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Bishop's Stortford U11 v Hitchin Town Tigers U11

Sunday, September 7 2008

The first match of the season was not going to be for the faint-hearted, with only 10 boys (but by the end of this match men!). It was cold and wet and going to be hard work on the legs. The opposition took full advantage of the numbers in the 1st & 2nd half, swapping and changing players at random, keeping fresh legs attacking the back four of Josh, Joe, Antonio & Patrick, but they held firm. Not once did they give up the chase with Tom just as solid in goal, Jack and the two Chris’s supporting.

With only 1 minute to go, Chris dribbled the ball past 4 players from his own half, One two’s with Oliver and bangs the ball into the back of the net - 1-0, with looks of disbelief on the BS faces.

The second half saw 10 tired little bodies trample onto the field; you could see the steam coming from their faces. As the whistle blew the ball came out to Connor, who had been troubling the BS defence during the entire first half, he took on three players and with a tight angle unleashed an indescribable shot -   2-0. It was not going to go entirely the Tigers’ way, with the pitch and numbers taking its toll BS pulled one back and within minutes had equalised. This was going to be tough as BS held the Tigers in their own half, with only bursting runs from Jake and Chris T the only chance of a rest bite. With only five minutes to go BS score - 3-2.

With their legs like lead they shouted the rallying cry “Come on you Tigers!” They pushed forward with mud-laden boots, forcing BS against their own goal.  The ball came to Chris T, passed to Jack (1 minute to go!) dribbled past two players (despite carrying an injury, which he had just been off the field for!); flicked to Oliver, through ball to Connor bang - 3-3. My own cheers gave Antonio’s dad a ringing ear!

With this kind of performance, when the odds are stacked against you, this can only mean one thing - we’re in for an incredible season, Wow!

Squad: Joe, Chris, Chris T, Tom, Antonio, Josh, Oliver, Conner, Patrick, Jack

Result:  Bishop’s Stortford 3 v Hitchin Town Tigers 3