U12s Lions vs Great Notley Knights

Date Home team Score Away team Competition
4 Dec 2011 U12s Lions 4-2 Great Notley Knights League Cup

Match report

LIONS STAY STRONG

Focus Ferrers Lions u12s 4
Great Notley Knights u12s 2

A cup game for the boys and after  the Lions parents xmas barn dance the night before it was a tough 10.15 start for many attenders. Ben Jackman returned to the sticks bringing Jamie Penkman to the role of left wing back , with the Lions also welcoming back Captain James Caples who had shaken off a Calpol overdose from the previous game. It was 1-0 to the boys within 2 minutes as Nathan Warren fed Tom Butcher who slipped a smart ball through to Lucas Doherty who arrowed in on goal. His low left foot shot was only partially stopped and sniffer Tom B was there to pounce. Despite the lightning start this was no rollover as with an imposing physical lineup the Knights soon exerted some pressure of their own. Ryan Corbett saw plenty of the ball as some attacks were mounted on the left. Ryan continued his excellent form with some assured interceptions. Callum Osmond was playing a more advanced role and was wriggling free of some stern challenges. It was Callum who set up Andrew Hill for a run in from the right but his fierce shot was tipped over. Ben Prentice then jinked his way into the box but again the keeper denied him. Lucas Doherty was involved in a one man war against the Knights number 7 who was struggling to keep The Fella in check. As ever Lucas did not shy away from the challenge and his persistence brought a number of free kicks for the boys. It was 2-0 on 22 mins when some slick work from Andrew and Ben P played in Jack Fuller who buried a shot in the bottom corner. The knights again recovered well and James Caples made some powerful tackles which kept the Knights at bay albeit just on half time the Knights rattled the Lions bar ffrom a clever set piece. After the break there was still work to be done and Kane Paverley was forced into some key interceptions as the Knights went with some long goal kicks and crossfield passes. But it was 3-0 to the boys on 36 mins when Kane and Andrew fed Lucas down the right and his sweet run and cross was rifled home by Tom. A degree of comfort but to their immense credit the Knights continued to mount a series of attacks. Ben Jackman was extremely alert in goal sweeping up a number of long balls and making decisive saves from the Knights number 7. On 45 mins they got one back with a smart low shot giving Ben no chance at all as it nestled in the corner. The boys continued to play well and chances flowed with Andrew just wide of the mark with some angled drives and falling just the wrong side of an offside decision. With the clock running down the Knights made progress on the left and a casual cross was unfortunately met with the arm of Captain Caples leaving the ref with no option but to point in the direction of where the Penalty spot should have been. A grandstand finish was on the cards as the pen was crashed home making it 3-2. Perhaps it was the parents who were more anxious than the boys as from the restart the impressive Jamie Penkman surged forward and swept over a cross which Nathan Warren controlled quickly and drove into the area before smashing home a left foot drive. 4-2 it finished with the boys well aware they had been in a real battle but the quality of their play remained high throughout. Well done boys
TEAM.BEN JACKMAN,CALLUM OSMOND,KANE PAVELEY,JAMIE PENKMAN ,RYAN COBETT,JAMES CAPLES,JACK FULLER,ANDREW HILL,NATHAN WARREN,TOM BUTCHER,BEN PRENTICE,LUCAS DOHERTY
GOALS:TOM(2,36) JACK (22),NATHAN(59)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH. LUCAS - Superb game from The Fella who showed fantastic character against some really physical challenges and was a constant threat. Top man. The score was 4-2.

Players