Stalybridge Celtic Juniors Blues 0 – 5 Moston Tigers
MoM: Joe
Ouch!!! That hurt more than a New Years hangover and there was definitely a bit of a hangover feel about the Blues today. The freezing conditions with a howling wind did not help but this is not an excuse as they were the same for both teams and as far as I could hear it was only us parents moaning about the weather! (My fingers were particularly numb trying to make notes for this!!)
The first half started particularly brightly with a good passing move; Showing great vision, Matthew played a simple ball inside to Josh who played it first time wide into space for Joe to surge in on goal but his shot went just wide.
The first half way real end to end stuff and Thomas tipped speculative shot round the post. Josh, Jack, Joe and Matthew put in a series of strong tackles high up the pitch and another powerful surging run from Joe resulted in a good save from their keeper.
Matthew performed a brilliantly skilful turn in a crowded midfield but couldn’t then get the ball out of his feet to release Josh who had taken up a great position wide on the right.
Mostons excellent Number 19 had a good shot and increasingly began stamping influence on the game. In a passage of play that was set the scene for what was to come in the second half, a fantastic last ditch clearance from an isolated Holly with 3 bearing down on her saw the ball bobble to a Tigers forward but Thomas pulled off another good save.
Joe injured his ankle so Jacob came on for a brief first half cameo before Joe recovered enough to resume. In that time though he helped with some characteristic strong tackling in midfield and was unlucky not to score with a shot when he latched onto a clearance from the Moston goalkeeper and broke free.
Thomas was called into action again and showed some good handling and Josh had a strong run down the left before cutting inside and was unlucky to find a determined Tigers defender blocking his path. Jack was running tirelessly in midfield, getting brave challenges in and chasing down their midfield.
Another surge for Moston saw Holly stemming the tide again. She held the attack up long enough for her team mates to get back to help but they somehow managed to get a shot away under close attention from Jack that Thomas brilliantly tipped around his left post…. only for the ref to bemuse all watching by awarding free kick right on the edge of the area instead of a corner. He seemingly adjudged that Jack had caught the forward as he took his shot. An unstoppable well-struck free kick (that should have been indirect….??) whistled past the wall and into the net which was particularly tough on Thomas given his great save seconds earlier.
That was the last action of a very tight first half and the Blues could consider themselves very unlucky indeed to be trailing to a somewhat contentious goal.
Changes at half time saw Jacob, CJ and Fin on for Holly, Matthew and Joe. The Blues kicked off but Moston hunting in a pack dispossessed us almost immediately and a strong run from their midfield saw them double their lead straight from the off.
Jack tried an audacious shot from just past the half way line but from the clearance Moston scored the killer 3rd goal; with half the blues pushing forward a quick break saw Thomas horribly exposed against 3 Orange shirts. They kept calm and passed the ball well so there was no other result than it ending up in our net.
The blues continued to push forward, CJ getting involved in the crowded midfield and releasing Jack, whose strong run where he skipped past two players could only be stopped by a foul. The keeper made a good save from the resultant free kick. Celtic just wouldn’t give up and a powerful burst from midfield from Fin resulted in a corner. The ball was crossed in by Jack but broke free and four Moston Tigers forwards bore down on the isolated Jacob who was typically fearless and put in a tremendous well timed tackle.
Celtic still chased to find a way back into the game and as ever Josh took up some great positions in space but they couldn’t quite get the ball clear of the well organised Moston back line to pick him out. Another breakaway and Thomas made a magnificent one on one save only for the ball to rebound straight to an unmarked Moston player who showed the importance of following up to convert an easy 4th.
This was the point where the blues heads could have really dropped but they kept plugging away and while we couldn’t really break into their half there were some dogged tackling from CJ, Jack and Josh in midfield but Moston were a very strong and well organised side and an excellent passing move that you could only really just admire saw them seal the fifth.
Jack, CJ and Josh made way for Joe, Holly and Matthew. Holly had clearly been itching to get back in on the action because she put in a tremendous tackle in centre midfield and then had a great run and was unlucky with a shot. Joe also continued where he left off with some strong tackling and Fin had another strong run from midfield resulting in a shot from Joe.
The match finished 5:0 but there can be no disgrace losing to such a good side (the second best in the league I am reliably informed) in such swirling conditions. The early days of victory after victory seem a distant memory but I think matches like this against strong opposition will stand the Blues in better stead than winning easily every week….its all character building innit??!
Joe deservedly won man of the match for a typically athletic display (especially considering the knock he took early on) but a mention must go to Thomas (who will also likely have sore fingers now after hurting them in the second half and bravely continuing); he had a great game and despite this being our biggest defeat could not have stopped any of the goals that they scored.
Andy