First match of the season,we were playing GNG Lions, GNG were a player short so we played six verses six.
Starting line up Matthew, Liam, Ryan, Louis, Noah, george and Shay. Subs beau, Max and george. Both teams started well, took a few minutes for the team to get use to the game, as there was lots of space with each team playing with one less player.
slowly but surely Houghton started to get the ball moving and running and passing, we were techincally better than GNG and that showed. in the first half we passed the ball well and competed well in tackles Liam and Ryan played well, and were not troubled too much by the G.N.G the first goal came at around 11mins in first half, after a attack by G.N.G Louis made a tackle and cleared the ball out of our box. Shay ran onto th clearance in our half, and ran at their defence,he went past a G.N.G defender, and kept running leaving the defence behind, then he unleashed a right footed shoot into the left corner of their goal ( keeper no chance LOL).
This gave our team more confidence, and we seemed to spend most of the 1st half attacking G.N.G Noah and Louis performed well and linked up well with Shay up front,and we peppered their goal, Noah took a great free kick( their No 3 again needed a Yellow card LOL) that just went over. we had some corners ( well done Louis great delivery) the 2nd goal came from a corner Louis put another good ball in the box. G.N.G's keeper fumbled the cross Shay on the spot lashed it in( great follow up matey).
Houghton just kept on Liam and Ryan were great getting the ball and stopping their attack, Well done ryan he distrubuted the beautifully at times, not panicing, looking up and stroking the ball to the midfield to start up the next attack. liam was solid as usually in defence, getting the ball and getting forward. The next goal came from another attack, G.N.G made a mistake Shay got hold of the ball, control and shoot ! No 3 for for Shay( or should i change his name to wayne).
On fire matey, he had another few chances during the half one he put past the right post, he had another chance when he was on goal,but he he stopped and turned, Should have shot ! ( here's me complaining the lads scored three).
2nd half as we were crusing at the point, took Noah and Louis off brought on George and Beau in midfield and swaped Liam for Max.
as what normally happens in a one side first half, GNG came out fighting, they changed their keeper, this seemed to give their team more balance, as they competed well, again we spent most of the game in their half. but they were stronger in the tackle( Mind you we did score three more goals).
In the 25th min i took Shay off, he was flagging, he had worked his socks off, put Louis up front in his place, the team continued to play well Beau played well breaking up attacks and getting the ball forward, Max did well getting in some tackles and some strong cleareance.
George worked well on the wing, he put put a cross in, this seemed to confuse the G.N.G keeper, he tried to catch/ plam it away, unfortunately put it in his own goal, George had anothe attempt he was in the box, cross came in george connected, but their keeper saved the shot . Again Ryan Distrubted the ball well from the back, and spread the play to george on the left wing. Swaped George for Noah. this paid dividens, as him and Louis combined well, Noah put aball in their box Louis ran onto it and blasted it pas their keeper( well done Louis). Again just like the first half we commanded the game, Beau hit a rocket, that hit the Cross bar( moved the goal as well). With about three mins to go, put Shay back on for Louis and swaped Ryan for Liam. B7 this time G.N.G were dis-hearted, there heads had gone.
Still you got to play on, G.N.G swaped keepers, as he had took a ball in the face with one of the last set peices( best goal) Shay put a corner ball on a six pence,for Noah, he controled and volleyed the ball in the goal Fantastic strike Noah. Now i i think i've mentioned every except one player. thats our keeper Matthew. To be fair he din't have to do much in the game as Houghton were so dominate. Apart from jogging on the spot, to keep busy, most of the game was played in GNG's half. So heres to Matt our goal keeper and unsung hero. he may have been mentioned last in this report, but he first choice, and on the top of my list as our goal keeper.
End score Houghton 6 G.N.G 0 well done lad fantastic performace. Must remember not all games will be that easy. well Done to Harj and G.N.G, all the players enjoyed the match. Thanks to Matt and Steve for reffing and to all parents for supporting the team.
Bert
