Swindon Village Bowmen Yellows 1 Charlton Rovers Blues 1
Following hot on the tail of the win over Leckhampton Rovers 'B', the Blues took the field against the Swindon Village Bowmen Yellows.
The Bowmen were the first to attack, but their cross, come shot was safely dealt with by Finn in the Blues' goal.
The Blues responded with some positive football and a move from Will to Joe C and onto Ollie, led to Ollie shooting into the Bowmen keepers arms from outside the penalty area.
Soon afterwards a chip from Joe C just avoided Ollie's outstretched leg, but deflected for a corner to the Blues. Will swung in a cross that was met with a volley from Ollie (could be used in a song?) that just went wide of the Bowmen's upright.
The game was soon to take an unpleasant twist. Finn (in the Blues' goal) took a goal kick that was intercepted by the Bowmen striker just outside the penalty area. Controlling
the ball the striker ran at Finn, avoided one tackle, and toe poked his shot into the top of the Blues’ net. It was unfortunate after what had been a positive start to the game.
From the kick off though, Blues forced a corner. Will produced the cross of the day, an in swinging corner that was met by the head of Harry. Unfortunately Harry's header went just wide of the Bowmen upright.
The Bowmen responded and attacked the Blues' goal. A goal bound shot from the Bowmen striker ricocheted off the head of his own player and over the Blues' crossbar. This led to
a period of sustained pressure from the Bowmen which resulted in an in swinging corner that eventually curled out for a goal kick, and two further attempts on goal - the first
a long shot from outside the area and the second a breakthrough that required Finn to rush from his area and clear to touch.
The Blues were holding their own with Henry and Charlotte in defence. Just before half time the game took another twist though. Henry made a tackle on the edge of his goal area. He turned to his right and
to the horror of the crowd moved the ball in field. Just before the Bowmen strikers could react, Henry sent a long pass to Ollie on the half way line. Ollie turned
and moved towards the Bowmen goal. With one man to beat but a long way to goal, Ollie spotted Dewi charging up on his right. Ollie stroked a perfectly weighted
pass into Dewi's path that set him free to advance on the Bowmen goal. Dewi advanced at pace into the Bowmen area and unleashed a shot into the top of the net.
It was a well worked goal and proved that practise on the training ground can make perfect on the pitch.
Half time arrived with no further incidents and the score level at 1-1.
(Dewi tries to break through the Bowmen defence.)
The second half saw the Blues believing in themselves, but it was the Bowmen who were to create the more chances. From a Bowmen goal kick, the ball arrived
at the feet of a Bowman striker. His shot was brilliantly saved by Finn, diving, and palming the ball away one handed to his right for a corner. From the
corner, Finn was again in action, punching the ball away to safety.
(Charlotte passes forwards to Dewi and Tim following good defensive work.)
Although the defence was holding strong the Bowmen pressed forward again and a great cross from the right found a Bowman striker unmarked on the edge of the Blues' area.
Fortunately the striker panicked and his first time shot flew towards the corner flag with the goal at his mercy.
The relief was momentary though and Finn was called into action to make two good saves, the second of which was a point blank save from close range.
(Finn saves from point blank range.)
The game was drawing to a close (pardon the pun), but the Blues were not finished. Ben took a quick throw in from the left that set Ollie free down the
left wing. Ollie moved forward and passed inside to Joe C. Joe ran to the edge of the Bowmen area, and just as it looked like he may win the game for
the Blues, a last ditch tackle by the Bowmen defender put the ball out for a corner.
There was no time left to take it and the Blues had earned a well deserved draw that had been the result of hard work and a good team effort.
