U18s White Vs Toton Tigers Under 8

To say an improvement was required after last weeks game away at St Anns Snienton is an understatement, so after the team put in a lot of hard work during the mid week training session & understood what was required, we were all looking forward to the local derby against Toton Tigers. I certainly didn't need to build the game up!

We welcomed coach Sweetin into the fold. He will be standing in for coach Hick for the next few months.

As all the players did so well in the midweek training session it left me with a selection headache, but as Mikey was really keen to play in goal again, & is really starting to look like first choice keeper, his was the first name on the team sheet. Nathan was back in defence, with Coby & Alex taking up the very important midfield positions, Dan played as the lone striker.

It was pleasing to see from the kick off the team were quicker to the ball, both in making the loose ball theirs & in the pass when we had possession.

It was a frantic game with both teams determined to get the ball forward at every opportunity. Alex & Coby, who has made massive leaps forward since joining us in the Summer, were putting pressure on the opposition every time they had possession of the ball, making it difficult for them to string any more than a couple of passes together. Even when the Tigers forwards did get through, Nathan was putting in some well timed tackles, & Mikey has a safe pair of hands, gathering up any half chances. Dan was making himself known to the Tigers defenders. He wasn't giving them a second on the ball & was really working hard. As the first 1/4 was coming to an end, the opposition finally did get through & scored a good goal.

As always, changes were made going into the second 1/4 with Eddie replacing Nathan at the heart of defence, Emin & Michael coming on for Alex & Coby, Gazza came on for Dan. It wasn't long before we equalised. Emin drove the ball forward from a deep midfield position, with support from Gazza, got past two defenders, to poke the ball past the keeper. A really determined run & finish. That's two goals in three games now & if he can carry on adding goals to his game, he could make the difference.

Half time came and a well deserved break for the players. Fresh legs were required for the 3rd 1/4 with Michael remaining on the pitch. I was keen for him to play 20 minutes as he has lost a bit of match time over the last couple of weeks. He was making a nuisance of himself breaking up any attack Tigers tried putting together. 

Going into the final 10 minutes, Tornados were on top and throwing everything forward. A tactical switch was made. Coby, who had played his best game, made way for Dan, who possessed more of an attacking threat, and Eddie who had stood firm in defence, made way for Nathan. And the switch almost paid dividend with wave after wave of attack from the Tornados piling the pressure onto the Tigers goal. We had 3 corners in a row. Nathans delivery from set pieces almost brought us a second goal as a corner came into the box, a defender almost put through his own goal, only to be rescued by a post.

We edged it on chances & overall play, but the final result was a fair one.

This was a full bloodied derby match. Frantic, tackles, great saves from both keepers & plenty of chances on goal. 

Coby was todays Man of the Match for a determined display in midfield.