After the win against Abbeymead Eagles, the Charlton Rovers Blues took to the field against second in the league Southside Tigers. The game turned out to
be a cracker that could have gone either way.
From the kick off, Will was quick to intercept a back pass from the Southside midfielder. Taking the ball round a Southside defender he rifled in a shot that the
Southside goalkeeper knew little about and could only chest away. Unfortunately the ball landed at the feet of a Southside defender who was able to clear the danger.
Not long afterwards a good passing move from Southside down the right saw a cross, come shot pass across the Blues' area. The ball went to the left of the pitch where
Southside managed to pass a ball into the Blues area to an unmarked striker. Henry was quick in covering the ground though and before the striker could cause any
damage he made the tackle and got the ball back to Finn.
There followed a two minute lull whilst the two teams tried to size each other up. From a throw in on the right by Dewi, the ball arrived at the feet of Ollie on the
edge of the Southside area. His turn and first time shot fizzed goal wards, and forced a good save from the Southside goalkeeper, diving to his right.
Almost immediately afterwards, a clearance from Will landed at the feet of a Southside midfielder on the half way line. The youngster slipped and was quickly
dispossessed by Joe C who then flicked a pass through with the outside of his foot for Ollie to run onto. The goalkeeper spotted the danger though and was quick to rush
off his line and kick the ball away before Ollie could reach it.
The game continued to flow from end to end, and following a kick by Finn, Southside played a lovely one-two on the edge of the Blues' area to play their striker
in. Henry chased back and forced the striker onto his left foot, and the resultant shot was easily picked up by Finn.
Soon afterwards a move down the Southside right resulted in a great cross into the Blues' area. A combination of Henry and Finn managed to block the Southside striker
from turning and shooting. Joe C spotted the loose ball and sprinted out of the area with the ball. Joe raced to the half way line and threaded a long pass to Joe B
on the edge of the Southside area. Joe B was tackled and the ball was kicked away to the half way line where the on rushing Henry launched it back towards the
Southside goal. The ball bounced wickedly in front of the goalkeeper who did brilliantly to palm the ball over the crossbar.
From the corner the ball moved to the Blues end of the pitch where Southside forced a corner. Good defending from Henry and Charlotte cleared the danger back to the
Southside end of the pitch where Will wrestled for the ball with the Southside defenders and then managed to get a shot in on goal that went just wide of the left hand post.
The last action of the half saw two Southside chances snuffled out. The first through a clearance from Charlotte and the second through a combination of the on rushing
Finn and the chasing back Ben. The half had been a very entertaining one, and both teams felt aggrieved that they hadn't scored.
The second half saw the game flow from end to end again. Dewi picked up the ball on the half way line and drove forwards at the Southside defence. Before he could cause
any damage though he was brought down from behind for a free kick 10 yards outside the penalty area. Joe C placed the ball and curled a shot over the wall but into
the hands of the Southside goalkeeper.
The next action saw Southside break and fire in a long shot that Finn palmed downwards and then pounced on before the on rushing Southside striker could nip in. Finn's
kick up field made its way to Ollie on the edge of the Southside area, but his shot was deflected and safely gathered by the Southside goalkeeper.
(Joe C lines up a free kick in the game against Southside Tigers.)
The ball again moved from end to end of the pitch with both goalkeepers comfortably collecting the ball. Rovers, looking tired after their second game on the heavy
pitch almost opened the scouring. A speculative cross from the left into the Southside area came out to Joe C. Joe looked up and whipped a cross into the centre of
the area where Ollie got a touch on it to guide it goal wards. Once again thought the Southside goalkeeper was alert and dived to his right to thwart the Blues.
Almost immediately the ball went back to the Rovers half of the pitch where a pass found the Southside striker alone in the area. He turned, but the on rushing Finn
blocked his shot, the rebound fell at the feet of another Southside striker, but his shot rebounded off the post and was then cleared off the line by Charlotte. The
danger wasn't over though as the ball was again crossed into the area and landed at the feet of the unmarked no.2 who had all the time in the world to pick his spot.
Fortunately he chose to pick two feet over the bar!
(Will looks to improve his press up technique in the mud.)
Moments later, Southside broke through the Blues' defence with some neat inter passing. Eventually the ball was laid square to the left winger with the goal at his
mercy, but Joe A and Charlotte were not ready to give up yet, and launched themselves at the ball, so much so that the striker put his shot wide with the goal
at his mercy. From the kick off, the ball landed at the feet of Dewi in the unusual position of full back. Dewi was immediately dispossessed and the Southside
striker bore down on goal. Fortunately though Finn did enough to force him to shoot wide of the goal.
There followed a 5 minute stalemate period where neither team could break down the defences. With only minutes remaining, the ball broke on the edge of the Rovers
penalty area to a Southside midfielder who fired in a speculative shot that rebounded off the shin of Finn into the path of an on rushing striker. Finn was quick to
react though and blocked the attempted shot. The ball went out for a throw in and then for a goal kick. From the goal kick, Southside gathered the ball and shot goal wards.
The slippery ball bounced awkwardly in front of Finn and rebounded outwards. The Southside striker was first to react and was able to take the ball around Finn
and put the ball into the back of the net to put Southside into a 1 - 0 lead.
Southside were not finished though, and with the last action of the game snatched a second goal. Following a punt up field by Finn, the Southside midfield won the
ball from a very tired Blues' midfield. The ball was passed into the area to an unmarked striker who was able to take the ball around the on rushing Finn and put the
ball into the back of the net.
The game had been a fantastic advert for under 10's football and neither team deserved to lose.
Report by Jon. Video by Matt. Photos by Jon
