SAHA COLTS 1 – Ryan HARWARDEN JETS 1
In the third minute Will intercepted a pass on the half way line and played the ball square to George. Colts’ Number 10 sidestepped his opponent and played a long pass forward to Ryan on the edge of the box, who calmly finished past the keeper to make it 1-0 to Colts.
Jets responded well and Colts did well to survive a goalmouth scramble a minute later. Colts battled hard to win the ball in midfield and Jets’ keeper did well to keep Ryan’s shot out in the sixth minute.
In the eighth minute, Zen made a great save tipping away a curling shot that was heading towards the top corner.
Colts looked they had done enough to earn three points but a minute from the end Jets’ Number 12 received the ball in his own half and skipped past four Colts players before tucking his shot away into the corner of the net. (1-1)
A solid start for Colts but it could have been so much better had they showed a bit of grit to hold on in the final stages of the game.
SAHA COLTS 1 – Finn MARKET DRAYTON TIGERS1
Colts next fixture pitted them against a more familiar opponent – Market Drayton Tigers – a team that had caused them problems earlier in the season.
Colts started brightly with George having a strong, left-footed shot saved low down by the keeper after a good run.
Less than a minute later, Colts went even closer. George jinked down the left and crossed to Finn who was just unable to put it in from close range.
In the sixth minute, Colts took a well-deserved lead. A goalmouth scramble following George’s corner from the right led to Finn smashing a great half volley into the corner of the net. (1-0)
Three minutes later, Colts failed to clear the ball as of Tigers’ players bulldozed his way through and poked home to equalise (1-1).
Colts almost regained the lead two minutes from the end. George chased down a ball in the right corner, dragged back onto his left and fired a good shot that was saved by the keeper.
Jack almost sealed it a minute from the end after he turned on the turbo and outsprinted his defender after a good tackle and clearance from Jacob. Jack’s shot was saved low down by the keeper.
Another strong performance against a good side. Colts had been unlucky to only have two points from a possible six after two games.
SAHA COLTS 2 – Ryan, Will UP & COMERS HAWKS 0
Another familiar opponent faced Colts in their next fixture. Colts had got the better of Hawks in two league fixtures and made another bright start as Ryan ghosted past a defender after receiving a good pass from Jacob and fired hard and low into the far corner to make it 1-0.
A couple of minutes later, Zen kept Colts in the lead with a fantastic diving save as the ball headed towards the top right corner.
Colts soon doubled their lead with Will tucking away from close range after a game of goalmouth pinball following Ryan’s corner (2-0).
Colts saw out the game comfortably to earn a well-deserved 3 points.
SAHA COLTS 2 – Jack, George SHREWSBURY JUNIORS 0
Colts faced the tournament host next and faced some early pressure with Zen making a good save after a defensive error led to an opportunity.
Within a minute Colts had their own great opportunity but Jack was just unable to get onto the end of George’s cross from the left.
Colts were lucky again as a Juniors’ shot hit the post and rebounded into the hands of Zen.
Five minutes into the game, Colts received a free-kick on the right touch line, midway into Juniors’ half after Matty had been clattered while on a good run. George fired the free kick into the box and the keeper could only just get his palm to it before Jack headed it bravely into the goal to take the lead. (1-0) Jack received a ‘shiner’ for his troubles after a flying boot struck him in the face.
George was receiving a bit of rough treatment from the Juniors’ defenders and went close with a right-footed free kick after being upended a few yards outside the box.
Ryan and George then had their ‘Ronaldo and Bale’ moment as they squabbled over who was going to take a free-kick that had been won on the edge of the box. George eventually took it, the keeper making a good save after the ball had flown through the wall. Jack was just unable to put away the rebound.
George sealed a 2-0 win and back-to-back wins for Colts in the final minute after jinking past two players and slotting past the keeper after receiving a pass from Ryan.
SAHA COLTS 0 OLD WOLVES NORTH 0
Colts knew that they had done enough already to get to the Round of 16 knockout but had one final group game against tough opposition to try and achieve as high a league position as possible.
Colts had lost Cole and Matthew who had to leave early so were down to eight players. Fatigue had started to set in as well so George dropped back to plug a hole at centre half.
Colts made a good start and went close to taking the lead in the second minute. George won the ball in the left back position and fed Ryan who played a lovely through ball to Matty who had his shot charged down by the keeper.
Colts kept a compact shape with Will dropping back to help the defence and Old Wolves never looked like scoring. Colts created another chance in the final minute after George won the ball on the half way line and tried to play in Jack but he was just unable to get on the end of it.
Colts finished second in the group behind Old Wolves North after winning two and drawing three of their games.
2nd ROUND (LAST 16) SAHA COLTS 0 OUTWOODS EAGLES 0 (OUTWOODS EAGLES WON ON PENALTIES)
After an hour wait between the end of the group stage and the knockout rounds, Colts started off nervously against Outwoods. The Burton outfit went narrowly past the post on two occasions in the first couple of minutes.
Colts fought their way back into the game and George just missed the top left corner of the goal after fighting for the ball in the left corner, breaking away and striking with his right foot.
George raced through again from the half way line in the sixth minute but was foiled by the keeper.
Outwoods had another great chance a couple of minutes from the end but were denied by the post.
Will made a great last ditch challenge in the last minute to deny another chance.
The game went to penalties and, for Colts, it just wasn’t their day despite Zen making a couple of saves.
Overall, a very solid tournament for Colts who remained unbeaten and only conceded two goals.
