This game was my chance to see how good we could be, and at the same time show the players and parents what to expect in the Under 9’s cup games and then all of the Under 10’s games.   I deliberately chose our hardest game of the season to do it and the result would give us an insight into our real ability.

Game 1 - The line up was:

Joby

Jack     Callum

Ethan     Josh     Tom

Joe C

Rolling Sub: Max

From the kick off they hit it forward and Josh intercepted and got it forward to Ethan who was bundled out for a throw.  Ethan threw to Joe, who knocked it inside to Josh.  He then threaded it forward for Joe but it was cleared for a throw.  They then had a corner from which Tom broke forward.  He got it to Joe who took it inside of one defender and headed for goal but couldn’t get there as four Portishead players rushed back to stop him.  They attacked down the wing, crossed behind our two players but their forward side-footed it just left of the post.  Next the ball came flying out but was met with a great header from Sandra!  They threaded a ball through past both of our defenders, but his touch took it out for a goal-kick. 

Some midfield battling led to a ball past our defenders and as Joby came out, the Portishead attacker took it around him and calmly slotted it into the net 0-1.  Max then hand-balled it just outside of our area.  They shot, which hit the post and came back in, but after a scramble, Joby claimed it.  A good pass from Ethan to Max and then through to Josh saw him crowded out before he could shoot.  A shot came in hard which hit Jack in the head, but he recovered well.  Some excellent fighting for the ball from Max led to some good interplay between him and Josh.  Portishead then attacked but three of our players got there and Tom was able to pass it back to Joby. 

HALF-TIME: FRYS   0     PORTISHEAD UTD   1

From the kick, Ethan decided to run on his own.  He was tackled and their player shot from 25 yards and still managed to get it over the net!  From the kick, a Portishead player volleyed it as it came down straight into the head of one of their players and the game took a short break.  Some excellent play between Tom, Max, Ethan and Josh saw us surge forward but we just couldn’t find the telling pass.  They attacked down the wing and found Tom in the way.  The cross came in and Joby was there to save it for a corner.  The corner came in and there was a bit of a melee.  Out wide again and then chipped back in to be met by a volley which went just wide.  A cross came in which Joby palmed down.  Tom made a tackle and even on the floor still managed to stop them scoring.  Two consecutive shots flew in, Joby saved the first and then pushed the second away for a corner.  They took it short and Joe was on hand with his defensive duties to clear it.  A high ball in was well saved by Joby and Josh cleared. 

FULL-TIME : FRYS   0     PORTISHEAD UTD   1

Game 2 - The line up was:

Jamie G

Mark     Sam B

Luke A     Jim     Spike

Sam K

Rolling Sub:  Oscar

Portishead were immediately through but were met with a strong clearance from Sam B.  They then attacked down the left and the shot was struck from fully thirty yards which went straight through Jamie’s legs 0-1.  Jim then broke out but was taken out badly and had a free-kick.  Sam B played a great ball to Sam K and he laid it back to Jim who was tackled for a throw as he was about to shoot.  Portishead attacked again but were met first by Spike and then by Sam B.  They had a free-kick in their half which ran through everyone to Jamie.  His kick was met by Sam K taking on their two big defenders.  He forced his way through them and buried it low into the bottom left corner 1-1.  Ball into our area was hit high but Jamie tackled well.  They then had another shot which was well saved by Jamie.  It broke to Jim who ran forward past two but was tackled for a throw. 

A very speculative shot came to Jamie but he must have seen their forward as he took his eye off the ball.  It went through his legs and, although he dived towards it, their player got there first 1-2.  Mark and Sam B were then called upon to do some defending as Portishead pushed for more.  Oscar threw to Spike, who turned inside and passed to Sam B but his pass forward was cut out for a throw.  It was some nice passing though.  A big kick from their ‘keeper was pushed through, one on one with Jamie, but he made a great save.  Mark then cleared an attack well and Spike, with Jim’s help finished the clearance.  A throw from Spike saw Sam K push the ball one side of an attacker whilst going the other but it just ran out for a goal kick.  They broke quickly and Spike ran the width of the pitch to make a great sliding tackle. 

HALF-TIME: FRYS   1     PORTISHEAD UTD   2

A shot early in the half was heading just inside the post.  Jamie waved a leg at it but missed and it was in the back of the net 1-3.  Another shot came in and this time Jamie got his legs to it and made a great clearance.  Luke then went on a run forwards and a good pass inside was just cut out.  At this point, with 8 minutes remaining, due to a mix up with fixtures, play had to be abandoned as the Under 14 Girls needed to kick off at 2.00pm to avoid forfeiting the game.

FULL-TIME : FRYS   1     PORTISHEAD UTD   3

OVERALL RESULT : FRYS   1     PORTISHEAD UTD   4

Afterthoughts………………………………………………………………

The first game saw us battle hard, under relentless pressure from arguably the best team in Bristol .  The second saw three goals, which, on another day Jamie would have saved.  Had that been this day, the overall score would have ended 1-1, and very few teams can say that.  I think this bodes well for the future of our team, and I hope serves to spur on those not selected to try to get in.  Well done