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Rob Smallwood
Unicorn Platinum Reporter
United Kingdom
150 Posts |
 Posted - 11/02/2007 : 21:42:55
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After the trauma of the last two weeks your roving reporter was hoping for an easier ride this week.
Things looked good from the start - a full squad and a referee too!
The Metros started of where they left off last week, solid at the back (Ben, Hussein and Calum), strong a pacy in midfield(Shaun & Kenny), two wingers in Harry and Eddie and Tom playing the "Mark Hughes" front man role.
Boothstown were repeatedly pushed back, and it came as no surprise when Ben picked up the ball outside the box and struck and superb shot over the keeper only to hit the bar and bounce down. Goal?! Did it cross the line? No goal-line technology here, and no Sky replays to sort it out - but Eddie did the right thing and followed it up, scoring from close range (1 - 0 Lavers  )
Boothstown were reduced to the odd breakaway, most were snuffed out by the back three and Luke saved well the one time they fashioned a shot (although he was lucky when he came out to one he should have stayed for, but although the Boothstown striker went round him there was cover behind and he blazed his shot over).
The Metros though were dominant, and although several players came close Ben finally got his reward, instant control on the edge of the box and then passing it in to the goal (a lesson for some of the others!) (2 - 0 Feeley  )
Half time came and went, and little changed. Kenny, playing out of position produced some great passes and it was only a matter of time before the Metros scored again. This time Eddie needed no help, running down the line and cutting in to fire past the Boothstown keeper. (3 - 0 Lavers  )
This is the Metros though, and they can't do things the easy way.
Boothstown kept going, and started to win the midfield battle, and the Metros defence came under more and more pressure. Good though they are the pressure built and built, and with some of the players looking as though they were not sure where they were playing the shape went, and inevitably Boothstown got a goal back. (3 - 1  )
This encouraged the Boothstown players and crowd. The Metros were now resorting to hitting them on the break, but a combination of some ruthless tackling (how the X-rated tackle on Harry B resulted in a Boothstown goalkick only the referee could explain) and careless control meant that the Boothstown goal was rarely threatened.
Most of the play was now concentrated on the edge of the Metros goal area, and with passions on the touchline getting heated it seemed that all the earlier good work would be undone. Luke's kick outs all seemed to fall to Boothstown players and the ball just kept coming back.
Joe had comeon up front in a return to last year's position, but never looked as comfortable as he has done at the back, and Mattie (good to see him recovered) worked hard with little to show for it - although he put in the strongest tackle I've seen this year to deny Boothstown a scoring chance.
The Metros held out though, and acheived a deserved, if rather Jeckyl and Hyde win.
The referee had a poor second half, and was undoubtedly influenced by the Boothstown travelling support - it is never nice to see the officials put under that type of pressure - something for us all to consider during the heat of the moment!
There were definite lessons to be learnt today, not least that you can't take your foot off the pedal, but it was good to see the goals continuing to go in, and the defence return to their best (last weeks 5 goals was the first time they had conceded more than 3 all season).
Next week couldn't be a better test. Broadheath B, top of the league and away from home. This team have drawn with Broadheath A this year, and if they play as we know they can, they might just be able to do The Falcons a favour in their title chase!
We don't ever choose a Man of the Match - but if we did I'd suggest that Ben showed why he was so missed last week!
Rob
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Edited by - Rob Smallwood on 11/02/2007 21:44:35 |
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U11 Metros v Boothstown Sun 11th Feb 2007
