A (Trow)bridge Too Far Sunday 28^th November 2004 ____________________________________________________________________

What silly manager finds us games so far away that half the team get lost on the way……... Both games were played at the same time.

Game 1 - The line up was:

Jamie

Dan Ethan Mark

Josh Sam B Spike

Rolling Sub: Luke G

From the kick off and Sam B went down the line but was crowded out. Trowbridge attacked but Josh made a good tackle to stop them. They attacked again and this time Jamie made a good save to give them a corner. The corner was swung in and we stood still as they attacked the ball 1-0. Sam B won the loose ball, attacked well, hit a 50 yard screamer (according to Tom B although he does admit to not knowing his measurements!) and it flew into the back of the net giving the ‘keeper no chance 1-1.

Josh then got the ball and had a good shot, forcing the Trowbridge ‘keeper into making a very good save. Ethan then tackled hard and passed the ball to Sam B but he was tackled by three of their players. They attacked on the break and three on to two gave us no chance 2-1. Luke won the ball in a tackle and passed forwards but it was just cut out as Ethan looked through. They came back at us and despite Mark’s brave attempt on the line it still went in 3-1. Josh won the ball and played it forward well again to Spike but his shot was well saved by the Trowbridge ‘keeper. He kicked it long and the bounce deceived our defenders, although Dan did make a valiant effort to get back, 4-1. Near to the end of the half and Mark was alert to make a good clearance.

HALF-TIME: TROWBRIDGE TOWN 4 FRYS 1

The second half was not recorded for some reason but they scored three more without reply. The Man of the Match award was chosen by their manager who gave it to Jamie. However, this award was taken away as Jamie was then seen bullying one of our players. Because of this, I canvassed a few of the parents for their choice.

FULL-TIME : TROWBRIDGE TOWN 7 FRYS 1

Man of the Match – Chosen by The Parents for excellent play – Mark Gratton

Game 2 - The line up was:

Joby

Jack Tom

Max Jim Jordan

Sam K

Rolling Sub: Callum

A good throw by Tom went to Max, whose shot was saved. They attacked down the right, shot from distance, hit the inside of the right post and into the net 1-0. Trowbridge then had a throw, which went across the goal. Their player got it, beat Jack and shot low 2-0. The pressure from Trowbridge was constant by now and a corner was hit high into the box and everyone of our players left it as two of their players came running in with one of them connecting a header 3-0. They then broke down the right, crossed the ball in to an unmarked player who calmly slotted the ball past Joby 4-0. Tom made a strong tackle down the left and won a corner. The corner was swung in and cleared, Trowbridge stormed forward into our half, one of their players picked the ball up, sized up the fair distance from goal, and hit it 5-0. Callum was then alert with some excellent defending and a pass forward to Sam, but their ‘keeper cleared. Trowbridge threw the ball into the middle to an unmarked player, who then hit a scorcher 6-0. Trowbridge attacked again, but Callum and Tom combined well to clear for a corner. This was defended a lot better and cleared.

HALF-TIME: TROWBRIDGE TOWN 6 FRYS 0

The second half was going to turn into a rout unless we could improve massively. We did get a better start to the half with some good attacking. Tom took a long throw but they managed to clear and the break was on. A shot came in but Joby made a great save and the follow up was then blocked by Callum. They then played the ball into the middle which had worked so well in the first half but were met with a great clearance from Jack. Jordan then showed some determination as he wouldn’t let the next Trowbridge attack turn into anything. Tom was the next under pressure, but had the presence of mind to pass back calmly to Joby. Sam then took a quick throw to Max on the attack, but Trowbridge cleared. Tom took a corner to Max and he passed back to Sam who was steaming in 6-1. Trowbridge came straight back at us however and a long speculative shot crept in at the near post 7-1.

Max broke down the left and got injured but still managed a shot, which was cleared. Fry’s showed some real determination and Sam was just unlucky with a rasping shot. Trowbridge broke again and left Joby one on one, but he made an excellent save low to his right. Max, in the middle, made three good tackles to win the ball. They then had a long shot, which hit the post and Joby scrambled to the ball. Tom then played a long pass to Sam but their ‘keeper came out to just beat him to it. Tom then threw to Jim who passed back, and Tom’s shot was just wide. They attacked, and it took defending by the whole team to stop them followed by a great Joby save at the end. They then had three shots blocked by Jack, Callum and Jim.

FULL-TIME : TROWBRIDGE TOWN 7 FRYS 1

Man of the Match – Chosen by Andy for excellent play – Callum Payne

OVERALL RESULT : TROWBRIDGE TOWN 14 FRYS 2

Afterthoughts………………………………………………………………

I didn’t see game 1, but I hear that the score did not reflect the game and that we played better than it suggested. The first half of game 2 was an onslaught, but I am proud of the way we refused to lie down in the second half, in which we were actually the better team.