Disappointing 4 3 defeat against unbeaten Orpington Rovers last Sunday.
We knew this was going to be another hard physical game against a team which were probably all a year older than our boys and we started very slowly and gave away a cheap goal to their main player who scored the first of his four goals after 3 minutes.
However the boys soon started playing their football and nearly equalised with a brilliant 12 pass move starting from Antonio throwing the ball out and ending with Chillu just missing left of the goal. A header just wide from Zain soon followed from a fantastic cross from Jamie so it was no surprise when the equaliser eventually came from a long ball from Ryan over the top to Junior who chipped in beautifully from an acute angle.
At half time could only see us winning the game but again we gave an early goal away again as their main player powered his way through to score.
The boys regrouped and two quick goals from a Jamie Mander free kick and a low driven shot into the corner of the goal from the same player from a sweet flick from Johnnie to lay him up.
We then had multiple chances to score again and put the game to bed but just as you start thinking are we going to rue all these missed chances a tangle of legs results in a penalty for Orpington and subsequent equaliser.
We then still pushed for the winner even with Joe and Jamie playing on 1 leg but that man again (he looked about 30 years old) powers through to score again off the bar.
Last few minutes of the game were played by our corner flag with him shielding the ball and 3 of our players trying to get round him!!!!
Boys can still be proud of their performance against an unbeaten team and am convinced on a better pitch we would have won game comfortably as boys kept trying to play football rather than go direct like their opposition.
Man of the match today I would give to Ryan as is literally unbeatable one on one these days and did a couple of incredible goal saving blocks in the second half on top.
Still very proud of this team in this age group and still think we can win this league as each team plays each other three times and today proves we can beat anyone.
Coaches Vince and Sam
A big thanks to all the parents who supported but also helped with the goals especially Rob with his tie wrap demo before the game.