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19 October 2009 Match report for Wilmslow Town U11 Jaguars 4 - 5 home defeat to Great Moor County JFC U11 (17/10/2009)
At last the Under-11 Jaguars christened their new new home turf at Jim Evison with a Preliminary Round fixture of the Stockport Metro JFL Cup against Great Moor County. This match was likely to be the first real test of how far the Jaguars have come this season. Unbeaten in the Fifth Division with a perfect 100% record and no goals conceded, how would the Black Cats fare against free-scoring but also, goals conceding, Third Division Great Moor?
Great Moor arrived early. A squad of 15, several team coaches, a full training session, and a big following. This was a professional outfit –they even had ‘Great Moor’ stitched into the design of their socks!
The Jaguars team picked itself. Will and Connor were both ill, so Brendan lined up as substitute. The boys were sent into the game with the message that County would not know what to expect. Work hard, keep position and team shape, and attack with pace.
The match started with both teams feeling each other out. It was a midfield battle and neither team was able to create too many opportunities. The best chances of the half fell to the Jaguars. A fantastic break and shot from Kieran was acrobatically tipped around the post by the County ‘keeper, and then Kieran was again thwarted by the goalkeeper in a 50/50 challenge. As half time approached, you could feel the tension in the big crowd, but this was nothing compared to what was to come.
At half time the Jaguars were told to spread the play out of midfield and to play down the wings where County appeared weak. The second half started, County hit the cross bar with a free-kick, a lucky escape, but then the Jaguars started to gain the ascendancy. Their play was rewarded when Sam somehow scooped a 20 yard shot up, over, and just under the County bar. Goal! Fluke or genius? who cares, 1-0 to the Jaguars –now the boys could start to believe they could win this game.
But the lead was short lived. County came back to draw level, 1-1. The play switched to the other end of the field, a superb turn and shot from Natty, 2-1 to the Jaguars. This was shaping up to being a great game, end to end football ensued. Oh, no, another equaliser for County 2-2. The boys responded again, a break and a great cross from Kieran found Sam who scored his second with a brave header at the near post, 3-2 to the Jaguars.
The crowd started to swell as the High School Rugby matches finished on the other pitches –word had got round, this was a match worth watching. County responded again and unbelievably scored, no, the Jaguars conceded, a soft goal from a throw-in. What were we doing? Where was the organisation, the marking, where was the defence? 3-3.
The boys were not to be denied. Another attack, a pass from Jamie, and Sam slotted the ball in for a second half hat trick and the Jaguars' fourth goal, 4-3 to the Jaguars. Joy abundant on the touchline!
Four minutes left, Brendan was sent on for Natty and told to tackle anything that moved in midfield. Could the Jaguars hold on? The answer was no. Willed on by their massed support County came back. They were suddenly first to the ball, they started winning every tackle –who wanted to win this game more? Inevitably they scored, 4-4. What a match! The referee blew his whistle, extra time.
After an hour of end to end football, logic said that the game would be decided by the team that kept their formation, and worked hardest. Who would it be? As extra time started, the tension in the crowd was palpable.
There was nothing between the two teams in the first period, a great save by Finlay from a County break, a last ditch tackle from County to deny Brendan, but as the second extra period wore on you could sense the tiredness setting in and the larger squad of County started to tell. The Jaguars were losing their shape, the play became ragged, and a lack of concentration resulted in County scoring from a Jaguars’ error. 5-4 to County. The boys tried in vain to take the game to penalties, a shot from Natty (back on in place of TJ) was again well saved by the County ‘keeper and a header from Teddy went just over the bar.
The final whistle blew. There was to be no penalty shoot-out to decide this epic battle. The larger squad of Third Division County had prevailed. Gutted.
The boys’ rose to the occasion. This was a match where they proved they can compete at the level at which they should really be playing. They showed drive, determination and collective desire. What a shame that the game should be decided by two defensive errors. This was the day the boys’ realised that football is played in the head as well as in the feet. Despite all their effort, the game was lost by a lack of focus and concentration at crucial times in the game. A good lesson learnt.
No one likes losing. It felt horrible at the end of this game. Next week in our return to the Fifth Division and our match against FC Blue Star Rockets we must make sure we don’t feel like this again.
Goalscorers; Sam (3), Natty (1)
GBK Man of the Match; No award this week, it was impossible to pick out one player who had a better game than the others. Everyone contributed to a very good performance –and substitute Brendan deserves a special mention for patiently waiting on the touchline, realising he would play an important role as players tired and the match went into extra time.
If there was a Man of the Match it was Josh Nuthall, the County goalkeeper who kept his team in the match with a string of excellent and brave saves. Well done to him. Best of luck to County –we will watch your progress with interest.
Team
F Calder, T Botham, C Sciple, T Strang, N Woodward, T Jefferis, K Maguire, J Nugent, S Short, H Tomlinson, B Behan, N ThomassonSource: Stuart Hall << to news index
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