Worcester City U10s vs Stoke RTC U10s

Half term blues?

The big question coming into today’s game was how was the half term break going to impact how the boys played. The warm up, through no fault of their own given the space we had available, showed ominous signs.

We started as though we were still on the piste, on Fortnite, FIFA or just plainly still asleep. We deservedly went behind to a sloppy goal and all of the boys seemed as though they were waiting for someone else to force the pace of play. The goal seemed to wake us up slightly and we looked somewhat like our former ourselves and it took a typically strong centre forwards finish from Tom to equalise. Shortly after Ryan drilled one in from distance and we were on top. A sublime lobbed finish from Ben, for which Will especially seemed to like when he exclaimed “That is ridiculous!!”, and we extended the lead. However we were still far too open at the back, and off the pace across the pitch and we paid the price and conceded before the break, and it could have been more had it not been for a series of good saves from Evan.

We asked the boys to move up a gear or two in the second third and we were much more solid across the pitch. Some of the pass and move plays were good to watch and we were beginning to look like our former selves. We’ve been asking Evan to be brave and dive at feet and he did that to save a certain goal. At the other end we looked dangerous and we were all delighted to see Jack drill home a quality finish and there was suddenly daylight between the two teams. A smart cut inside and low finish from Ryan made it 5-2 and we were finished the third strongly.

With recollections of poor final thirds ringing in their ears, and a demand that we play the simple pass we started brilliantly in the final third and the link up play between Evan K, Jack and Tom was especially pleasing. We couldn’t add to the scoreline and against the run of play we conceded. We could have witnessed similar final thirds to previous weeks, but to their credit the boys rallied and through a combination of hard work, good passing and good saves we extended the lead following excellent work from Tom for Evan K to score and Tom deservedly getting another.

Whilst not at our best we were too strong for the opposition. A sign of a good team is winning when not at our best and today we achieved that.

Special mentions to Evan M for some excellent saves and Dylan for some last ditch saving tackles.

GOLD
A sublime finish, combined with an all round centre midfield performance full of slick passes and winning his battles throughout Ben deserved his gold award.

SILVER
A handful at the best of times, but his pressing skills, hold up play and most pleasing of all, his selfless awareness of game situations and playing his teammates in have Tom the silver.

BRONZE
A first goal of the season seemed to galvanise Jack and with confidence brimming through his veins he put in an commanding performance.