So Saturday the 26th February 2022 saw us take on Headley Youth Panthers in our final league game of our debut season as a team. A win was needed to cement 2nd place and chance of being promoted. It was a beautiful morning and the pitch was in great condition. We have been really lucky with our pitch this season, the guys down at Frimley Lodge Park have outdone themselves with how they have maintained it.
The boys warmed up well and were ready to go by the time kick off came around and we started brightly with Jack through 1 on 1 with their goalkeeper and 2 defenders recovering well to force Jack to think twice about his options. The keeper ended up making a fine save, the first of quite a few during this game. We controlled the game in parts with out really threatening and having a few half chances and the Headley goalkeeper having a great starting position mopping up all of our through balls. The next big chance to open the scoring fell to Headley whose player broker free of our defence and looked to be 1 on 1 one with Harvey, but out of no where Noah from the right back position had full on sprinted to cover and made a perfectly timed and incredible sliding challenge inside the penalty box.
The game was end to end but neither team could seem to find the quality to open up the scoring. The Headley keeper making some impressive saves and sweeping behind the defence was frustrating us. We were to endure more frustration as we won a free kick 5 yards out side of the Headley penalty area centre of the goal. Ethan stepped up to take on the free kick and curled it up and over the wall heading towards the keepers right hand post. The keeper watched it and made another impressive stop parrying the ball out wide.
The next incredible save was to come from our very own Harvey who managed to parry a low hard drilled shot to his left after the ball had bounced around our box before a Headley player struck low. Half time came and saw us level at 0-0 with both teams huffing and puffing and trying to implement their style of play.
The second half started much the same as the first both teams probing to try and open the scoring. Jack suddenly picked up the ball in their half and dribbled across the outside of their box before firing in a shot towards goal and unfortunately for the ever impressive Headley goalkeeper made what I can only imagine as being a rare mistake let the ball slip past him and across the line before trying to claw it back. There was a bit of confusion as the Headley linesman had flagged for Liam being offside but fortunately for us the referee had deemed Liam as not being in a position to interfere with play and the goal stood and we had the opening we had been looking for.
Headley still trying the play to their style looked to get back into the game but Complete slowly started to take control and our passing really started to work for us. Finn and Tom were having some luck down the left hand side driving and passing forwards creating a few more chances. The 2nd goal came midway through the second half when Ethan picked up the ball on the edge of the Headley penalty area and turned and shifted the ball onto his favourite left foot past a defender and calmly curled the ball into the left and side of the goal. Ethan had previously told us before the game he wanted to show composure in front of goal and we certainly saw him showing calmness in front of goal today with his reward being a well taken calm finish.
We continued to control the possession well with Headley trying to hit us on the break over the top but Isaac was as solid as a rock against a striker twice his size but through out the whole game gave him very little opportunity to open the deadlock. The 3rd and final goal was another confusing one but this time not knowing who actually scored the goal. The chance was created by Finn who did what he does best really driving at the Headley high back and getting into the area towards the byline and he fire in what looked like a low cross come shot across the face of the goal both Ethan and Liam and a defender were there to try and score the tap in. Liam claimed the goal and Ethan being the good team player his let Liam get his first goal of the season for us.
The boys again stuck to it and over came a determined and challenging Headley team and with a bit of luck and a bit of quality we were able to come away with the 3 points. Some stand out performances today saw Isaac once again show he is a rock at centre back alongside Fraser, Ethan for showing the composure he wanted to show to get his goal, Cavan in midfield and being so calm breaking up the game and Harvey for being the ever dependable goalkeeper every successful team needs. Our man of the match deservedly goes to Noah for some amazing defending and his incredible reading of the game to stop any potential threats.
To end the league season on 33 points, 65 goals scored, 22 goals conceded in our first season together as a team. Both myself and Rich have been so impressed with the levels that the boys have set themselves. They have show great character through out the season and we are both incredibly proud to be apart of theses boys journey and look forward to seeing how they and the team will develop going forward.
Myself and Rich would also like to thank all our parents for the support they have shown us this season. And also thanks to all the teams and officials who have helped make our season such an enjoyable and challenging one.
Simon Ormston
