Kidderminster Athletic Hawks U12 vs Colts U12s

Colts returned to league action on Sunday after a brief cup-based hiatus with a visit to the familiar surroundings of Habberley Road for an away tie against Kidderminster Athletic Hawks. Hawks went into the game with a 100% winning record (played 4, won 4) so were certain to be stiff competition for Stephen Coopeys team.
Colts started the game with a 4-3-1 formation, with Cam Elton in Goal, Beale, Clarke, Sivaharan and Glazzard in Defence, Heywood, Perks and Box in midfield and Conner James up front. Zac Johnson, Harry Davies, Ollie Bousfield, Josh Coopey and Ewan Fisher completed the rest of the full complement available to Coopey Snr as once again Colts boasted a full squad.
The game started in a typically competitive spirit with both teams looking to gain an early advantage. Half-chances were traded in an end-to-end opening period, Colts back 4 looking generally calm under some considerable pressure. Any controlled possession in the middle of the park was hard to come by – the home team preferring a more direct route through the middle, (largely snuffed out by the defence and Heywood), whilst Colts found more success in wider areas; both Box and Perks made good inroads down each wing whilst Conner James worked tirelessly without much reward against a very good number 4.
Colts best chance of the first half came when a Heywood free-kick from distance fizzed just over, whilst several corner kicks were also hacked away by the home defence. Hawks went close on a couple of occasions and Elton was forced into a couple of smart saves to keep the scores level.
On the stroke of half time the home team unpicked the Worcester defence, and the right-winger slammed home from close range to edge them ahead going into the break. A harsh lesson for the blue-and-white back line who’d offered no space or opportunities in the previous half-hour.
On resumption, Colts were strangely quiet and for the first few minutes of the second period Hawks threatened to overrun the fortress that had been the visiting defence in the first 30 minutes. Indeed, a penalty was awarded after Beale tangled with his Kidderminster counterpart, both players falling to the floor with the referee pointing to the spot. Elton stood tall in the Colts goal and the resultant kick smashed into the outside of the post and flew wide. A real let-off and what turned out to be a turning point.
Manager Coopey made his first changes after 5 minutes to liven up the soporific start of the 2nd period, introducing a new front 3 of Davies, Coopey Jnr and Bousfield. Fresh legs seemed to have the desired effect and Colts started to impose themselves once more. Heywood was finding more room in midfield and Coopey had similar Joy in the right wing. Playing down a slight slope, Coopey and Davies found more and more joy as gaps started to open up – the equalising goal coming 11 minutes into the second period after some typically industrious work in the midfield. A slotted pass from Heywood found Coopey in space who lifted a delightful shot over the ‘keeper into the net.
The goal seemed to invigorate Colts who started to press with more intent, whilst proving to be miserly at the back. Bousfield started to see more of the ball and found himself in space after a pinpoint cross from Coopey, but with only the keeper to beat seemed to slip at the crucial moment and sliced wide.
Fisher came on for the injured Glazzard and immediately looked composed on the ball with the unshakeable Clarke moving to left back.
Colts looked more and more menacing, and it was Davies who made the second breakthrough with 15 minutes remaining – battling his way through the middle of a throng of defenders before placing the ball beyond the ‘keeper into the corner. A goal that typified the renewed fighting spirit of the team as whole.
Colts players and fans alike were braced for a nervy final fifteen minutes, still Clarke, Sivaharan (having his usual accomplished game), Beale and Fisher held their nerve and looked quite comfortable in riding out whatever pressure the home team could muster.
However, with almost the last kick of the game a speculative cross-shot somehow crept past just about everyone camped in the away-team area and nestled on the corner of the net. A final score of 2-2 was a bitter pill to swallow, however Colts can be rightly pleased with their efforts and application in being the first team to take points away from the early season pace-setters.
Players MoM was James Glazzard and Managers MoM was Reggie Perks.