Following what seemed like weeks of rainfall, this re-arranged game was somehow able to go ahead. The pitch was
wet and heavy underfoot, but definitely playable.
The game started very slowly with neither team able to establish a grip on the game. After 5 minutes of play the Blues
had their first attack on the Southside goal. Dewi broke from the half way line and ran towards the Southside
penalty area. With one man to beat and Harry to his right, Dewi's touch took him to far to the left and out of harms way.
(Finn punts the ball forward whilst Charlotte and Henry look on)
The game once again fell into a stalemate until Southside fired a speculative shot in from the right wing, causing Finn
in the Blues' goal to palm the ball out for a corner. The resultant corner rebounded off a Southside attacker, harmlessly out for a goal kick.
The game started to develop more and from a long punt up field to the half way line by Finn, Ben was able to control the
ball and move it inside to Dewi. Dewi advanced on the Southside area and laid the ball off to Will who was steaming
up on his left shoulder. Will's first time shot fizzed passed the Southside upright and out for a goal kick.
Southside re-grouped and attacked down the Blues left hand side. Advancing into the penalty area Charlotte timed her
tackle perfectly and stole the ball from the Southside striker who had had two other players free in the penalty area to his left.
A stalemate once again followed with Henry and Charlotte looking untroubled in defence and Finn only having to fetch the ball to take his goal kicks.
(Joe C aims a throw in towards Dewi and Harry)
Joe C took a throw in mid way into the Southside half on the right. Dewi received the ball and cut in towards the edge of the Southside area. The
ball was then fed to Joe C who shot towards goal. Harry in the Southside penalty area tried to divert the shot into the other corner of the Southside goal, but was
unable to get the touch that would have diverted the ball passed the Southside goalkeeper.
Just before half time there was a scramble in the Blues' penalty area. In previous games this has led to goals for the opposition, but on this occasion, Charlotte
cleared the ball into the back of the Southside striker and was relieved to see the ball bounce out for a goal kick and half time.
The Blues made the worst possible start to the second half. From the kick off, Will was dispossessed by the Southside striker. The striker ran towards the Blues defence
and waltzed passed the attempted tackle. Before the cover could reach him, the striker unleashed a left foot shot that squirmed passed Finn in the Blues' goal, and gave
Southside a 1 - 0 lead.
There followed another period of stalemate, broken occasionally by the odd speculative effort from very long range by Southside that was ably dealt with by Finn.
But Finn was soon to be tested properly. Will tried to thread a pass through to Joe B and Ollie up front, but the pass was intercepted by a Southside striker. The striker
advanced on goal, beating one challenge, and then tried to curl a shot over Finn. Finn was able to stretch and tip the shot onto the crossbar and away to safety.
The Blues needed to react, and react they did. Firstly Will spread the play to the left to Joe B. Joe B crossed the ball into the Southside area where it hit the on rushing
Ben on the knee. Unfortunately the rebound went wide of the Southside post and out for a goal kick.
Soon after, a Southside striker over ran the ball just midway into the Blues' half. Tim was quick to spot it and nipped in to steal the ball. Tim laid the ball off to Ollie who played an
immediate return pass that took the Southside midfielder out of the game. Tim then threaded a perfect pass to Joe B, who was able to turn and shrug off his marker. With 3 to his left,
Joe advanced on goal and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom of the Southside goal. The Blues were deservedly back in the game at 1 - 1.
A stalemate once again ensued, and it looked like a draw was the likely result, but once again the cruel hand of fate turned against the Blues. Suddenly, from a Blues
throw in, midway into the Southside half, the Southside number 7 (a constant threat), stole the ball and ran at the Rovers defence, twisting and turning, eventually
threading a beautiful pass through to the Southside striker in the Blues' penalty area, who was able to dink the ball around the on rushing Finn and into the Blues' net.
With only a minute left to play, the Blues were unable to claw a goal back and lost 2 - 1.
