In keeping with much of the senior professional football, this weekend cup football on the schedule for our team and we welcomed Junior Reds to Blean.
Some matches take a while to warm up but Risers were out of the blocks in record breaking time and, after receiving the ball from the kickoff, Lexi weaved through five or six players and opened the scoring within 15 seconds!
Quick starts like this can often lead to a group of players losing focus and after more sustained pressure from our team Junior Reds countered and scored a breakaway goal which was wholly against the run of play. It was time for our team to concentrate, take stock and do what they do best; work together as a unit and make their pressure count.
Within minutes of our opponents’ repost Jelly latched onto a through ball and finished a determined run with a sublime shoot, whistling past the static goalkeeper.
After more home pressure, Madison spotted the keeper off her line and chanced a cheeky looping shot from outside the area which found its target like a laser guided missile.
Not satisfied with a two goal cushion at half time, Ella M - whose close control and pace is really something to behold, latched onto another great through ball and made it 4-1 at the interval.
Whilst the strikers were enjoying their morning the rest of the team were their usual stoic and well-drilled selves. Bethan commanded her area (and beyond) and demonstrated how her game had progressed over the course of the season. Nancy, though not in her favoured position, was hard working and almost impossible to get past. Lorea provided some much needed width to the team. Lizzie simply does not stop running and has to be a contender for the ‘Thorn in the side of every striker’ award. Scarlett was strong and calm on the ball and goal line technology may have awarded her a goal from one of her ever improving corners. Ella D was once again impassable and put on a defending master class! Izzy was her usual tenacious and terrier-like self and seemed to pop up all over the pitch and pick the pocket of whomever had the ball.
The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first with Madison and Lexi adding to their tallies and our visitors pouncing on a fortuitous loose ball in the box to double theirs.
At this point in the season it is an opportune moment to remember what it is we have signed up to. We are involved in youth football to help give positive experiences to young people through the medium of sport. It is vital that we leave any negative learned behaviours from our own sporting past where they belong.....in the past. To that end, a reminder of a few points:
Let the referee referee the game with the help of the volunteer assistants.
Let the coaches coach the players.
Support is vital....but let it be just that, support. All noise from the supporters should be encouraging, friendly and good natured. This is youth football. It should be enjoyable for all.
Final score: Rising Stars 6-2 Junior Reds
Carl.
