U14's draw 0 - 0 - in the second half!

15 February 2009

From the players and particularly parents standing on the touchline of a very cold and windswept Flixton fields, we’d like to wish all those reading this from the comfort of their sick beds a speedy recovery.

The manager’s tactics for this game were rumoured to be 4-3-3 with everybody attacking. However, Urmston didn’t seem to have read the same script and for the first 10 minutes camped firmly in Albion’s half not letting Albion really get any chances. But then the first of several breaks saw a cross put wide to Jack C who saw his shot just skim wide of the goal.

A second foray into the Urmston half again saw some good passing play finding players with the space to move the ball, but again there was no-one able to put the ball into the back of the net. More good pressure from Albion saw them moving forward again but still no goal was forthcoming.

Back in Albion’s half, Urmston won a corner and from the resulting goal mouth scramble the ball disappeared in a bundle of Albion players into the back of the net. This was followed not long after by a momentary lapse in the defence allowing Urmston’s second to be recorded.

All was not lost as another break away saw Sean with only the ‘keeper, by this time out of his area, to beat. Unfortunately for him, he must have left his shooting boots at home as the scuffed shot went the wrong side of the post.

The first half ended shortly after a miss timed challenge from an Albion goal kick fell to a waiting Urmston player who didn’t let the opportunity go to make the score 3 – 0 as the whistle went.

The half time team talk from manager and new assistant manager (welcome Mark) must have been impressive as it was different team that took to the field for the second half. From the start the passing play was worthy of many a Premier League team with spaces being created and blue shirts being found.

Again it was the breaks that caught out the Urmston side. A good clearance saw Emerson on his own only for the whistle to go for a dubious off-side call. With only the ‘keeper to beat, this would have been as good a chance as any. It was Emerson who popped up again when Albion won a corner only for his strong shot to be caught by the ‘keeper.

At the other end, Urmston were trying to increase their lead but this time the defence were holding firm and two reflex saves from Simon meant that they were destined to end this half without scoring.

In one of the final Albion efforts, it was again Emerson who found himself clear, this time on the end of a free kick picked up on the half way line. This time, again, there was only the ‘keeper to beat. This time it was going to go in the goal! But no, fate intervened again, this time in the form of a bobbling ball at the moment of impact of boot on ball and Emerson saw his otherwise perfectly taken shot sail over the cross bar.

So the second half ended 0 – 0 with a very creditable performance from Albion. If only they’d started in the same way. The passing was measured, full use was made of the (very wide) pitch. If the boys can learn from this, not all crowd the ball leaving the opposition wide and free, consider the passes not play the hoof and hope game then the spectators and they can look forward to an enjoyable run into the end of the season.

Special mention to James for his Man of the Match performance. He was as strong in defence as you could hope for someone playing in his position, always seeming to be where he was needed, when he was needed.

Source: A Hack

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