Hawks
These are mainly woodland birds with long tails and high visual acuity, hunting by sudden dashes from a concealed perch
FC Holyport Hawks U13s 11- Pinewood Panthers 1
After a long wait the newly formed FC Holyport Hawks U13s finally took to the field in their first game of the season . Jubilee field in Bray looked glorious as team tasted 11 a side football for the first time. Three players were making their debuts for the team, Harry Rigg-Hersom was back in goal after 2 years away, Jake Bone and Jasan Sidhu also making their first appearances for the team.
The Hawks took to their new 3-5-2 shape straight away and were in front within 2 minutes. Jake flicked on Harry R’s long goal kick into strike partner Michael Donaghy’s path and he smashed the ball on the volley into the roof of the net from just outside the box. The Hawk’s continued to press and Jake was unlucky not to score after a good run. Riley and Ewan were working well in their new holding Midfield roles , winning tackles galore . Tommy, Chris and Harry A were defending stoutly , winning all the high balls and clearing their line well. Harry R made a great save from a Pinewood corner but this was a sporadic attack as the Hawks dominated. Jake fired over, Tommy had a header saved as the Hawks missed numerous chances.
They were made to pay as the defence failed to deal with a long ball gifting Pinewood an undeserved equaliser.
The Hawks though refused to buckle ,kept their shape and soon went back in front. After a number of great corner’s from Riley without reward the Reds finally made one count. Jake heading in another excellent corner from Riley. Then on the stroke of half time the Hawks went 3-1 up, Jacob’s speculative shot squirming through the keeper grasp. If not from some wayward finishing and excellent last ditch tackles from the Pinewood defence the game could have been over at Half time. Wingers Jacob and Bobby battled well as the tracked back well with the Pinewood wide men, their left winger being especially dangerous. This limited their attacking roles in the first half. Jack C also played well just behind the front 2 as the whole team put in a great first half performance.
The 2nd half started a much more even affair ,Pinewood pushing forward and Harry R had to rush from his goal a couple times to mop up danger . Jasan also made a great impression in his first game clearing the ball numerous times. The Hawks weathered the storm and were soon back in total control of the game. Riley had a long shot saved by the keeper before Michael made it 4-1. Tommy won the ball in midfield and played the ball into the strikers path , who surged into the box and smashed the ball home. Now the flood gates opened as the Hawks stalked their prey at will, Michael completed his hat-trick after picking up Bobby’s through ball. Jasan hit the bar from near the half way line before Jacob fired in number 6. The diminutive winger cut in from the right , turned his player inside out twice before surging along the goal line. Then froman almost impossible angle bent the ball between the keeper and his near post with the outside of his right foot. Bobby and Jacob were now in full flow as the Hawks attacked down the flanks. Jake hit the post as he strived for the 2nd goal his performance deserved, his chance soon came as he slotted home Ewan’s through ball for 7-1. Michael then ran clean through on goal, his shot rebounding of the keeper for Jake’s hat trick, he quickly added number 9 from long range . Jacob then completed his hat-trick after finishing off Ewan’s pass at the 2nd attempt to make it 10-1. Jake completed the rout by scoring number 11, smashing home Jack’s pass.
A superb team performance from the whole team , all 12 players contributed today, beating a team they had been hammered by twice last season. The new strike force contributing 8 between them and the team as a whole probably had more shots today than in the whole of last season. There was no man of the match today as it was given to the whole deserving team. 11-1 was more than the coaching staff could ever have imagined in their wildest dreams . Even more pleasing was the football played and the way the team took to 11 a side football and their new formation !
