U11 Jaguars rocked by the Rockets - but step up to the challenge in second half!

However the confidence did not translate onto the pitch, as the Jaguars started tentatively with Bren in goal, Neil, Tom, Teddy and Charlie making up the back four, TJ, Finlay and Jamie in midfield and Connor, Shorty and Kieran up front.

The first ten minutes proceeded as a scrappy affair with the Rockets arguably having the better of the game, meaning that Bren had to be on his toes in nets. However a positive break up the left wing with Jamie and Kieran combining, enabled Kieran to get clear in the box, placing the ball across the goalie into the far corner of the net - 1-0 to the Jaguars.

This goal should have signalled the opportunity for the Jaguars to relax and take charge of the game, but no, the game continued as it had previously with the Rockets still having the better of the play. Rockets pressure continued to build as Bren was called upon to make a number of good saves and clearances, including a heart stopping moment when he slipped and just managed to pounce on the ball. However his resilient efforts finally gave way after a fine stop from the Rocket’s excellent right winger which he parried and unfortunately the same winger snapped up the loose ball and buried it in the Jags’ net – 1-1.

The Jaguars immediately went on the offensive and put pressure on the Rockets which eventually led to a corner. Jamie curled in the corner and Teddy flicked the ball into the Rockets’ net – 2-1 to the Jags.

The Jags still continued throughout the half in a slightly panicky way. Charlie had to be replaced by Sam after he injured his foot/ankle in a challenge and Jamie dropped into the left back role to ensure the defence remained as solid as possible. However the Jaguars were not passing confidently and not challenging as strongly as would normally be expected. Clearly rattled by this fine first half performance from the Rockets, another break saw the Rockets equalise – 2-2.

The half time team talk clearly lifted the Jags, Finlay went into goal letting Bren out into central midfield, as the lads stepped up a gear in the second half, began to pass the ball more confidently and started to exert the kind of pressure they normally do. A long throw from Sam put Connor through who shot just wide. The Rockets countered and were thwarted by Neil. The Jags put the pressure back on and won a corner. Jamie curled it in and Kieran ‘rose like a salmon’ (sorry about the cliché) and headed the ball powerfully on target, but the goalie saved well. The pressure was now down the left with Shorty, Sam, Kieran and Jamie all combining well leading to a free kick as Sam was felled (not for the first time) by the right back. Jamie powered in the 25 yard free kick and it sailed into the top of the net giving the goalie no chance – 3-2 to the Jags.

More Jaguars’ pressure led to three successive corners on the right hand side. Jamie put the first two in at the near post which were confidently cleared; the third to the back post was well defended and the pressure relieved. The Jaguars just didn’t seem to want to attack the ball in the box. This tentativeness meant that the Rockets’ confidence grew again and they won a series of throws which were cleared well by Sam and Jamie. The last of these Jamie cleared to Shorty, who played in Kieran, who in turn linked up with Connor in a one-two and then put Shorty in on goal. Shorty side-stepped the keeper and slotted it home - 4-2.

Undaunted, the Rockets continued to fight, leading to some much more solid defending from Neil, Tom, Teddy and Jamie and the midfield fighting for and winning the ball, exemplified by Sam’s excellent sliding tackle, TJ battling well and Bren exerting his physical presence. However that excellent right winger then managed to skip Jamie’s challenge and gave Finlay no chance – 4-3.

Charlie having recovered sufficiently came back on for TJ enabling Jamie to revert to midfield. Almost immediately Jamie combined with Sam to get Kieran free down the left wing, who delivered an excellent cross to the far post, but the Jags forward line were not following in, so another chance went begging. Sam again picked up the ball in midfield and ambitiously shot from 35 yards but without sufficient power it went harmlessly wide. However the next opportunity Sam had, he showed excellent technique to get the ball on target but it was saved well by the keeper. Another Rockets’ attack broke down as Charlie intercepted the ball pushed down the wing, he found Shorty with his pass who played a one-two with Kieran and once again side-stepped the goalie to make it 5-3.

Jamie launched two more free kicks into the box but insufficient challenge meant the Rockets got the ball clear all too easily. The Rockets, heartened by the Jags unwillingness to finish them off, broke down the right wing again with that winger beating both Jamie and Charlie to put the Rockets back in the game at 5-4. The final minutes of the game was end to end stuff, with Sam, Kieran and Connor all having shots well saved by the keeper as the Jaguars held on for the win.

This was an excellent game of football played with a lot of spirit from both teams, especially the second half, in beautiful conditions. From the Jaguars perspective it was closer than it should have been, but all credit to the Rockets, who have improved tremendously since the first meeting of these two teams. The Jaguars fought hard to win in the second half and played much better than in the first, however they will need to start their last few games more confidently, get back to challenging for every ball and playing with less nervousness and more confidence.

Special thanks to Teddy and Tim for staying (with the help of Sue) when the Manchester derby was beckoning rather than the required early exit to get there in time.

Goalscorers; Shorty (2), Kieran (1), Ted (1), Jamie (1),

GBK Man of the Match: Jamie, for an exemplary team performance, playing in both midfield and stepping into a less familiar or favoured left back role, when Charlie got injured. For working hard throughout the game, delivering numerous quality corners and free kicks, one corner leading to second goal and a well taken 25 yard free kick which gave the Jaguars a much needed early second half lead.