A good performance from the lads to finish off the morning and to end up with two 5 - 0 wins.
Celebrating his birthday, Tommy led the boys into battle, taking over the captains armband from Harry Benton. A new defencive partnership was also created with Harvey slotting in beside Harry D. Archie, Joe Perry and Jake made up the rest of the outfield players with Matthew between the sticks.
Rovers started brightly and following a deflected clearance Archie let rip from outside the area. The ball swerved in the air, but rebounded off the cross bar and straight back into the goalkeepers arms.
Archie was straight back into the action and stole the ball from the Abbeymead defenders. Archie then drove into the Abbeymead penalty area and unleashed a shot passed the on rushing Abbeymead goalkeeper that unfortunately went into the side netting.
Not long afterwards, from a Harvey throw in on the right, Tommy was left free in the Abbeymead penalty area with all the time in the world to prod the ball passed a defenceless Abbeymead goalkeeper. It was the perfect way to celebrate his 9th birthday and got the team off to the perfect start.
From the kick off, Joe Perry won the ball in the Rovers half and passed the ball wide to Tommy. Tommy spotted Jake on the left and got the ball through to him on the second attempt. Jake turned the defender and then drove in field towards goal. With 2 other Abbeymead defenders trying to close him down, Jake was able to stab the ball forward, but only into the arms of the Abbeymead goalkeeper.
A nice move then saw Archie winning the ball and passing to Jake on the left. Jake swivelled and swung in a cross to Joe Perry. Joe, skipped inside two defenders and knocked the ball back to Jake who had his sht blocked. The rebound fell to Archie, but his scuffed shot went harmlessly wide.
Again Archie won the ball in midfield and fed it through to Tommy on the edge of the Abbeymead area. Tommy was pushed wide of the goal but still managed to get a pass back to Archie on the edge of the area. Archie hit a low shot the went agonisingly across the face of the Abbeymead goal and out for a goal kick.
Next, Joe Perry won the ball on the half way line. Instantly Jake sped into space knowing the pass would come. The pass came and Jake was free to bare down on the keeper. With the goals at his mercy Jake blasted his shot just wide of the uprights.
Jake was to make amends though, and from the goal kick Tommy gathered the ball, beat an Abbeymead defender mid way into the Abbeymead half and then fed the ball through to Jake on the left. Jake's first time shot flew into the roof of the Abbeymead net to make it 2 - 0.
From the kick off, Jake stole the ball from the Abbeymead defender, took two touches and then rifled a shot that went just past the uprights.
Joe Perry won the ball again in midfield, and again Jake sensed a pass. Finding space on the left, Joe looked up and slotted a ball thorugh for Jake to run onto. Jake's shot was saved by the outstretched knee of the Abbeymead goalkeeper.
Soon afterwards, Joe Perry won the ball on the edge of the Abbeymead area. Again he passed to Jake on the left. Jake beat the defender but was unable to get a shot in with his left foot. The defender recovered and cleared to the edge of the area where Archie was waiting. Archie's first time shot went just wide of the upright.
From the goal kick, Joe Perry won the ball and passed inside to Archie mid way in the Abbeymead half. Archie took a touch and then fired in a low shot, on target, that the Abbeymead keeper scrambled away with his legs for a corner.
From the corner, Jake played a short pass to Archie. Archie turned and crossed a low ball into Harvey, 6 yards out. Harvey's first time shot was saved between the goalkeepers legs.
From another goal kick, Tommy won the ball and dribbled forward. Turning and beating two Abbeymead defenders, he knocked the ball to HArvey on the penalty spot. Harvey shot instantly, but again the ball went the wrong side of the upright.
From a goalkeeper clearance the ball fell to Archie on the right. Archie drove forward and crossed into Tommy. Tommy took a touch forward and then knocked the ball passed the on rushing goalkeeper, but also into the side netting.
The second half arrived and the so did a change to the whole team. On came Harry M, James, Edward, Joe Edwards, Harry Bradshaw and Harry Benton.
After the contstant attacking of the Reds in the first half, it was strange to see Matthew brought into action in the Rovers goal. A forward run by Abbeymead had Matthew diving low to his left to collect the Abbeymead shot.
Normal service was resumed, and a passing move saw the ball move from Edward on the right of the half way line, through to Joe Edwards, and then Harry Bradshaw and onto Harry Benton on the left hand side of the Abbeymead area. Harry's shot was saved by the falling knees of the Abbeymead goalkeeper. The ball rebounded out for a throw in. Harry Benton took the throw quickly to James. Looking up, James took one touch to his right and then unleashed a dipping shot from outside the area that rebound off the post and across the area.
Unfortunately the battery ran out on the video camera at this stage, so a detailed report is not possible from here on in.
The third goal came from a rocket from James that flew into the net from the edge of the area.
The fourth goal arrived from a great run from Harry Mcmillan on the right hand side of midfield. His shot made it through the goalkeepers legs and was then prodded home by Harry Bradshaw for his debu goal.
The fifth and final goal was claimed by Jake. His shot was parried into the air by the goalkeeper and then helped over the line by the Abbeymead defender. Technically it was an own goal, but seeing as Jake had a legitimate goal ruled out against Saracens he has been awarded it.
Rovers created numerous chances with all the boys going close. The Abbeymead keeper had a stormer and should be applauded for his never give in attitude.
A good performance from the boys that topped the morning off nicely. Most pleasing of all was the way that the team passed and moved around the pitch.
