On a cold saturday morning 7 players from the under 8s squad braved the elements of Tonbridge to play against the under 9s of our local rivals. The mood in the camp was positive with a strong squad of players available for the Manager to pick from.
The boys started brightly in their first game and a flowing move in the first 2 minutes involving Erik and Johnny ended up with Joe finishing well from close range. The quick start seemed to settle the boys who soon started stroking the ball around the park in a fashion that the manager had demanded. Chances came and went for both sides, the Foresters defence was holding strong with Luca marshalling his back two of Robert & Josh well. The strong Tonbridge team looked dangerous with every attack and just before half time a shot was parried by Luca only to fall to the on rushing forward to slot home from close range.
The talk at half time was for more of the same and with Joe, Louis and Eric working tirelessly in midfield supplying Johnny, the lone striker. Chances again came and went and a hopeful through ball eluded the Foresters defence for the Tonbridge forward to latch on to and finish with a powerful drive. Goalkeeper Luca got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out. The final whistle came and the game finished 2-1.
After a pleasing performance in the first game the expectations were high for the second. The boys looked sharp and following a neat interchange of passes between Josh & Louis the ball fell to Joe on the edge of the box, a quick couple of step overs gave him enough space to power the ball past the keeper. Tonbridge drew level shortly. A corner for Foresters caused trouble in the Tonbridge defence, enough for one of their defenders to handle in the box, the referee (with a little persuasion from the Foresters coaching staff) gave the stop kick. Joe stepped up and finished via the foot of the left hand post. The game resumed in the second half with chances at a premium for both sides, a header from a corner drew Tonbridge level in the middle of the half. The boys never gave up and battled there way through the mud against a physically stronger team. The teams again exchanged goals at the end of the half to leave it honours even.
The positives from these two games outweighed the negatives for the management who once again had seen their side step up to the plate and not shirk the challenge put in front of them.
SQUAD: Luca C, Robert L, Josh W, Joe P, Erik A, Louis T & Johnny P.
