday with only one sub available and a stand in goalie. It proved that by rights the lads should still have been in the cup as they were by far the better team with a brilliant all round performance.
 
The game started slowly, with neither side making the break although it was clear from their first touch that Hitchin had the edge. It wasn't long however, before Alfie put in a long shot well on target, though saved, to crank up the pace. Forced behind for the 1st corner of the game, Josh put it across well for Adam to strike first time but again their keeper was there to deny us, this time tipping the ball over the bar for another corner. Again Josh put the ball in brilliantly, and suddenly Lee was running down pitch celebrating along with one or two other of his team mates, but the ball by now was back in the middle of the pitch. A stewards enquiry was held as the ref talked to several players from both teams as to whether the ball had actually crossed the line, eventually allowing the goal after what appeared to be due to the say so of an obviously honest bystander. 0 - 1
 
Bushmead restarted, and immediately tried to pull back level but Jack, covering goal duties, made his first save of the day, pushing the ball away with a dive to his left, but a second strike while Jack was still on the floor would have certainly gone in if it were not for Simmy who cleared off the line with a fantastic header to halt the danger. The home team kept the pressure up for a while, forcing Jack to make another diving save to earn them their first corner, which came to nothing as Jakob kicked clear. Soon came another chance for Bushmead, but again they were denied by Jack who stopped a tremendously hard shot from close in. Another corner for the opposition again cleared with ease by Michael. Hitchin now clicked up a notch or two and the last ten minutes were again dominated by them, with some great midfield play, and shots by Josh, Adam and Lee all coming close. Half Time 0 - 1
 
The second half started with the boys fired up and determined to pull it off in style and it wasn't many seconds before Lee hit a long curling shot goal bound but was denied again by the keeper. Bushmead counter attacked and had a shot of their own saved again by Jack who was really enjoying his stint in between the posts. Then suddenly our lead was extended as Jack took a superb wind assisted kick from his hands, shouted "Adam!" and Adam made no mistake finding the net with a low strike. 0 - 2.  Hitchin, now with boosted egos, attacked again, this time Josh forced a corner from his saved shot, which he took as well as ever, for Adam to claim his second in quick succession, cracking the ball past a helpless keeper. 0 - 3
 
Not content with a three goal lead, the battling lads kept up the tempo, and soon came our fourth, after a steady weaving in and out display of skill by Alfie, saw him then calmly wrong foot the keeper and tap the ball over the line. 0 - 4  With compliments to our opponents, even with the game way out of reach, they didn't give up and were determined to at least grab a consolation goal. Rather than wilt under the pressure, to their credit they made several good attacks within the last 10 minutes of the match, but each time the Hitchin defence cleared or Jack made yet another great save. They did get their goal though, right at the last moment with a low corner that curled in, crept just inside the post and across the line, as Jack spoilt his clean sheet with a momentary "I forgot I was in goal Dad!" moment completely mis-kicking a clearance when he could have simply just bent down and picked it up! "Don't worry about it Son" I said about three hours after the game...but not at the time! 1 - 4
 
Hopefully, this is the start of a run of good fortune for the lads who deserve far better results than they had toward the end of 2006. Today they once again played "like a team", shouting encouragement to each other, doing as they were asked by Manager Sarah, and more importantly enjoying every minute of it! Credit to every one of them as they played a great game of football.
 
Final Score: Bushmead 1 Hurricanes 4 (Lee, Adam x 2, Alfie)
 
Man of the Match Alfie  (steady in midfield and a great solo effort goal)
 
Match report by Kevin Kitchiner-Day