U15s Colts
Matches
Sat 08 Feb 2020
Perdiswell Colts Bobcats
09:30
Worcester City FC
U15s Colts
Perdiswell Colts Bobcats v Colts (08/02/20)

Perdiswell Colts Bobcats v Colts (08/02/20)

Chris Wilds10 Feb 2020 - 12:24
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.worcestercityfc.or

'A game of two halves, Geoff'

Saturday morning saw Colts return to Bilford Road for the league match against Perdiswell Colts Bobcats, a game given an extra element of needle after Bobcats had edged past Colts in the cup several weeks previously.
Manager Stephen Coopey presented a bold 3-3-2 formation, continuing from the success it yielded against Kidderminster Rhinos on the previous league outing. For only the second time this season, Colts had the luxury of a full complement of players. Cam started in goal, with Ollie, Dylan and Tom forming the back 3, George, Nathan and Josh in midfield and Louis and Harry up front. Zac, Ewan, Reggie and Caleb started from the bench.
The game started off in an open fashion with both teams looking to get on the scoresheet early. Some good interplay on the right wing between Ollie and Nathan seemed to point at Colts most likely avenue for early success, and so it proved after only 5 minutes. A neat one-two between Nathan and George saw Nath freed up to run into space and deliver a pinpoint cross to Louis; Louis cross-shot was too much for the Bobcats’ keeper to hold and Harry gratefully slotted home into an empty net to open the scoring.
The open nature of the game continued with half chances at either end, both defences soaking up the lions share of pressure. Ollie in particular put in several key challenges and looked to get the ball forward to the midfield. Harry had a couple of chances to double his tally and George managed to fire off a couple of shots from range. Colts didn’t have things all their own way however, and Cam was called into action on several occasions, gathering the ball and making a few tidy saves to boot.
The game then transformed in a 10-minute period; after an iffy off-side decision, a long ball from midfield wasn’t cleared and found it’s way to the Bobcats striker – with one bounce a half-volley fizzed past Cam into the net. Colts were still looking positive however but were hit by a sucker punch when Bobcats scored direct from a wind-assisted corner. Reggie then replaced a strangely-quiet Josh on the left wing, but worse was to come and minutes later, Bobcats extended their lead with a goal that was a carbon-copy of the first – Colts rueing hesitation in defence. So inexplicably Colts found themselves trailing at the break despite it being a very well balanced first half.
Manager Coopey altered formation at half-time to bolster the possession in midfield. Harry, Nathan and Tom were replaced by Conner, Ewan and Caleb and Zac took over from Cam in goal.
The change in formation to a 3-4-1 seemed to allow Colts much more of a foothold in midfield; Ewans’ presence allowing George more freedom to play an expansive game. Both had excellent 2nd halves and will give the management team options for the rest of the season as far as midfield is concerned.
Colts started to make inroads into the opposition half quickly when play restarted, and with the sun at their back, started to create chance after chance. Playing the same killer ball that Bobcats had used to their advantage in the first half it wasn’t long before they pulled a goal back, Louis latching onto a direct ball, advancing on the keeper and sliding the ball home. The goal gave the boys a visible boost in confidence and the work-rate that was patchy in the first half was much better in the second. What had been an even contest was soon becoming one-way traffic, with the Bobcats defence being stretched time after time by a rampant Colts attacking line. Reggie became more and more involved as the game progressed and Colts seemed to be able to produce opportunities from all angles, Louis, George and the returning (and rejuvenated) Josh peppering the home goal at will. Colts drew level when Conner, playing perhaps his finest half to date, slammed home after some nice interplay and gritty, determined work by the midfield. Colts then turned the screw, pressing incessantly with resulting corner after corner fizzing in from Reggies’ left boot just about repelled by the Bobcats defence. The home team dropped deeper to soak up the increasing pressure and Ewan danced his way through the Bobcats defence on a number of occasions – and was unlucky not to be able to apply a final product in an increasingly congested penalty area. Reggie then forced the home keeper into a fingertip save direct from yet another corner. On the occasion that the home team managed an attack, the defence soaked up everything thrown at them. Zac found himself with little to do, but when needed was in the right place to nullify any potential chances. Dyl was having a typically assured game and Caleb looked comfortable in being restored to defence. Ollie was forced into a last-ditch triple tackle (at least one part of which was executed from the floor!), and the only other threat came from a free-kick after a foul on the edge of the box; however as the crowd looked on nervously the ball looped harmlessly over the bar.
Conceding a goal would indeed have been harsh on Colts, however it was they who emerged victorious thanks to a last-kick, last-gasp goal – George drilling home through a crowded box after yet another wicked corner from Reg to cap an enthralling (some would say ‘pulsating’) match; the team can take massive encouragement in turning around a 2-goal deficit to record their second league success on the spin.

Match details

Match date

Sat 08 Feb 2020

Kickoff

09:30
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Join the Trust Today ! - WCFC Supporters Trust