Brislington
U9’s v Fry Club JFC U9’s
HML U9’s Division B
& C Cup match (Group D)
Ironmold lane,
Brislington – KO 10:30
Fry Club shine
through despite 3 Key players missing.
We travelled the short
trip to Ironmold lane on a sunny but cold Sunday morning, the pitch was OK on
the wings but one of the goal mouths in particular had standing water and with
2 key players already missing and one then failing to show it started to feel
like it wasn’t going to be our day.
We had lost our league
game against them back in October and yet they are the only team to “really
beat us”, we have lost 3 in 15 and with no disrespect to the other 2 teams, it
was more a case that we beat ourselves here.
This was a crunch game for
us in the sense that we were top of the cup group having won 3 from 3 giving us
9 points, Brislington & Cadbury Heath were level pegging below us having
both won 2 & Lost 1 with 6 points. If we won we would go 6 points clear
with only 2 to play – If we lost then we are all on 9 points!
GAME 1
Frys win the toss and
decide to make Brislington play first in the muddy goal by the entrance and
leave Brislington to KO.
The game kicks off and we settle
in to a good early rhythm, we had a lot of the play in the first few minutes
while Brislington found it tough to get the ball. With most of the play in and
around the Brislington penalty area it was hard to penetrate their defences and
it was left to another great strike from Ashley to open the game up in the 4th
minute. The ball had pinged off several players before it landed at Ashley’s
feet who was stood at the edge of the box, he then quickly side stepped his
marker and unleashed a shot that was in the top corner before anyone else could
react, 1 – 0 Frys it was a great
captains goal and served only to spur the team into an attacking frenzy.
Straight from their
restart we quickly took control of the ball once more, and with more
confident movement we began to rain in the shots at goal, Brislington though had
a real diamond in goal because he was stopping everything in his path, if he
didn’t catch it then he’d kick it, if he didn’t kick it then it was parried out
for a corner, it was fantastic to watch but with each missed chance we only
became more anxious. After about what had seemed 25 shots at goal Brislington suddenly
broke out in the 10th minute and but for a great bit of hustling from
Aaron it could have been the leveller. Fortunately for us though it was a break
through! Jack C in goal kicked the ball up the park for it to bounce past 2
Brislington players, Harry won control of the moving ball and while at pace
neatly pulled the ball past a Brislington defender, this sent him clear on goal
with only the keeper to beat, as the keeper rushed out Harry neatly played the
ball past the keeper with a deft left foot flick and the ball nestled sweetly in
the bottom right hand corner of the goal 2
– 0 Frys.
We then carried on as
before while getting the same result. We couldn’t break them down as they
seemed content to sit 5 behind the ball and just see out the half on a damage
limitation exercise. We continually pressed forward but the half finished 2-0
our way and we had to hope that it was enough!
At half time it was
obvious the boys were frustrated, I just told them to keep on going as they
couldn’t do too much more in anycase, (Except for score!) we would just have to
hope for that rare mistake.
Unfortunately it was a
mistake by us that let Brislington back in it. The Bris keeper kicked the ball
up field after another one of our failed attacks and we just seemed to sit back
and watch! It was now us that couldn’t get a foot on the ball and Brislington
took advantage. We struggled to clear the danger and a looping ball sent over
the top by a Brislington midfielder ended up in the back of the net, Bris pull
it back to 2-1 and run off celebrating while we all felt kind of dazed, it was
like daylight robbery but we remained confident we could maintain or add
another to our lead
2 – 1 Frys.
The game then became more
open, it became a neutral’s spectacle in the sense that Frys pushed to try and
regain the 2 goal cushion and Bris in turn pressing for the equaliser leading
to chance after chance for each team. Then in the 34th minute when it seemed it
may end at the same score Frys went into panic mode! Again a long ball is
pumped up field by Brislington only for us to stand back a little as the ball
was bulldozed through, it was then cleared out to the right only for it to be
played straight back towards the left hand side of goal and with a Brislington
player laying in wait he turned and hit a shot that squeezed inside the left
hand corner. It was a great finish from the player but to say it felt harsh was
an understatement! Frys 2 – Brislington
2
From the restart it was
obvious that Frys had felt robbed as they went forward with only one intention.
We had a number of moments to seal it but as before the keeper or defenders cleared
everything that we could muster. Brislington also had a last minute chance when
a free kick seemed to squirm its way through but Jack in goal made for a
quicker reaction on the 2nd attempt and scooped it up to the relief
of the Frys crowd. The game went on to finish all square at 2-2 and what ever anyone felt about the
result at this stage was uncertain but what was certain is that everybody had
just watched “one hell of a game”.
Formation
–
Team –
Jack C(GK) - Oliver – Jack S - Matthew – Ashley – Harry –
Aaron (No subs used)
Player of the match – Ashley Siddall – a 4th minute strike from the edge of
the box was only the start of a very dominant display and that despite being
took out by the invisible man! and also taking one smack in the face, Great
game Ash.
Video is available of the
A teams match Here
GAME 2
The game kicks off and
Frys are again early into attack and it paid off almost instantly. In the 2nd
minute Charlie picked up the ball in midfield and in turn played a fantastic
angled ball up field for Lewis to run on to. Lewis then played the ball one
side of the keeper while running the other and while the keeper watched the
player, the ball Hit the back of the net J 1 – 0 Frys (3-2 Frys)
The game then became more
open as Brislington pressed to again equalise while Frys were intent to go on
in search for the killer goal. Then in the 11th minute Brislington
won a corner out right. The ball was played in high and while it evaded several
players in the box it didn’t evade the Brislington Striker stood at the back
post who had a simple tap in to put the game all square at 1 - 1 (3–3)
Brislington then became
the dominant force and began to press for a first time lead, Bris began to
attack in quick succession and in the 16th minute found the net once
more. Not for the first time today Frys again hit the panic switch and with
several failed clearances the outcome had felt inevitable L They had done it, Brislington 2 Frys 1 (4-3 bris)
For the remainder of the
half Brislington kept pushing Frys back while on the sidelines we were only
left to wonder how we were losing and to rue the misses from the first game. I
was anxious to get them back in so as to calm them down and put a little more
focus back into playing rather than just kicking!
At half time I could see
the players felt down so just told them I was proud of what they had done so
far. I explained we had come to the game without 3 key players (Louis H, George
& Sarah) and so I knew it would be hard for us. I explained that we now had
nothing to lose, Stop panicking! Just play football and forget the result and
im sure, NO! I know! You can bring this back, now get out there and play proud,
Think! & play like a team.
The 2nd half
kicked off and was a very even contest until midway through, as at last we were
beginning to play football again. The ball was then played to Thomas Haynes who
had came on at HT, he looked up and threaded a perfect ball through the middle
of 2 Brislington defenders which sent Lewis E clear. Lewis made no mistake and
bought the game back into life in the 31st minute. It was a relief
but I think we had deserved it. 2 – 2 (4-4).
I would have been happy to
bring back a point at this time because like I said at the beginning, the day
just didn’t seem to want to go our way. The boys on the pitch however had restored
their self belief and didn’t want that point, No!, they wanted 3 and this
showed. Shot after shot we had but again we couldn’t force that error, that
is!!!! Until the very last minute of the game J J J
With the clock showing
injury time Lewis picked up the ball in the centre. He worked his way past 1,
then 2, and then 3 players before he played a ball through on goal. Charlie
overlapping picked up the ball and was clear through on goal. With all the work
still to do Charlie then perfectly placed the ball to the keepers left and it
was all over, we had done it! Charlie’s
goal was sublime and by the end of the season, who knows! it could turn out to
be the most important one he’s scored to date. FT - 3-2 Frys.
OVERALL – Brislington 4 – Fry Club 5
Formation
–
Team…Oliver(GK) – Ryan – Callum – Tom G – Charlie – Jack C– Lewis – SUBS USED – Tom H
Player of the match – Ryan Kibbey Took control when it was needed most, probably one
of his best performances of the season.
(I will also mention that Ryan ran close with Callum Lee who equally looked outstanding and on any other day
would have won the award for his efforts today)
Video is available of the
B teams match Here
Manager’s thoughts
What a crazy day! I
thought overall that we deserved the result but come the end we were probably
lucky to get back into it. Brislington showed us again why they are top of our
league having only lost one game, they are a very tight unit and have clear
intention but all this just goes to show what we have ourselves. Going away to
the league leaders and bringing home a result is a daunting enough challenge
with a fully available squad but to do it with a considerably weaker team than
at any previous game this season is a fantastic achievement in its own right.
Well done boys, you did
good, no! Great, no! F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!
Video footage is available by clicking the links
above or why not browse our other footage by visiting the
U9’s Video lounge or to just jump right to it then CLICK ON ME ;-)
Also be sure to check the picture gallery for some still action