In a closely contested league match at the Pine Resource Center on 5th October 2024, Pro Shottas U13 faced off against National Sports Council, ultimately succumbing to a 2-1 defeat. The match kicked off at 9:10 am, with both teams eager to secure vital points in the league standings.
Pro Shottas U13 lined up in a 4-2-1-3 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking flair. Christopher Palmer took his position in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Jazeel Codogan and Kegun Henry as the right and left defenders, respectively, with Elijah Jacob and Jacob Mayers forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Dylan Boucaud and Samuel Campion operated as central midfielders, tasked with both breaking up opposition play and supporting the attack. Ahead of them, Kaleb Catwell played as the attacking midfielder, looking to link up with the front three. The forward line featured Junilio Richmond on the right, Kevio Bellamy as the central striker, and C'jae Nichols on the left, all expected to apply pressure on the National Sports Council defence.
The substitutes for Pro Shottas U13 included Raiden Lee, Emanuel Espinosa Alvarez, Mathias Theinhardt, Aiden Knight, and Nathaniel Carter, providing the coach with tactical options throughout the match.
The first half saw National Sports Council take the lead in the 19th minute, scoring the opening goal and putting Pro Shottas U13 on the back foot. The home side struggled to find their rhythm in response, and the half concluded with the score at 1-0 in favour of the opponents.
As the second half commenced, Pro Shottas U13 made their first tactical substitution in the 39th minute, bringing on Raiden Lee for Dylan Boucaud, followed closely by Emanuel Espinosa Alvarez replacing Junilio Richmond. The changes aimed to inject fresh energy into the midfield and attack.
The match continued to unfold with intensity, and in the 44th minute, Mathias Theinhardt entered the fray, taking the place of Kevio Bellamy. Shortly after, in the 50th minute, Aiden Knight was introduced for Samuel Campion, further altering the dynamics of the midfield.
However, the situation worsened for Pro Shottas U13 when Jazeel Codogan had to be substituted due to injury in the 52nd minute, with Nathaniel Carter stepping in to fill the gap. Just two minutes later, National Sports Council extended their lead with a second goal in the 54th minute, leaving Pro Shottas U13 with a mountain to climb.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Pro Shottas U13 found a glimmer of hope in the 59th minute when Aiden Knight scored a stunning long-range strike with his right foot, narrowing the deficit to 2-1. The goal injected renewed energy into the team, but time was not on their side as they sought an equaliser.
Ultimately, Pro Shottas U13 could not find the back of the net again, and the match concluded with a 2-1 defeat. Despite the loss, standout performances from players like Jazeel Codogan and Jacob Mayers highlighted the potential within the squad as they look to bounce back in their next fixture.
