Match Report

Andy was away in Florida so Mark had taken the reins. Talking of rein, rain had cancelled the previous game so this would be his only in charge, would his selected team rise to the challenge? The first thing he had to do was find a Match Reporter and Sandra rose to the challenge! After that, he had to sort out a very depleted team! Josef was also in Florida, Tom was away and both Joby and Josh were ill. Spike came across from the ‘B’ team and Joel went in goal. Luke was also unwell, but rather than play short, their manager offered to let one of ours play twice which was very nice of them. Sam K was ready to take over………

Game 1 - The line up was:

Joel

Jack Callum

Dan Sam K Spike

Joe

A great ball in by Joe was met by Sam, but it went out. Bradley attacked, but Jack was there with a great clearance downfield. Joe attacked down the left and swung the ball into Sam, but his shot was blocked. Sam then ran through, but was tackled. Spike, Jack and Callum combine well in defence and then Joel made a good save. Callum then played a good ball forward and Dan forced a corner. Joe took the corner and swung it in, but everyone missed it. Dan then played a great ball into Joe but he was crowded out. Callum then found Dan on the wing and he played it across field to Spike who shot, but wasn’t able to score. We won a dangerous throw which Joe took, but Jack hit it over. They then went through, but Callum came in with a last ditch tackle to clear the ball. Dan played a great ball to Joe and he crossed it, winning a corner in the process, but it was too late to take it.

HALF-TIME : BRADLEY YTH 0 FRYS 0

During half-time, we heard on the Dictaphone that Kim had gone to Izzy’s in town the night before, which is why she wasn’t there! Callum played a great ball down the left which Joe swung in, but it was cleared. Jack played the ball into Sam and he found Spike who won a corner. Joe swung over a great corner which was met by Callum with a shot. The ‘keeper could only parry it, and Jack followed up to score the first goal 0-1. Jack played the ball to Sam, and his shot deflected off of Joe into the side netting. They then broke through looking for the equaliser, but Joel pulled off a fantastic save. Sam then tackled well in defence, and got down the wing, crossing in for Dan, but it was cleared. Joe then found himself through and gave the ‘keeper no chance 0-2. We then had a concerted attack, and Callum had three attempts, but each was blocked. They then were in again, but Joel was equal to the task. Sam then found Dan, but his shot was blocked. Spike found Joe out wide with a great ball, and he hit a perfectly weighted pass into the middle to Sam K to come in on and finish 0-3. Joe crossed another corner to Callum, but his shot was well saved by their ‘keeper. Sam then put Dan through, but he was just out-muscled.

FULL-TIME : BRADLEY YTH 0 FRYS 3

Man of the Match – Chosen by Dick for excellent play and continuous effort – Spike

Game 2 - The line up was:

Jamie

Sam B Mark

Jim Sam K Max

Chilly

Before this game, we heard on the Dictaphone that Sandra had lost 12lb in five weeks. Well done Sandra, I aim to follow your example! Sam B and Mark combined well in defence to get the ball to Sam K. He ran forward and found Jim, whose ball through to Chilly was well dispatched 0-1. Mark and Sam were solid again as they looked to get back in the game, before Mark made an excellent clearance. The ball then went through from Max to Chilly, but his shot was wide. Sam K then did the same, but again the shot was just wide. Max then worked the ball well but his shot was saved. Chilly was put through again, but this time the ‘keeper pulled off an excellent save. Jim played the ball into Sam K, he found Sam B, who went wide to Jim again, but the shot was into the side netting. They worked an opening, but Jamie got down on it well. Sam K went down the line and crossed high into Chilly. He headed it wide for Max to come in on and Max found Chilly again, but his shot was well saved. Bradley Stoke then linked up well to create an opening, but Jamie was alert and made a very good save.

HALF-TIME : BRADLEY YTH 0 FRYS 1

Max won the ball, beat a defender and found Jim. Jim looked up and saw the run of Chilly and played a great ball through, which Chilly calmly took 0-2. Jamie was again called into action as Bradley Youth looked to get back into the game, and handled it well. Max put Chilly through, he had a long run to goal and as he was about to shoot, the ball was cleared for a corner. From the corner Max had a shot, but it was saved by the ‘keeper. Jim then found Sam B, and his ball into Chilly was hit just over. Jim found Chilly who laid it off for Sam B, but his shot was wide. Sam B then found Jim who played it in for Sam K, but his shot was also just wide. Sam K then worked an opening from a corner, but again the ‘keeper made the save.

FULL-TIME : BRADLEY YTH 0 FRYS 2

Man of the Match – Chosen by Mark for a good game & great all round play – Jim

OVERALL RESULT : BRADLEY YTH 0 FRYS 5

Afterthoughts…………………………………………………

I’m always gutted when I don’t get to see games and I’ll have to have words with the wife over holiday dates! It sounded from the report (thanks Sandra) that even with so many players missing, we played with effort, commitment and enthusiasm, and never really allowed Bradley Stoke to get into the game. With so many changes there was the danger that the players wouldn’t gel, but they did, with an excellent result. My thanks to Mark, and my congratulations to the team. Well done!