SANDHURST TOWN REDS 1 – U15 MAIDENHEAD COLTS 2

SAT 24APR2021

Although it was only about 10 degrees when we arrived the sun was out and it felt during the match like it had warmed up to nearly 20 degrees.

We had 12 players for this away game: Freddie Nash in goal, Jack Clews left back, Josh Ewers and Noah Sturrock central defence and Lucas Taylor right back. Kai Enser left wing, Ben Thompson right wing, with Declan Pinto, Maverick Afonso and Jake Stanley central midfield and Owen Smyth up front. Charlie Townsend started as sub.

Kick off 10.41am. Nice passing move from Maidenhead starting from the back. Jake to Kai. Noah cleared for throw. Noah took free kick. Noah header. Owen great skills and our throw which Jack took. Declan header to Ben who went on run. Ben run and Ben shot which keeper nearly spilled. Jack good defending. 10.46 conceded 0-1 to an excellent top left corner shot which Freddie nearly managed to get to. Jake to Declan to Maverick. Owen ball into box. Kai great work and ball forward for Ben. Ben throw on left up front. Jack in for decisive header. Lucas won ball and played it forward. Foul on Ben at half way line and Noah took free kick. Owen run and shot which was collected by keeper with Kai and Ben in great positions at far post. Lucas run in to defend for Freddie to collect ball. Owen run, Jake cross/shot, our corner. 10.53 Jack corner but it went behind goal. Maverick to Declan who played ball through their defence. Jack throw to Kai. Jake fantastic ball through their defence for Kai. Up front Jack throw to Owen header. Ben free kick.

Maverick to Ben. Maverick to Lucas. Owen to Declan to Ben. Lucas throw on right in their half. Jake good cover on their player. Jack throw from left, with Kai running on to it. Lucas cleared. 11.10 Sub: Kai off, Charlie on and Owen moved to wing. Ben great run and shot which nearly dipped under the crossbar but not quite. Maverick stopped goalie kick dead. Charlie good battling. 11.10 Sub: Kai on, Maverick off. Owen superb shot was saved. Owen pass to Kai who played ball forward. Jack to Jake to Owen. Owen to Lucas. Jack throw. Freddie save. 11.16 Sub: Jake off, Maverick on. Freddie save. Ben good work in box and shot. Noah to Lucas. Lucas to Ben. Half time 11.21.

2nd half: Freddie in goal, Jack left back, Josh and Noah central defence, Lucas right back, Ben on left, Owen on right, Kai, Declan and Maverick central midfield with Charlie up front. Sub Jake.

11.28 2nd half started. Their free kick on edge of area but Jack blocked it. 11.31 Ben equalized 1-1. Jack corner. Lucas throw. Owen great cross into box. Lucas throws on right. Jack good clearance. Josh to Ben. Freddie save. Charlie header. Declan great ball to Owen who put a strong cross in which Kai managed to keep in play on far side. 11.39 Charlie off, Jake on in midfield and Kai moved up front. 11.41 Declan scored to make it 2-1. Owen ball forward down the line to Declan who made a run into the box. Their free kick. Owen cross in for Kai half volley shot which went just wide of the post. Owen powerful cross in from left. Jack to Ben, Jack throw. Freddie great save at feet of their forward. Jack great corner. Ben shot. Maverick good battling.

Ben shot. Owen tried to knock the ball past their defender. Jake to Kai. Jake to Declan to Ben to Declan. Kai throw. Declan shot was saved. 11.58 Sub: Ben off, Charlie on. Freddie save. Noah great interception in defence. Owen to Lucas ball forward. 12.02 Owen off, Ben on right. Charlie shot. Maverick good defending. Declan cleared. Kai fouled, our free kick which Kai took. Lucas to Kai. Josh clearance which Declan got, Ben run. Sub: Charlie off, Owen on with about 30secs left of match.

Man of the Match went to Declan Pinto. All of the boys played better 2nd half as once we equalized you could see them start to believe they could win and started playing with more energy, momentum and purpose. I said to them after the game that if they could just start the game each week with the mentality as if they had just equalized then they could win matches 5-0.

This win made it 3 wins out of 4 in April with the other game being a narrow 1-2 defeat in this small Group 12 and our 2nd 2-1 win against Sandhurst this month.