U10's V Hough End 1st October 2011

We have two match reports this week..

Hough End Griffins 3 v 3 SCJFC Blues.....By Rob Dolan.......







The Blues met tough opposition today in Hough End Griffins in this tightly fought contest. Will opened the scoring for the Blues after only two minutes following good pressure from Callum. Minutes later, Callum pounced on an error from a Hough End defender and thundered the ball home to make it two nil. Griffins started to come back in to the game and their number eight hit a tremendous shot which left Deacon with no chance. Just before half time, Hough End scored two more, one on the break and one from a corner. In both halfs, Deacon made a number of good saves to keep the Blues in the game . In the second half, Archie set up Will who hit a good shot which was saved by the keeper. Archie continued to cause problems for the opponents and following some good build up play between him and Daniel L, Archie slotted the ball home to make it three all. Both sides had chances to win the game and Callum was particularly unlucky when he hit the post. All in all, a 3-3 draw was probably a fair result.

The Whites started well with an effort from Tyler which went just wide. After six minutes Oscar opened the scoring with a free kick that went straight in to the top corner. Tyler then set up Connor whose strike went just over the bar. Minutes later, Oscar's volley just missed the target. Thomas had very little to do in goal thanks to some great defensive work from both Brandon and Jack. At the other end, Adam, Connor, Brandon and Dec all had efforts on goal and the half was finished off with an overhead kick from Tyler that was just wide of the target. The Whites did get the ball in the back of the net following a quickly taken corner but unfortunately, the referee had not realised that it had been taken and did not allow the goal. In the second half, the Griffins equalised following a corner, Thomas saved well but the ball just crept over the line. The Whites contunued to create chances , Brandon's shot just missed the target and Dec hit the post. Brandon then slotted home the winner following some great work from Oscar. A great all round team performance to record a 2-1 win.

 M.O.M Blues Archie, Whites Brandon & Declan..



Stalybridge Celtic Blues 3 Hough End Griffins 3.......By Alun Ireland................





A battling performance from the Blues resulted in a good point

against a physical Hough End team.



The boys made their best start of the season, immediately attacking the

Griffins’ goal and taking the lead almost with their first move.

Callum, Niall and William combined to force a dead ball, and from the

restart William won the ball back and scored in the corner.



And with just three minutes on the clock, Callum doubled the lead after

Jack’s long ball from the back.



But the Blues then switched off, allowing Hough End more time on the

ball and getting caught too far up the pitch. They struggled to cope

with a number of substitutions and lost their shape, giving the

Griffins the chance to attack down the left.



A speculative shot flew past Deacon into the corner to make the score 1-

0, then the same player hit the bar. The equaliser came when an overlap

down the left gave the Griffins another clear shot, and then right on

half time the Blues found themselves 3-2 down when a corner was

spilled, the defenders failed to react and the ball was poked home.



The second half was tense as the Blues found their passing, but Hough

End defended well – especially their number 14 who stopped everything.



The deserved equaliser came when Archie and DanielLaing played a

perfect one-two, Archie firing home. Callum then unluckily hit the

post.



A step up in performance from the boys – Archie, Daniel and Niall all

having their best games so far, Archie deservedly winning man of the

match for a dominant midfield display.



Stalybridge Celtic Whites 2, Hough End Griffins 1







The Whites picked up another win without ever going into top gear. From

the start they were on top as Tyler looked to score, but the Griffins

held out until an unstoppable free kick from Oscar went in off the

underside of the bar.



Connor also went close, and then Oscar unluckily volleyed wide. The

boys might have doubled their lead with Oscar and Dec’s corner trick,

but they managed to also fool the referee who disallowed the goal.



With Brandon and Jack dominant at the back, Stalybridge did not look in

trouble, and could easily have gone 2-0 up when Tyler attempted an

overhead kick from Adam’s high ball in to the box.



But instead of kicking on and dominating the second half, the Whites

allowed their opponents back into the game. A scramble in the area saw

the Griffins poke the ball towards the goal, Thomas getting a hand on

it but the referee ruling it crossed the line for an equaliser, and

while Brandon unluckily hit wide and Dec hit the post from a free kick,

the Blues did not score the winner until 31 minutes. Strong running

across the edge of the opposition box from Oscar created space for

Brandon, who curled a shot home.



A well deserved win for the Whites against a physical team. The win now

puts the boys in mid table in a very tough league, but getting stronger

and playing better every week.