Tuesday 29th August 2017 @ Gorse Farm Park
Marston Green u11s 1 – 6 Erdington and Saltley
Team: Padraig, Rhys, Navaro, Mason, Nahome, Louie, Harley, Neil, Olly, Che, Tavani and Cody
Goals: Neil x 4 and Louie x 2
Man of the Match: Neil
With half of the team being under 10s, the boys knew they’d have to be on form if they were to claim a victory against a quality Marston Green team with a penchant for attractive, passing football.
The first third was a scrappy affair from our point of view, with Marston Green looking more composed and playing better football. However this was to be expected as the Ton team were relative strangers and needed time to click as a team. Despite our far from perfect start to the game, we found ourselves in the lead after the first third when Louie’s long range shot took a fortunate deflection on its way to goal.
As the second third rolled on, the quality of our play improved, thanks in some part to our change of formation, with Mason slotting into the centre of defence, flanked by Nahome on the left and Rhys on the right. With only one defender in the team it was no surprise we conceded a goal, although thankfully by that stage we had doubled our lead. Like the Ton goal before it, the Marston Green goal had an element of fortune about it, although it was the least that the boys in green deserved.
The middle third of the game was pleasing due to the increased energy shown by the Ton boys and willingness to press Marston Green higher up the pitch, thus preventing them from building any periods of sustained pressure. This continued during the final third of the game and proved incredibly successful with Neil bagging four goals to push the game out of the grasp of Marston Green. His stunning performance rightly earned him the Man of the Match accolade and made it six goals in two games for the under 10s sharp shooter.
A special mention to all of the boys who stepped into defence and helped keep shots on Padriag’s goal to a minimum despite not being defenders. The likes of Nav, Nahome, Cody and Mason did a sterling job in defence, only matched by the energy and maturity of the under 10s who has a greta game.
Overall it was a performance packed full of positives and one that has given us much food for thought ahead of the new season in September. Thank you to Nick and the boys for inviting us over, allowing Olly to captain us against his own team and for playing some great football!
Well done boys!
Up The Ton!
Erdington and Saltley Primary Schools' FA 