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Freeflow U15's got off to poor start in their second league match, away from home against St Cedd’s. The venue was Seven Kings Park. The team had one change from the previous game against Upminster in which Freeflow comfortably won. There was one new face in the team; this was Drayton who came into the squad in place of Sunil. From the whistle the team got into the game and played with a swagger passing the ball around the pitch and slicing through the defence, only to be let down in the final third by poor crosses or below par shooting.
In the first half most of our attacks came from the left hand-side. Harj, Drayton and Kamal combined well on a number of occasions with incisive passing but the moves broke down with indecisive decision making near the goal. Some great goal-keeping and clearances off the line kept the score level. But as the half progressed, St Cedd’s came into the match with some quick counter attacking football. After a move had broken down on the left wing, St Cedd’s countered with speed. They were able to fire in a shot from the left which came of the upright, leaving the diving Adam stranded. Some quick-thinking by a St’ Cedd’s striker allowed them to follow in quickly and slot the ball into an empty net. This was the first time that we had had to come from behind, but with a commanding presence at the back Amandeep was able to urge the team on. But, again St Cedd’s countered with pace which allowed them time to get a shot off at the edge of the box which dipped over the diving Adam. So Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Freelflow found themselves two goals down inside the opening twenty minutes of the first half. But that had little effect on the team spirit and the way that we continued to play, cutting through the opposition’s defence often, but with no real end product.
After going two nil down, there seemed to be a new found urgency among the players. When we had the ball there was an eagerness to get forward and support each other. This was particularly shown by our right back Jaspreet. Five minutes after falling behind we were back within a goal of the opposition. The goal came about a good passing move down the left, which allowed Kamal to cross from just inside the box, where it found Liam at the back post, waiting to fire it in. At this point Freeflow had the wind in their sails and pinned the home, and the equaliser came from Kamel after some great work from Harjeet, 2:2.
But all of Freeflow’s hard work was undone just before half-time, when St Cedd’s countered through the middle, and unleashed a strike which found the top corner. It was a big shock to all of us, as we were beginning to look the better side. After the break Freeflow had to go out and take the game to the opposition or face losing for the first time this season.
After half time the team came out wanting to show what the academy was all about, with fast slick passing and tremendous movement off the ball and on it. The team were all over St Cedd’s, shutting them down quickly and not allowing them time to pick a pass as we did in the first half. Their only outlet seemed to be a long ball, or goal kick forward to the strikers who would either shoot first time or run it out of play. The game was very much open with 15 minutes still to play. Several changes were made to try and create an opening. Jaspreet swapped places with Amardeep, who slotted into right back, and Jaspreet went into the central midfield role. This move made the defence more solid and allowed Jaspreet to push forward into a more creative role. It was an edgy final 10 minutes as Freeflow were still a goal down. But with around 6 minutes left a ball form the right flank fell to Manvir who cut past the last man and slotted the ball past the keeper from just inside the area. It was a nervy last few minutes in which we had a chance to win the match but it was wasted like so many of our chances. Throughout the second half we restricted St Cedd’s to shots from outside the area, but weren’t able to capitalise on our possession and the chances we created.
It was a good performance from the team. We showed great mentality to come back from two goals down, and played some great football in the latter stages of the first half and throughout the second half. We battled well in midfield and up front to create our chances. We may not have won but we didn’t lose. We were the better team on the day but couldn’t finish it where it mattered.
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REPORT WRITTEN BY ARJUN |
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SQUAD: ADAM, ARJUN, JASPREET, HARJEET, NAV, AMANDEEP, RAJ, DARYTON, KAMEL, JAG, MANVIR, JUDGE, LIAM, JAY & AMARDEEP. 1 Change made to the previous squad.
GOALS: Liam 1, Kamel 1, Manvir 1.
U15 LEAGUE STATISTICS click here |
