21 Sept 08: Ridgewaye 2:3 Grasshoppers September 26, 2008
Posted by editor in : Uncategorized , trackbackJust before getting into the match report, you may be interested to know that we have a new Chief Football Writer at the U13 Grasshoppers Gazette this year. This season’s match reports will be penned by Taylor Mitchell, who as you will see below, has a great eye for detail and isn’t afraid to say it how it is. So a big thanks to Taylor for taking on this momentous task and I hope the team gives him lots of good stuff to write about over the season.
This is our first match report of the 2008-2009 season. We start this report on our third game of the season, but let’s start by welcoming some new players to the team. First is Dan, a close season purchase from Maresfield and a club record fee for a keeper (10 cheeseburgers!). Our apologies to Dan as all the parents are still calling you Danny who transferred to Boston before the end of last season (for 20 cheeseburgers). We also welcome Duncan from Maresfield and our own Chris who worked hard last season in the United team and has deservedly stepped up. The first two games, against Broad Oak away and Raw Skills at home, resulted in two great victories, 8-3 and 3-1 respectively. A great start to our A League campaign and the West Park bacon rolls are also great value at £1.50!
This week Keith had taken Harrison on an anger management course in Minorca and Phil was under the Katie thumb and not allowed to come out and play because of some unimportant family event. We always knew Phil was a mouse, but quite frankly we expected Max to have more backbone- but he too was under Katie’s malign influence and not allowed to play. That left us taking the field without both regular full backs, only one sub and two rank amateurs running the team. It wasn’t looking good and the odds were Ian and Mark having to explain defeat to Keith, who as we know doesn’t like losing. Nick and Michael went to full backs and Connor dropped in to centre back (more about Connor later).
The game started with everyone playing their positions and working opportunities really well, Chris worked his line down the right and got some great balls into the box. We went one up when Harry typically controlled the ball with ease, looked up and placed his shot in the far corner exactly where he intended. Although we had most of the play in the first half, we didn’t convert our chances, and with some sloppy tackling, and players out of position (even more about Connor later!), we went into half time at 1-1. “Mark you can tell Keith” was Ian’s first comment. To make matters worse, there were no bacon rolls available, which incidentally are £1.50 at West Park.
We started the second half like a train, with a well worked goal from Chris straight from the kick off and proceeded to work hard for the next 30 mins. A goal from Myles was wiped out after a flag from the linesman which was so late it should be employed by British Rail, and a penalty for Cian was denied on the basis that Cian had no business smashing into the defender’s boot with his knee. It was obvious we were going to have to win the hard way. Now for Connor. In the first half it could be argued that he was out of position occasionally and it was a good thing that Nick knows him well enough to cover for him. But in the second half, Connor got his head or boot on every ball and played out of defence with ease. Always keen to get forward, he found himself forward at a corner and as the ball dropped just outside the eighteen yard box (not the half way line) he shaped his body, got his foot over the ball to hit a superb shot over the keeper. As Connor modestly said afterwards, “that was a brilliant goal.” It was, but Connor- the idea is to let other people say it!
The referee was apparently keen to get away to go up to Stamford Bridge (not to ref I hope), but he still managed to find 15 minutes of added time, during which Ridgeway scored a second in the same manner as their first, with some sloppy defending. A good game, played well by both teams, but deservedly won by Grasshoppers after a well organized and workmanlike performance. The managers were especially professional and inspiring. Is that OK dad?
PLAYER RATINGS
Dan 7- had one save to make and made it !
Nick 8 -played out of position for the team and spent most of his time covering for Connor.
Michael 7 –Had some big boots to fill, but gave an assured performance at right back.
Thomas 7 - another disciplined performance. A man of few words!
Connor 9- hot and cold, this week Hot! Zero for modesty! Man of the Match this week.
Tom 8 - policed the midfield and chased everything down.
Harry 8- organized prodded and probed. He won’t be rushed into a pass and gave another performance far exceeding his age. Another cracking goal.
Robert 6- A bit quiet by his normal standards, but still got involved before making way for Duncan.
Chris 7 - A disciplined and hard working performance, supporting both the defence and attack. Took his goal well.
Duncan 6 – Came on in the second half and worked hard up the left flank.
Myles 6 - Made his presence felt and created some great chances. Needs to go to finishing school though. Gets the CRAP award for a quite unbelievable miss from on the goal line.
Cian 8- Worked his socks off again in the hole between defence and attack and was involved in most of the good things we did.
Well done lads and see you next week. Did I mention that the bacon rolls at West Park are a snip at £1.50?
Reporter: Taylor Mitchell
Comments»
Dear Editor,
As with all reporters I feel that there has been some jouralistic licence employed in this piece which I feel must be addressed. I am by no means under the thumb. This is a total innacuracy.
Those that know me will confirm that it is much worse than that. Indeed the sole print of Kate’s Dr Martin boot is clearly viasble on the back of my neck. A mere thumb would be devine!
However well written Taylor and if I’m good for the rest of the week Kate will hopefully give me some extra pocket money so that I can get a bacon roll at West Park on Sunday. Apparently they are only £1.50.