The Charlton Rovers Blues started the New Year in fine form with an emphatic win over the Abbeymead Rovers Thunders.
Straight from their own kick off the Blues were into action. Dewi laid the ball off to Ben in the area, but he skied his shot high and wide. It was a good, bright start to the game though
and soon after, an attack down the left saw Harry pass inside to Will. Will's shot rebounded off the defender, but Will was able to head the ball back into the area where Dewi turned and shot straight at the Abbeymead goalkeeper.
The pressure began to tell, and the first goal soon arrived. Joe A cleared the ball from the halfway line. Harry chased and controlled the ball on the left, cut inside and crossed the ball. The ball hit
the back of the Abbeymead defender and landed at the feet of Dewi. Dewi took a touch to take the ball beyond the last defender and shot low into the left corner of the net to make the score 1 - 0 to the Blues.
From a throw in on the left to the Blues, the ball went straight to an Abbeymead striker. The striker launched a very good cross into the Blues penalty area where the Abbeymead
striker blasted an unstoppable shot in to the back of the Blues' net, giving Henry no chance.
The score remained level for all of 20 seconds though as straight from the kick off, Harry lost the ball, but Will stole it back. His first touch took him around
the Abbeymead midfielder and then he unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew into the top corner of the Abbeymead goal. Will's celebrations were justified as the crowd had
witnessed one of the goals of the season.
From the kick off Harry won the ball back and fed Dewi a pass in the area. Dewi shot first time, but was unlucky to see his shot bounce off the knee of the goalkeeper and out for a corner. From the corner
the ball went out of play for a goal kick. The Abbeymead goalkeeper kicked the subsequent goal kick straight to Will. Will, realising the goalkeeper was off his line, shot, but unfortunately
the Abbeymead goalkeeper was able to backtrack and make a save.
(Harry has his close range shot blocked by the Abbeymead Thunders goalkeeper.)
Rain began to fall and after a short period of stalemate, the Blues once again kicked into action. From a goal kick by Henry, Dewi controlled the ball on the half way line.
As Dewi ran with the ball he was tackled, but the ball ricocheted to Tim. Tim passed the ball instantly to Joe C on the right, and then Joe C passed the ball inside to
Dewi. Dewi used his pace to beat one defender and advance into the penalty area. The ball ran onto Harry, who shot on the turn. The ball rebounded off the knees of the
Abbeymead goalkeeper where Tim controlled it and shot between the bodies of Harry and the goalkeeper to make the score 3 - 1 to the Blues.
The Blues began to dominate, but from a Blues' corner, the ball fell at the feet of an Abbeymead forward. The Abbeymead moved forward beyond a challenge and beyond the
half way line. Joe A was having none of it though, and sprinted back (he had previously gone forward for the corner), and dispossessed the striker. Joe A then passed the
ball to Tim, who switched play from the left to right of the pitch to Joe C. Joe C skipped passed one challenge, looked up, and crossed a fantastic cross into the penalty
area where Dewi tried to volley the ball first time. Unfortunately the ball hit Dewi's knee and went out for a goal kick. The move deserved a goal but it was not to be.
From the goal kick though, Harry blocked the kick, retrieved the ball, beat a defender and then shot passed the goalkeeper from an angle. He was unfortunate to see his
shot hit the left post, but all was not lost, as Dewi followed in the shot and blasted the ball into the back of the unguarded net to make the score 4 - 1.
Just before half time, from a clearance from by the Abbeymead defence, Joe A passed the ball to Dewi on the half way line. Dewi played the ball inside to Henry who
ran at the defender. Harry beat the defender, but the defender shoved him in the back and knocked him to the ground on the edge of the penalty area. Up stepped Joe C.
Joe C placed the ball and lined up the free kick. Joe C chipped the ball over the Abbeymead defensive wall and onto the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten. Dewi
retrieved the ball and moved it inside to Tim whose first time shot went just wide.
The second half continued like the first, and soon after the kick off, the Abbeymead goalkeeper kicked the ball to the halfway line where it was controlled by Ben.
Ben moved the ball forwards and then passed it left to Will who unleashed an unstoppable shot from outside the penalty area to take the score up to 5 - 1.
Soon after, from another Abbeymead goal kick, Will controlled the ball and passed the ball to Ollie. Ollie switched play from the left to the right wing and found Ben.
Ben threaded a beautiful pass between two Abbeymead defenders for Joe B to run onto, but with the angle against him, Joe B shot wide of the target. From the
resultant goal kick, Ollie tackled the Abbeymead defender, and with only the goalkeeper to beat, Ollie saw his shot rebound off the post and into the grateful hands
of the Abbeymead goalkeeper.
Soon after, from an Abbeymead throw in on the halfway line, Will stole the ball from the Abbeymead midfielder and passed it inside to Ben. Ben moved forward and
passed the ball to Joe B. Joe B knocked the ball against the knee of the Abbeymead defenders leg and was fortunate to see the ball rebound to Will. Pushing the ball
onto his right foot and passed the Abbeymead defender, Will fired in a low shot that bobbled wickedly in front of the Abbeymead goalkeeper and into the back of the net
for his hatrick and the Blues' sixth goal.
There followed a stalemate for the next five minutes, until a rare shot from the Abbeymead striker went wide of the Blues' goal. Soon after Abbeymead again attacked
but Charlotte showing coolness under pressure in the Blues' area, afforded herself time to take a touch and clear the danger.
(Ollie rounds the keeper superbly but sees his finish blocked on the line)
With the pressure averted, Tim controlled the ball on the half way line and passed the ball to Joe C. Joe C turned and passed the ball long to Ollie. Ollie ran onto the
pass and knocked it passed the on rushing Abbeymead goalkeeper. Ollie side footed his shot towards an open goal, but somehow the defender got back and cleared
off his line. Joe B shot from the rebound, but his effort was also blocked and then grabbed by the Abbeymead goalkeeper. The goalkeeper kicked the ball straight to
Joe C. Joe C took one touch past an Abbeymead defender and then shot a dipping shot that bounced underneath the Abbeymead goalkeepers outstretched arms for goal number seven.
Shortly after, from another Abbeymead goal kick, the ball went straight to Tim. Tim took one too many touches, but the ball squirmed through the goalkeepers' legs. Tim
wrapped his leg around the ball, but saw his shot from an angle go wide of the target, with the goal at his mercy.
The last action of the game saw Finn pass to Ollie. Ollie dribbled a shot passed the goalkeeper, but again it was cleared off the line. It was not to be for Ollie, but
with the team winning 7 - 1 he was happy to wait for another day.
