U10's A rampant - despite disco fever

8 November 2008

November 8th dawned in seasonal character with the low autumn sun mixed with the odd blustery shower . It seemed that for many a blustery shower was required to remove the cobwebs of the prior evening . The crowd noted the clear evidence of excess disco hair gel , mud and glue on certain of the Albion players at the start of the game .
 
Timperley's answer to Pierluigi Collina arrived to officiate the game and confidently entrusted a flag to a very luminous David Jackson . This was to prove the first of many " not well thought out " decisions by the follically challenged yellow jerseyed official .
 
The match reporter was struggling to find anything worthy to comment on in the first period . The crowd were hoping to see a swift response following the disappointment of last week but it was Ashton who had the better of the play early on . The back three missed the stewardship of Tom who was suffering from an unexpected injury falling under that broadest of headings - " growing pains " . Midfield was absent without leave allowing the Ashton captain to dictate play . Albion strung together a few promising passing moves but it was not surprising when Ashton opened the scoring and finished the first period one nil ahead .
 
The coaching staff rang the changes with Tom , Sam and Dan on for the second period . Almost at once Albion looked a different team - there was more pace and determination about their play albeit Tom quickly left the field with his growing pain still apparently growing .
 
Braden , Sam and Will were growing in confidence but Patrick still had to be alert with a fine save . Pressure on the Ashton goal was mounting with Will hitting the bar and going narrowly wide with a composed left foot shot .
 
A fine pass by Braden to Dan resulted in a good chance for Miles but the shot was right at the keeper . Minutes later Sam defended superbly to find Kalvin . Will breaking from defence was found by Kalvin's pass and then a quick touch to Dan and the outcome was never in doubt . A brilliant equaliser and the second period finished all square .
 
Following a motivational speech from his father Tom started the third period with Braden , Kalvin and Will taking a well deserved rest . Ashton were immediately on the back foot as Ian continued with some probing attacks from right back . From one such movement he completed a fine one-two with Dan and then on to Miles - his shot made it two , one .
 
What a difference that goal made . Ashton's heads dropped almost immediately and it was non stop flowing football from Albion . There were penalties for both Dan and Miles but it was Miles who was to blow the opposition away with four other fine goals . Eight one it finished . Never in doubt !
 
The Albion coaching staff looked a little bewildered by the end of it as the game was so unusual in many ways . It could not be said that any player did not play well by comparison to their team-mates - when they played well they all played well .
 
Man of the match was inevitably Miles given his six goals but it was not his best game . Will was the player to catch the eye in the more challenging first two periods . Dan was the dynamo the team needed at the start of the second period .
 
Kalvin and Sam had quiet games by their own fine standards and Tom was obviously handicapped by injury . Alex looked good going forward but should have hit the target more often . Ian and Braden did what they do best and played their position with Ian very strong going forward . Both Patrick and Nathan looked entirely comfortable througout . Patrick had more to do but it would be good to see Nathan given more of a chance to show his ability .

The coaching staff will still need to consider why the strike rate is so low given the team are creating so many chances . Defending from set pieces also at times is poor . However to-day showed the stamina and fitness of this excellent team . Depsite the fact that they were a goal behind for a good half of the game their football at the end of the day was at times breathtaking . The desire to pass quickly and accurately was pleasing to the eye . The scoreline reflected Albions 's superiority . So well done and the league is still clearly up for grabs .

Source: R Harris

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