Painswick Youth (2) v (2) LRFC Cougars
Imagine lining up your team for a crucial league match against an
opposition you have never beaten or, in fact, got a point off.
If that wasn't hard enough, your squad of 17 players is decimated by
injury, illness and of all things, a grounding, leaving you with 11
fit players. Then one more thing your centre back cannot run because
of a hamstring injury so he goes in goal. Your keeper plays at full
back.
That was part of the story today, the other part was that those 11
players played their hearts out. And their lungs, their spleens and
possibly some other organs too...
Lining up improbably with George in goal, the back 4 from right to
left were Will F, Lewis, Freddie and Taylor. The midfield 4 were,
centrally, Jacob and Ryan, supported by Max and Finn. The link play
was to be Louis hugging the left touch line up front Jorge ploughing a
lone and often fruitless furrow.
First half and we were set up to park the bus. We knew Painswick would
be strong, we also knew that the way the league is playing out they
needed to win. With a paucity of playing resources we needed to
frustrate and defend strong hoping for some magic up front when the
ball broke.
We weathered the initial, inevitable, storm - George in goal making a
couple of saves from long shots. His confidence visibly growing.
Painswick began to exert more pressure forcing us back further and
further. From one of the corners the ball dropped in the centre of the
goal bouncing off the Painswick players groin and falling over the
line. 1-0 and to their credit Painswick did not celebrate the goal
acknowledging the good luck that brought it.
The second goal when it came was also from a corner and very well
worked. The ball played to the back post where the Painswick striker
had peeled off and finished well. 2-0.
It would have been easy to let our heads drop but to the lads credit
they didn't. We won a free kick centrally and close to half way. We
sent Lewis up front and as he sauntered into the box he got the
attention of a couple of the Painswick players. As George sent the
ball direct into the area Jacob was on hand to direct the ball from
close range beyond the keeper into the net. 2-1.
That was the final action of the half. Momentum was firmly with us.
At half time the lads stuffed Jaffa cakes while the message was to
keep going and working for each other.
The second half started and could not have been more different. Max
and Louis were getting on the ball more linking with Jacob and
providing some quality through to Jorge. As Painswick looked a little
lethargic the quality of our passing was starting to flow.
The equalising goal, when it came, was from that interplay. The ball
played to him in the inside right channel. He swivelled and struck a
shot with accuracy and drive into the top left corner. A great goal
and just reward for the shift that Jorge had put in.
With the match poised at 2-2 we needed to play with more discipline
that we normally do. To not take risks at the back. As Painswick piled
on some late pressure they won a succession of corners that we were
equal to, some brave defending and more excellent keeping keeping them
at bay.
The final whistle followed, ending the game at 2-2.
This was an unusual feeling as whenever we have drawn matches before
they have felt more like defeats this was much more than that. This
could have easily been a game that we lost, Painswick had a number of
subs and are a strong side. We had players out of position and no real
options to change anything. We kept the spine of the team as solid as
possible with the more creative players playing in wider positions.
It worked. Taylor and Will were both excellent in full back positions
with Will almost opening the scoring from a long drive that evaded
everyone and hit the post before drifting wide. Taylor stuck to his
task and was brave in the tackle.
Lewis and Freddie were solid through the middle, Lewis' pace getting
us out of trouble on more than one occasion and Freddie's strength and
positional sense not to mention quick feet seeing him able to thwart
attacks and spring our own. Ryan was constant energy, disrupting play
and never giving up. His drive through the middle alongside Jacob kept
the team ticking over. A lot of Ryan's work is unnoticed but not by
his team mates.
Jacob was the MotM for a return to form at exactly the right time.
Busy in midfield,breaking attacks and showing deft touch and skills to
retain possession. He got the goal that got us back into the match and
was a constant threat.
Max, Finn and Louis were playing in unfamiliar roles and having to do
more of the defensive duties than they are used to. They grew into
these positions both having much stronger second halves. They linked
well and When on the ball the Painswick defenders were not able to get
close to them.
Jorge was tireless in his work today. Chasing lost balls and operating
largely on his own. In the first half particularly the gap between him
and the rest of the team was massive. He never tired, he never gave up
and when he had an opportunity he took it with aplomb. He has now
scored 12 this season and they have been absolute blockbusters and
important goals.
At the end of this match the lads were spent, I am sure that everyone
involved with the team was incredibly proud of their effort and
quality on a day where they could have been forgiven for throwing in
the towel. Jacob was MotM but there were 10 other very strong
candidates.
No comments:
Post a Comment