10/04: Match Report: Blacon 2 - Waverton Arrows 2

A really good, competitive match on Saturday morning showed us at our best - great passing, good movement and a fantastic attitude, not only from our boys, but also from Blacon which was really good to see. Playing on Blacon's massive pitch was good too, lots of space to be able to play our game - we really applied what we talked about at the training sessions this week and I think we are getting more used to being back on grass.

Q1 was a great start for us, we really took control of the play and passed the ball around well. We had a few chances where the ball went wide or their keeper did well, and Blacon themselves had one or two efforts which Tom (starting us off in goal) controlled really well. A good strong start, Q1: Blacon 0 - Arrows 0.

Q2 carried on the momentum from the first period and we were really forcing Blacon to play on their own half - the ball broke for us on a number of occasions and on one of these, Jack burst forward and buried the ball in the back of the net. From their kick off, Blacon started to push on a bit and began to apply some pressure; we soaked most of it up with ease to be honest, but on one occasion we uncharacteristically didn't clear our lines and Blacon jumped on it to cross into the box where it was met by one of their boys who brought the scores level. End of Q2: Blacon 1 - Arrows 1.

Q3 settled back into being end to end for the entire period - both teams really battling each other and there were chances at both ends - Casper was fantastic in goal - he played three quarters between the sticks today and really gave the team confidence to push on. End of Q3: Blacon 1 - Arrows 1.

We went again in Q4 and although we battled well, I think the boys were starting to tire a little, the size of the pitch starting to wear them down. We carried on playing well though and had more chances to score, at one point Jack took a great shot, but the Blacon keeper pulled off a great save, but the ball fell to Oscar who kept composed and scored his first competitive goal - well done Oscar! We carried on going - both teams still not letting up and I honestly thought we were going to gain our first victory over Blacon... but it was not to be - a few minutes from the end and after a short period of intensive pressure on our defenders, Blacon managed to squeeze one into the net to bring them level. From kick off we just went for it - attacking their goal and really going for the win - the boys were really up for it, but again it wasn't to be, with numerous chances peppering their goal, we just couldn't get it over the line. End of Q4 and the match: Blacon 2 - Arrows 2.

Special thanks to Jack today for really leading the team well as Captain - he was a real danger throughout and the Blacon team did target him on a few occasions but he dealt with it well (at one point jumping over incoming tackles and dodging past three other Blacon boys with the ball still at his feet!). Deciding Man of the Match was really difficult today - it could of been any of the boys, or all of them! I ultimately chose Oscar as although some mistakes were made during the match earlier on, he really listened to me from the touchline and during the inter-quarter breaks, rounding it off with his first goal for the team. Oscar will be my Captain at the next game.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Cheers,

Carl

AFC Waverton U8 Arrows
07896 515717