U12s Lions vs Valley Green Knights

Date	Home team	Score	Away team	Competition
22 Mar 2009	Valley Green Knights	1-1	U12s Lions	League

Match report

LIONS HELD BY KNIGHTS

Valley Green Knights  u9s    1
Focus Ferrers Lions    u9s 1

Valley Green are always difficult opponents and the boys have enjoyed several close encounters with them. For the Valley boys it was the last game of the season, and they entered the game in party mood. I am afraid the match did not live up to the billing as on an incredibly bumpy surface the ball spent most of the time either off the small pitch for throw ins or in the air as the boys struggled with the uneven surface. Tom was the first to mount any attack as he put in a neat left foot cross which narrowly missed the oncoming Callum. Callum himself was making a number of intelligent through balls but it was near impossible to get the ball down and under control. The Valley lads were familiar with the conditions and were looking for the ball over the top to turn Jamie and Nathan. Long shots seemed to be the main tactic and Alex  expertly tipped a high dipper over the bar on 20 mins. Soon after Ben B fired in a strong shot from the edge of the area that just missed the right post. Some pressure followed and Ben P and Jack slowly began to get the passing going. The right wing proved a fruitful area as Ben B and Callum rotated, putting in some fine work. Half time came and as coach John Dumas said "things could only get better". After the break the change was immediate with 5 boys involved in a sensational move that Lucas just failed to finish. The zip was back and Nathan and Jamie seemed to judge the bounce of the ball much better, and spread the ball out to the wings. Jack was as neat as ever and it was he who prompted the opener. He won possession on the left and put in a lovely  left foot pass to Lucas who rounded the last defender before a sweet cross to James who finished with confidence. Further chances came with Ben P now breaking from the middle and Ben B winning challenges all over the park. The danger was not over though as with three minutes to go Valley squeezed in a shot that came back off the post. Cool heads were needed but it was inevitably the bouncing ball that won the day as a high doodlebug bounced over the last defender and in rushed the Valley number 9 to grab the equaliser in the last minute. The Lions still almost snatched a winner as Callum whipped in a wicked left foot cross that the Valley keeper could only palm away,sadly the defender just beat Tom to the rebound. To be honest this was far from a classic and the Lions have yet to develop the habit of winning ugly, but a competitive match all the same. Well done boys.
TEAM:ALEX,JAMIE,NATHAN,JACK,BEN P,BEN B,JAMES,TOM,LUCAS,CALLUM
GOALS: JAMES (32)

The score was 1-1.