In an exciting cup home match held at the Cody Sports and Social Club 2 on 28 September 2024, Crookham Rovers Rockets U9 emerged triumphant over Bourne Blades U09 Hawks with an impressive scoreline of 6-1. The match kicked off at 10:00 am and showcased the skill and teamwork of the Crookham Rovers, who delivered a commanding performance.
Crookham Rovers lined up in a 2-3-1 formation, which allowed for a solid defensive base while enabling dynamic attacking play. Theo Little occupied the goalkeeping position, providing a crucial last line of defence. In front of him, Felix Withers and Cassius Pech formed a central defensive partnership, tasked with thwarting any advances by the Bourne Blades. The midfield trio consisted of Freddie Wright on the right, Tenny Harman centrally, and George Mcdowell on the left, each contributing both defensive cover and attacking support. Cooper Whiteman led the line as the striker, looking to exploit any openings in the opposition's defence.
The bench featured substitutes Jesse Nichols and Finley Taylor, who would later be called upon to make an impact as the game progressed.
The match began with Crookham Rovers on the front foot, and it didn't take long for them to threaten the Bourne Blades' goal. Cooper Whiteman made an early attempt in the 3rd minute, but his shot went wide. Just one minute later, George Mcdowell also failed to find the target, shooting wide again. Freddie Wright joined the early attack but saw his effort go high over the bar in the 4th minute.
As the 10th minute approached, Wright had another opportunity but again missed the target. However, the Rovers' persistence paid off in the 12th minute when Tenny Harman found the net, expertly assisted by Felix Withers. It was a well-placed shot inside the box that set the tone for the rest of the match.
Theo Little demonstrated his reliability as a goalkeeper by making a catch just one minute later, maintaining the Rovers' momentum. The scoring continued as Cooper Whiteman scored in the 13th minute, following a clever assist from Harman, again finishing inside the box. Shortly after, Jesse Nichols replaced Whiteman, and Finley Taylor came on for Tenny Harman, signalling a tactical adjustment by the Rovers.
The goals kept coming, as Finley Taylor marked his introduction with a goal in the 13th minute, set up by Freddie Wright. This goal marked a nightmare start for the Bourne Blades, who faced a 3-0 deficit within the first quarter of the match.
Freddie Wright had an opportunity to extend the lead further with a penalty in the 16th minute, but his shot was saved, allowing Bourne Blades to breathe a sigh of relief. The Rovers continued to dominate, with George Mcdowell forcing a save in the 18th minute, followed by Cassius Pech making a crucial tackle to thwart an attack in the 19th minute.
Freddie Wright was again in the thick of the action, testing the Bourne Blades' goalkeeper with another saved attempt in the 21st minute. Finley Taylor then had a shot that went wide, while Pech showcased his defensive skills again with another tackle.
Theo Little, not only keeping goal but also contributing to the attack, had a shot saved in the 23rd minute. As the first half drew to a close, the score was 3-0 at the half-time mark.
The second half saw a shift in the action, with Theo Little continuing to be involved. He had two attempts in quick succession saved just after the break. Felix Withers made a notable catch as the Bourne Blades tried to mount a comeback, but the Rovers’ defence remained resolute.
In a tactical substitution, Cooper Whiteman replaced Cassius Pech in the 26th minute, and Tenny Harman returned to the field, coming on for George Mcdowell. Whiteman quickly made an impact, hitting the crossbar with a fierce shot shortly after his introduction.
As the match progressed, the Rovers maintained their attacking prowess, with Tenny Harman scoring his second goal of the match in the 34th minute, assisted by Theo Little. However, the Bourne Blades responded almost immediately, scoring inside the box in the same minute, narrowing the deficit to 4-1.
Cooper Whiteman continued to threaten, but his shot in the 35th minute went high. Tenny Harman and Theo Little both saw efforts saved as the Rovers searched for more goals.
In a further tactical change, Cassius Pech returned to the fray, replacing Finley Taylor. Tenny Harman scored his hat-trick in the 38th minute with a delightful lob, extending the lead to 5-1. Despite attempts from multiple Rovers players, including a shot from Freddie Wright, the Bourne Blades managed to keep the score down, but Whiteman found the back of the net again in the 39th minute, assisted by Theo Little.
As the match drew to a close, the Rovers continued to press, but Bourne Blades held firm, preventing further damage. The final whistle blew with Crookham Rovers Rockets securing a resounding 6-1 victory, showcasing their dominance and teamwork throughout the match. Tenny Harman's outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match accolade, highlighting his crucial role in securing the victory for the Rockets.
