Our obligations to the Juniors were finally complete.  We were back to a full strength side just in time for one of the local derbies.  It was a bit mushy underfoot but everyone looked forward to a nice, peaceful and non-confrontational game!  Oh dear……...

Game 1 - The line up was:

Joe B

James B     Sam B     Callum

Sam P     Ethan     Luke G

Rolling Subs: Mark, Josh & Joe C

Straight from the kick and we got a corner.  Sam B hit it hard and low but no one got to it.  It was clear from the start that we were the better team as we controlled the game with some lovely passing football.  Luke got into the box but was just unable to shoot.  They did have an attack but Sam P put in a great clearance.  Saltford got through again but Joby cleared quickly for a corner.  We won the ball and Ethan went on a run up the pitch.  He cross came in from Ethan but we again were unable to capitalise.  Saltford attacked again and we saw some good defending from James and Sam B, and then a great save by Joby.  Sam B played a good ball up from which we forced a corner which Luke took but it was cleared.  They attacked into our half as we struggled to get back, Sam P, on his own defending, pulled back the shirt of a Saltford player and ref gave a free kick.  She then proceeded to give Sam a stern telling off!  Sam was clearly upset, but managed to carry on really well regardless.  From the free kick, Josh defended well for a corner.  From that they shot wide.  Mark then broke and took on two players but was just unable to shoot at the end. 

HALF-TIME: SALTFORD   0  FRYS  0

Half time was taken by Maurice as Andy had to reassure a visibly upset Sam P, as his parents tried to stay calm on the side.  Into the second half and Mark, Joe & Josh combined with some good passing.  We got a cross in and saw a great header by Sam P.  ark was then called into action with some excellent defending.  There was then a mix up in our defence as no one seemed to get to the ball and they finished well 1-0.  James passed to Josh and on to Joe.  He passed back to Josh and his shot hit the ‘keeper’s foot and out.  Josh then passed to Joe he went on a good run which ended with a cross which wasn’t met. 

Luke’s Dad was then told off by the Ref’ for a comment which he defended by saying “Sorry Ref’, but I shout at the TV as well!”  Mark then was awarded a free kick for a foul.  He blasted the ball in and Luke touched it on but into the side netting.  Callum & Josh passed well between themselves and then onto Sam B.  He ran towards goal and unleashed an unstoppable shot which the ‘keeper could do nothing about 1-1.  Callum threw to Joe and he passed onto Josh.  His lay off to Callum was hit into the side net.  Ethan then passed to Sam B but the ‘keeper saved his shot.  We had a good attack and Joe went wide left before shooting high over the ‘keeper to seal the victory 1-2.  To celebrate, Joe ran down the length of the pitch.  At the end, Josh crossed but Joe was tackled.

FULL-TIME : SALTFORD 1 FRYS 2

Game 2 - The line up was:

Jamie

Jamie C     Tom

Max     Dan     Jordan

Josef

Rolling Subs:  Sam K, Jack Y & Luke A

Right from the start we were in wonderland.  A shot from Max in first minute put us ahead 0-1.  Into the next minute and Tom shot past the despairing ‘keeper 0-2.  A big throw from Tom to Max was despatched with clinical ease 0-3.  Then we slowed down a bit.  Jordan passed to Tom, who went on a great run but was unable to finish it.  They did attack and Jamie was alert to make a great save.  Down the other end and Tom had three shots, two which hit the post and one which was heading wide, but it went to Josef whose shot hit the side net.  Tom then went on another run and this was getting embarrasing 0-4.  And this was so easy, they’d never score…would they?  Andy by this time was feeling very cocky (big mistake) so pushed everyone forward and left Jack to defend on his own (no problem he thought!)  Saltford had only their second attack and the two beat Jack and then calmly slotted past Jamie 1-4 (not a problem).  Saltford then went on another run and scored again 2-4 (but, but…).  Andy reverted back to three at the back and good thing too.  Jack and Luke had to be on their toes with some good defending, and then Luke went on a run to clear it.  He was tackled but Sam won it back but shot wide.

HALF-TIME: SALTFORD 2 FRYS 4

Josef headed for goal but was tackled just as he was about to shoot.  Back down our end and…3-4 (now just you hold on one cotton-picking minute!).  A quick reshuffle was ordered and the status quo was restored!  Josef ran down the wing, shot, but it was cleared.  Dan then played two good balls through but to no avail.  Tom passed to Luke and he just missed with his shot although it was a good passing move.  Next came an astonishing moment.  We had seven (count ‘em) shots on goal and not one went in.  Sam, Max 2, Luke 2 & Tom 2, and we couldn’t score.  We then had multiple shots and this time the final one, from Tom, went in 3-5 and that was Tom’s hat-trick.  Sam attacked from the kick off and extended our lead 3-6.  Max then went down injured and had to be helped off by Andy.  Whilst Andy was on the far side of the pitch Hell decided to break loose.  Sue questioned the referee’s decision more to herself than at the ref’ and ended up having a stern telling off as well.  Like mother, like son eh?  To bring things back to normal, Sam scored another 3-7.  Tom then slid in with a fair but strong challenge and this time the Saltford parents were up in arms.  To show fairness, the Ref’ then gave them a stern telling off!  At the end Max had returned to the pitch and his shot was touched in by Luke 3-8.

FULL-TIME : SALTFORD 3 FRYS 8

OVERALL RESULT : SALTFORD 4 FRYS 10

Afterthoughts………………………………………………………………

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm!  Well done to the parents for the restraint that they showed!