U14 Championships
Posted by Nobody on 20 November 2017
We entertained Worcester in the Midlands sector of the U14 championships.
Our previous outing had ended in a heavy defeat to an over-sized Streetley side. We have an U13 team, so this year will be a tough task. The Worcester parents were in confident mood before the game, one being heard to say: "this should be a walk in the park". Always good when the opposition provide the team talk!
We started well with good shape to the team – Jake, Joseph, Finn and Connor causing their defence problems. We then reverted to gathering around the ball, thus handing the advantage to Worcester who pressed hard, forcing some good saves from Dan Jandu and last ditch tackles from Noah, Ricky and Jack. 0-0 at half time.
Re-focused, we started the 2nd half well and with Dan Taylor remembering he could go into both halves of the pitch, he started to have an impact on the game. Joseph made a great break down the wing and shot towards goal where Finn deflected the shot, their keeper saved well but Finn put in the rebound.
Boyed by this goal we pressed forward and Jake, Dan and Joseph were all causing problems for Worcester. Dan Taylor put us two up with a fantastic reverse stick shot from the top of the D into the bottom corner.
Unfortunately the boys thought the game was over and dropped their work rate allowing Worcester to dominate the last twenty minutes. Dan Jandu sealed his man of the match position with a string of fine saves. Matt Stevens made lots of great tackles and interceptions to ensure he finished second in the man of the match votes, and Joseph made an individual run from his own half only to be denied in a one on one with their keeper.
Worcester scored a deserved goal with 10 mins to go. But we managed to hang on for the victory. Well done to one and all, and to the Worcester parent who now knows a walk in a Wolverhampton park can be full of surprises.
