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Hitchin Town Youth U13 v Royston U13

Sunday, November 19 2006

Well what a difference a week can make, the boys were on form.

Most must have had a decent nights sleep and they were ready for action.

With the slope in their favour Hitchin immediately took charge and showed what we had been waiting for; control and discipline in the ranks.  With a strong wind and a sloping pitch to contend with, it was a fast game.  The ball was backward and forward Hitchin were playing well and had most of the possession in the first half.

Thanks to the slope the ball was always going to one corner until eventually we had the break we needed, a corner to be taken by Ollie.  We had the chance, could the boys pull it off?  Royston boys were bigger and had a clear height advantage, but the corner was exact, right on top of Ben's head, who calmly turned and looked at goal and the ball was in the net, I bet he didn't even feel it, excellent.

Wow! What a relief.  Now we had to keep the lead until half time.  Nail biting times but still a good game.  The boys had run their socks off.  Halftime; 1-0 Hitchin.

Plans were made during their team talk and the second half began, though Royston began to take hold of the game, but it was still up and down the pitch, both teams winning and losing the ball but having little finishing, thanks to the slope. Every player becoming more and more tired, I suppose it had to come - Royston played a long ball and with our fragmented back line managed to squeeze an equaliser, 1-1.

We had to push harder but it was so frustrating to watch, both teams appeared equally matched despite the height differences but it wasn't until Sam W made a break and again ran around their defence that Hitchin came alive again.  Sam eventually got one of those runs that just didn't stop.  So, as he would and did, he planted a sure foot on the ball and made the second for Hitchin. Well done Sam, 2-1 Hitchin.

Credit to all the boys for the work rate, the best yet, still need a bit more stamina but it's coming, Michael player a blinder in the right back position, getting his foot in at the right time and with that came the Man of the Match for Michael.

As they do in Bowling, Mark the line and hopefully leave the bad games behind.

Well done boys.