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A great team performance that showed character saw Freeflow win the crunch league game away to arch rivals Warriors. A weak earlier Freeflow found out they had to accommodate for the absence for one of their consistent performers in defense Arjun and then just twenty four hours before the big game an injury to Harj sustained at school, potentially rocked the tactical approach and line up.
But the players remained mentally focused and despite two players missing it had been drummed into the Freeflow players right from October that despite things going against you, you must still believe in shaping your own destiny rather than find excuses.
Right from the kick-off Freeflow came out of the blocks and dominated and the game. Selim and Clinton dominated midfield by wining first and second balls while Kamel and Raj attacked the flanks with purpose and presence. Warriors tried to play the long diagonal long ball but Freeflow full-backs, Drayton and Jaspreet cut the balls out every time. With Freeflow nullifying the opponents they launched quick attacks with swift passing and Ahmed exploiting the big gaps in Warriors' defense.
In the first half-alone Ahmed was put through three times but on each occasion he just lacked a little composure. But his strength and acceleration was worrying the opponents as they had to change their system. Freeflow continued to dominate though and Kamel also wasted a chance. Jag again was hugely disappointing for someone so gifted. Manvir replaced Jag as Freeflow kept on getting in good positions but just lacked the final ball and a calm head.
Drayton grew in the game and hurt the opponents with some Viera like runs from deep positions. At the other end Freeflow's defense was well organised by Amandeep and supported well by Samee who was inexperienced in his position. The breakthrough came five minutes before half-time, Raj on the right had options to his left but chose to play the harder defense splitting pass to Manvir, with the ball bobbling and the pressure from defender and goal-keeper Manvir lofted the ball into the net, 1:0 and a deserved half-time lead.
Freeflow were warned about Warriors scoring early in the second half so for the first ten minutes of the period Freeflow had to stay focused. The worry was though they seemed to get deeper which allowed the home team to launch balls into the box, and Freeflow started to loose their composure and passing game. As the half-wore on Warriors failed to create any chances as Freeflow held firm as a unit. Jag was re-introduced and with Warriors leaving so many gaps in defense. Straight away Jag started to exploit them on the counter-attack. At times Freeflow started to pass the ball again but just lacked a calm head to play the right pass.
Warriors then did have one great chance that was struck across the goal but went wide agonisingly wide. Jag at the other end cut in from the left flank to strike a shot that whistled just past the near post with the keeper beaten. The talented forward was clearly producing a better performance now. As Freeflow continued to lock the door at the back on Warriors they looked threat on the break, Jag raced clear on the left again only to be hacked in what was a clear professional foul, Warriors it seemed had lost their cool.
Jag was ok though and Selim played a short free-kick so his team could keep the ball. From the free-kick, Vinay and Selim exchanged a one-two, Vinay raced clear on the left and crossed the ball in to the danger zone infront of the keeper, Raj on the right arrived brilliantly to stab the ball home under physical pressure, 2:0 and scenes of jubilation followed.
Warriors at this point gambled players forward but lacked ideas and creativity. Jag at the other lead the counter attacks and again he produced a shot from distance that was so close but maybe he could have squared for Ahmed or Selim in better positions.
Warriors did score a freak goal from a corner that seemed to find its way through after a deflection and despite Kamel trying to clear the ball of the line, it clearly has crossed the goal line, 2:1 with 3 minutes to go. It was a goal that should have been prevented had Freeflow not switched off on the set piece. In the closing moments Freeflow continued to play as a unit to deny the opposition and even wasted more golden positions on the break, but when the final whistled rang the Freeflow players understandably enjoyed their moment of celebration.
This proved to be a real team performance and had Freeflow taken their chances the score line should have been at least 4:0. This victory now means the title can only be thrown away by Freeflow, they require six points from six to win the league. They have two home games left against Elim United and Aldborough. The destiny of the title is in our hands now.
SQUAD: YIGIT, DRAYTON, JAG, AMANDEEP (VC), KAMEL, AHMED, SAMEE, MANVIR, SELIM, RAJ, MOURAD, JASPREET (C), CLINTON, VINAY, AMARDEEP. 4 Changes made to the previous squad.
GOALS: Manvir 1, Raj 1.
U15 LEAGUE STATISTICS click here |
