Boys U16 vs Wayfarers B

Sunday 13th saw the first competitive tier 3 game for the BU16 squad and a good opportunity for some of the boys who haven't had a chance to play too many games yet to have a run out. Both teams started slowly with some fairly uncharacteristic errors all over the pitch in the first 5 minutes but we soon got into our stride and started passing the ball and applying pressure in their half. We spent much of the next 15 minutes in or around their D forcing several good saves from their keeper and winning 5 short corners but failing to convert any of them! Finally, Arthur broke the deadlock on 19 mins, nicely turning a defender and sliding the ball past their keeper who'd been pulled out of position. Two minutes later Iñigo doubled the lead with another very well taken goal. Immediately back into attack, Ethan flicked the ball up into the air and Arthur controlled it beautifully in the D to go 3-0 up. Wayfarers got their act together a bit more and we spent some time defending with keeper Rory bravely (and legally!) tackling their huge centre forward when he'd got through 1 on 1. Next attack, Leo showed some lovely dribbling skills to take the ball into the D, pulled their keeper across his goal, slid the ball back to Matthew on the far post who was perfectly positioned, stick-down, to slot it home for 4-0 - a textbook goal for the coaches! The half ended with a defensive lapse but a well taken goal for Wayfarers. 4-1 at half time. Wayfarers again found their shape and patterns after half time and we spent much of the first 10 minutes in our own half and when we did get forward their keeper was making some great saves. It gave our defenders and midfielders a chance to shine though and a series of really well timed and skillful tackles from Chris, Isaac and Danny and intercepts from Charlie and Leo meant they never really had a good scoring chance. José, Jake, Leo and Charlie started to impose themselves further up the pitch though and as Wayfarers started to tire a bit we stepped up the pressure with Iñigo slotting home for 5-1, José hitting the post and Ethan pushing home a goal-mouth-scramble for 6-1 in quick succession. Pressure was maintained and we again won several short corners which we couldn't convert but Ethan netted again from short range to go to 7-1. Ben pushed home a lovely goal for 8-1 and Ethan completed his hat-trick for 9-1 just before the end. A very good performance all in all and some selection headaches for the coaches for next weekend!