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Hitchin Town Youth U15 V Hatfield Youth U15

Sunday, September 28 2008

Another beautiful day at Purwell to see if the boys could put behind them last weeks exit from the county cup. The team reverted to a 4-4-2 system with Josh playing left back and I think he thoroughly enjoyed himself there and further up in midfield in the second half.

The boys were reminded about complacency and it all started like they had actually taken on board what Mike had told them. From a Tom throw in very early on the ball deceived the whole defence and there was Ben to stab home from close range. 1-0.

This was followed by waves of attacks led by Sam who was having a great game back up front with his goal scoring partner Ben and it was no surprise when Sam volleyed home from 12 yds in style from a cross from Joe.2-0. I think the boys expected Hatfield to roll over but fair play to them Hatfield battled all the way and when they could tried to take the game to us.

Hitchin were rampant and chance after chance was being created but the final shot was either just off target or some brave saves from the busy Hatfield keeper kept the score down and kept Hatfield in the game. Mat & Joe have really settled well into the team and they were dominating the midfield and getting on the end of chances as they bombed forward. This was to be our undoing though as we were caught by a sucker punch counter attack and suddenly Hatfield were lifted. 2-1.

We must learn to do the hard graft in midfield, excellent flowing forward but everyone from the last striker to Harry in goal has a duty to defend when we don’t have possession. Too many times I saw Hatfield players ghost passed our players who were happy to rely on the back four to do all the defending. This has to be stop if we are to progress this season. However in this game we were able to rally straight away and Ben latched onto a lovely through ball to lob the keeper H/T 3-1.

The second half saw Richard and Billy play for the first time this season and it didn’t take him long to settle with an emphatic drive across the keeper from the edge of the box all on the ground. Denise “you would av luv’d it”.4-1. This half had the same pattern as the first with lots of chances going begging from all sorts of wonderfully created chances for Hitchin. But the Hatfield boys all credit to them sprung our defence again with a quick break from our corner! and a well taken goal from the striker 4-2.

The boys were disappointed but even more determined not to concede again. The next goal came from one of many excellent kicks from Harry which landed in the path of Ollie who finished first time into the goal.5-2. There was still defending to be done by Danny James Lewis and now Tom as Hatfield never gave up but there were two more goals to come. The first a brilliant individual goal from Sam as he showed great skill cutting in from the edge of the box sent a couple of dummy’s and a shake of the hips and he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom of the net from 10yds.6-2.

The icing on the cake was another long throw from Tom and there was Mat to crown an all round brilliant display from him with a header that he flicked over the advancing keeper and with it a deserved goal and MoM. 7-2 Full time.

A workmanlike performance with some excellent parts if not a little disjointed in others. A school report would have read B+, is good but could do such much better if he applied himself more and listened to the Master!

Keep it going boys you know you can do well this season but you must all share the defensive responsibilities!

Final Score 7-2 Ben 2, Sam 2, Ollie, Mat & Billy
MoM Mat