U13 Football v. Red House School Wed. 25th Jan. ‘12
I suspected the trip to Red House would result in a close examination of our defensive capabilities and I wasn't wrong. They usually have a decent football team and the hope that we'd be able to match them was soon dashed as they passed and moved to far better effect than our own endeavours. Parking issues and an enraged doctor were also added to Mr Glen's ire as the afternoon progressed!
We were a goal down after about ten minutes of play that had actually promised the possibility of a close game. The defence was caught flat footed a second time as Red House ran through the gaping holes apparent in our back line. Two nil down at half time and seemingly dead and buried.
The home side were finding space, passing neatly and making good runs while we floundered somewhat. There was toil, to be sure, but their movement on and off the ball was far more telling than ours. A spell after half time, however, dragged hope from its early grave as we began to show a little more spark and threatened to score. Some good moves were materializing and confidence was growing as the boys put a little more bite into their play. It has to be said - we were a little unlucky in that most loose balls and clearances were falling beyond our players - and not always by design. We might also have had a free kick in a dangerous area as Charlie T was barged over by the considerably larger defender going for the same ball. A possible shout for a penalty for hand-ball in the box also evaporated as the ref refrained from utilising his whistle.
Our time had gone. Red House once more were in the ascendency and struck twice before the end. Four conceded and not a sausage in reply. We were not at our best today, despite some moments of excellence and, in some quarters, hard graft - thanks Edward Lodge. For the most part, though, we appeared a little lacklustre and occasionally, clueless.
Hey ho. Tomorrow is another day, as Miss O'Hara quite rightly pointed out. We'll give it another go against Easingwold Town on Saturday. But we'll need to be much more gutsy and focused to come up smelling of roses against those boys.
Team: Charters, Lodge, Kaitoga, Elliott (sub. Lister), Chapman, Buchanan, Thompson, Wright (sub. Pycock), Nordli, Tannahill, Keanurico.
Score: Lost 4 - 0
