This was a very wet and muddy day, at a school that was having lots of work carried out in the mud, on a pitch that had gone muddy.  You get the idea.  Sam B was injured but came along to support the team, Josh was ill.

Game 1 - The line up was:

Joe B

James B     Mark     Luke G

Sam P     Ethan     Jordan

Rolling Subs: Jamie C & Joe C

‘Green started the game at high tempo and had us pinned back from the start, forcing Joby into a great save.  They then shot just wide.  Ethan got the ball and went on a good run down the right but lost possession as he neared their area.  ‘Green attacked again and forced another top quality save from Joby.  We then had a good spell of passing between Mark, Joe and Luke, and when it was lost, James was there with a strong challenge to win it back.  Joe then got the ball forwards, ran with it past two players and fired it into the roof of the net 0-1.  ‘Green struck straight back but James and Mark held firm with some resolute challenges.  Ethan tried to relieve the pressure with another attack but he was outnumbered. 

They surged forward and despite our attempts to stop them, soon equalised 1-1.  Jim was at his best in defence with an excellent tackle and this was followed by another brave save from Joby but the pressure was mounting and soon told as ‘Green took the lead 2-1.  We were under constant pressure and Joe, playing as forward had to defend most of the time on the edge of our area.  We threw everything we had in the way of the ball however with Mark, Sam, Luke and Jordan all getting tackles in to stop them shooting and when they finally did, Joby pulled another one right out of the top drawer.  Just on half time however, they did take us by surprise to extend their lead 3-1.

HALF-TIME: L/GREEN   3  FRYS  1

Another shot, another great save by Joby as ‘Green carried on where they had left off the first half.  Sam tried to attack but was fouled.  The kick was short however and they surged forward.  Getting back was Jim though and he slid in well to take the ball cleanly.  Sam was in the wars moments later as again he was taken down trying to get forward.  Jim then got the ball and went on a great run only narrowly missing with his shot.  We weren’t under so much pressure at this point and we did try to pass the ball around, Sam to Joe and on to James. 

James was then on his guard as they attacked and tackled well.  Joe then passed into the path of the running Ethan and he shot well, only to see the ‘keeper make the save.  Joe then had a go but was fouled as he tried to shoot.  The shot was just over the bar.  They attacked and again Jim stopped them.  In the last three minutes we ran out of steam and it became 4-1 then 5-1.  Luke and James defended well but could not stop another 6-1.  Joe saw a shot well saved by the ‘keeper before they finished the game 7-1.

FULL-TIME : L/GREEN 7 FRYS 1

Game 2 - The line up was:

Jamie G

Jack     Tom

Callum     Dan     Sam K

Josef

Rolling Subs: Oscar, Max & Luke A

A huge kick out by Jamie was the first moment of note in the game.  It came to Sam and he ran well with the ball.  After exchanging possession a few times, Callum had a shot on goal which the ‘keeper saved.  He followed this with some fine passing.  Tom went on a great run, which culminated in a shot on goal.  This rebounded to Sam and his shot was blocked.  He wouldn’t be denied however and he buried the rebound, giving the ‘keeper no chance 0-1.  They tried to keep the ball but with Luke pressuring their defenders, Tom won the ball and passed to Max.  He ran well and passed inside but Luke’s shot was wide.  Longwell Green did have a shot but Jamie made a good save.  They tried again and Jamie was equal to the task, Oscar finishing the job off.  ‘Green came again and this time Jack was there with some solid defending.  Dan and Max then flew in with some solid midfield tackles, and when they got through, both Jack and Oscar stood firm.

HALF-TIME: L/GREEN 0 FRYS 1

Into the second half and Max was fouled trying to get to goal.  His layoff to Luke was shot wide. We kept the pressure up however and Dan passed to Jack and his run and shot was too strong for the ‘Green 0-2.  They launched an attack but Jack mopped up and got the ball to Tom.  His run and shot ended just wide.  Sam K then had a shot on goal but the ‘keeper was equal to it!  Josef then got in on the act with a great run down the wing and a cross, which just eluded our attackers.  We won a corner however and Sam’s strong kick came to Jack.  He passed it back and Sam’s shot fizzed across the face of the goal.  Sam , max and Josef kept up the attack with some good passing play and when they did break, Jack was there followed by Callum and Oscar.  And even then, when they got through, Jamie made a fantastic near post stop with his feet.  Sam then passed to Max and his layoff to Jack was hit just wide.

FULL-TIME : L/GREEN 0 FRYS 2

OVERALL RESULT : L/GREEN 7 FRYS 3

Afterthoughts………………………………………………………………

The first game seemed a bit uneven but that team were due to have both Sam B and Josh, and it was too late to really make a change.  We held out really well though until the very last few minutes.  The second game was the same, only in our favour and it bit more composure whilst shooting could have gotten us a few more goals in the end.