Dynamo Rangers 2 vs 3 Bootle FC U16s

It was our first fixture since being knocked out of the County Cup, could the lads make amends and show it was a one off or was there concerns to be had.

We’ve played Dynamo numerous times and know how much of a hard working side they are with dangerous players across the park, so the lads had to be on it today.

Bryn had been signed since the County Cup game to add depth and competition to the squad and would be making his debut today.

We arrived in Skem bright and early and were met with a pitch that was like a farmers field but luckily it wasn’t ours, we moved to our designated pitch and the slope it was on was like hill, how would this affect the game?

The lads received a stern team talk following on from the County Cup game as well as the Elite game that was played on Monday, it based around, speed of play in centre midfield, shape without the ball, being compact and getting heads up at all times to make the right decision, they were told if they followed these principles it would go some way to winning games.

So onto the game, it started and instantly I could sense that we would have the bit between our teeth by our speed of play, winning first and second balls and overall compactness across the park, it was pleasing knowing that my talk had been listened too. Seeing and hearing Joel on the pitch was a relief and was proving effective with us being more organised, this was missing in the County Cup as it instantly keeps the lads on their toes throughout. This was enabling us to compete and snuff out the counter attack as the ball was constantly in the Dynamo defensive third with some lovely link up play between the Fab Four up top of Callum, Glen, Tom & Jack causing problem after problem for the Dynamo defence, the pitch and luck was getting in the away of goals for them. Kian and Tom combined down the right to force a corner mid way through the half, Jack came over and floated one of his specialties above and beyond the keeper to land onto Bryn’s head, one nil to Bootle.
With more chances going begging due to good defending and bobbles on the pitch it was another great move by the lads with Glen and Callum involved which ended in Jack threading a through ball to the oncoming Glen through the two centre backs which scraped the post. It wasn’t long though when Bryn won the ball in midfield, fed Tom who squared it to Callum, he beat two men and drilled the ball home into the bottom corner. It was only what we deserved.
We could and should’ve scored more with chances galore being created, would we rue this?
Dynamo were counter attacking into our third and a needless free kick on our left was conceded which was floated in, by passed us all and was headed home, game on.
The first half ended and we were now in a game.
HT 1-2
We would now be kicking uphill which would prove a test for us and give Dynamo advantage, with this in mind we changed to two holding midfielders to nullify any threat. The early signs showed this as a success with Bryn in particular winning the first and second balls in the middle of the park and enabling us to set on the front foot once again. The lions share of possession was with us, giving us time to create chances which went begging once again, this time through lack of composure but I was confident it would come in the end. The half carried on like this but we where starting to lose shape and tire which left us vulnerable to the counter and Dynamo were getting in at times but good defending and Matty in goal were thwarting them, could we hold off.
With less than ten minutes remaining of the half, Dynamo won a penalty through their striker who had worked hard all day. Matty got a strong hand to it but they netted the rebound, 2-2 game on.
Instead of settling for the draw and retreating into a defensive shape, we dusted ourselves down, held our heads high and pressed high up the pitch in search of the winner. Bryn was winning balls, he gave one to Jack who wriggled past two defenders but was felled before he could shoot, Callum stepped up but his free kick scraped the post.
With the minutes ticking away and half chances going by, Charlie, Jack and Bryn combined to win a throw in on the right hand side. We were on the 79th minute, Joel went over and with one of his long throws launched a ball into the box, Bryn rose and made the keeper pull off a save that hit the bar but came down, landed at Tom’s feet for him to tap into the net. The celebrations were a relief from a performance that deserved a win.
FT 2-3

A good disciplined but exciting football display all round, one to be proud of from the lads, keep this up and we’ll win more games than most. We need to keep this up at all times.

Goals: Bryn, Callum & Tom
MOM: Bryn had a great debut, Callum was tireless as was Glen but it goes to Joel for his organisation and leadership on the pitch, pushing the lads at every opportunity.