Brief match report:
Weekly Rovers Harriers 1 Thrapston Wolves 7
The sun was shining for our first game of the new season but would it shine on the Wolves now playing 7 a side with a 30% increase in game time?
The Wolves started conservatively with William and Tom in defence and Sam and Ollie in a defensive midfield position. Jacob played in attacking midfield with
Dylan as a lone striker.
From the start the Wolves attacked with some great passing between Jacob and Dylan. Jacob had a shot wide from a Dylan headed pass and then Ollie had a shot wide from just outside the area.
The Harriers were defending in numbers and then attacking with almost the whole team. They started to look dangerous but could they keep it up for 40 minutes in this heat?
The Wolves kept their shape well and had most of the possession. Then, after 5 minutes, disaster!!! A goal kick was picked up by the Harriers who moved the ball
wide and scored from a decent cross: 1-0.
The Harriers now picked up the pace and Tom twice made some good tackles to stop their momentum. The Wolves looked nervous at the back with some panicky
attempts at clearing the ball and soon Cole was called upon to make a great save. Jacob battled well in midfield and put Dylan clear on the wing. He crossed back to
Jacob whose shot was saved.
With ten minutes gone the Wolves got their deserved equaliser; William won the ball after some fearsome tackling and Jacob played Dylan through with a great
pass. Dylan made no mistake slotting into the bottom left corner – lovely football: 1-1.
Within a few minutes Dylan got his second, this time following a tackle from Sam and a pass from Ollie: 1-2.
Dylan had another shot saved before Jacob slotted home coolly after tenaciously attacking the ball in the area: 1-3.
Half Time. 1-3
After an early couple of efforts in the opening minutes, which Cole dealt with effectively, the Harriers were visibly tiring and leaving the Wolves much more space
than in the first half.
Dylan put Nathan into space with a nice pass and although Nathan missed his shot he won the ball back and fed Dylan who couldn’t miss for his hat trick: 1-4.
The Harriers were now shattered and although Cole made a great finger tip save from a fierce shot, they kept most of their players in their own half.
All the boys were now passing well and the Harrier’s keeper was kept busy with several shots from Dylan and Jacob.
Dylan got his 5th, following a nice passing move from Jacob:1-6, then returned the compliment with a beautiful pass to Jacob who sent the goalie the wrong way to
get his second: 1-7.
Final Score 1-7
A nervy start from the Wolves however our fitness from all those tournaments, and the discipline in keeping our shape, won through in the end. Probably the best
passing game I’ve seen the boys play although there is still much to work on.
Goal kicks have improved but occasionally we give the opposition chances they don’t deserve. A couple of the lads were also guilty of following the ball and not
watching the opposition runners or finding space when in attack – not punished today but will be against a good passing team.
Well done everyone in what was a great team performance.
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