Bootle FC U16s 3 vs 3 Derby Juniors

The young Bucks were today looking to keep up the momentum after beating Precision last week but today’s opponents Derby Juniors always provide a stern test.
Our last nine meetings with them reads, one win, two defeats and six draws.
The last meeting took place a few months back where the Bucks ran out deserved winners, could we keep the run.

After a fairly dry week, we chose pitch 6 on Clubmoor to play on but the grass hadn’t been cut so it was a case of the best of a bad bunch.

The lads looked keen and focused in the warm up, ready for the game so there appeared to be no worries from that side, we would be as confident as ever despite missing Bryn.

We kicked off and instantly Derby were at it, showing more energy and winning more balls and generally putting us under pressure. We were struggling to get out of our area or putting two passes together, this lasted for a whole 25 minutes and in that time we conceded two easy goals, it was going two ways a high defeat or us turning it around which we have done previously.
Not long after this after good combination play from Glen and Tom put Jack through on the edge of their area, he hit a speculative shot which rebounded into the net. Just the tonic we were looking for.
Minutes later Jack found himself on a 1v1 with the keeper after a good through ball from Tom but his shot went just wide, Tom was supporting and maybe if he’d been played in we could have equalised. The last 10 minutes of the half played out with the Bucks gaining a foothold.
HT 1-2
The lads were told at half time that this game wasn’t over and that we were certainly still in it but we had to press high more and in groups, win the first & second balls and be quicker with our forward passes.
They delivered this to the letter and more throughout the second half, I couldn’t have asked for more, it was possibly one of the best 40 mins we’ve played in terms of work rate, team spirit, energy, pressing and chances created.
Each time Derby attacked Joel was on hand to quell any threat ably assisted by Sean, Jacob and Ell R. The midfield three were working in tandem with Tim standing out and leading the way, the front three were creating chances galore but were stopped by great keeping and solid defending. There was nothing that they could do with our equaliser after Tom burst into the box on the left hand side the ball fell to Jack who rifled an unstoppable shot past the keeper, game on. The energy and positivity that this goal gave was making us believe that the game was there for the taking, which it was, the lads were winning the ball in midfield or cutting out counter attacks and setting us on our way but it was gridlock.
Callum now in midfield ran through fed Tom who played a ball into Glen he beat two defenders, caused confusion in the box, saw his shot saved by the keeper but it fell straight to him, he eased himself to slot home past two defenders sliding in to try and stop the goal.
It was what we deserved but Derby were still in it.
With less than ten minutes remaining we lost the ball on the left hand side and a cross came in which went over the keepers head for their player to slot home, our lads and line appealed for offside but it was ignored and the goal was given.
The half petered out and the ref blew his whistle.
FT 3-3

Another highly competitive game and enjoyable game with with Derby out the way, if we could keep the second half performance up and start it from the beginning of games we would certainly do ourselves justice more.

Redrum in the Cup next week, which will be another tough game.

Goals Jack x 2, Glen x 1
MOM It goes to Tim who led the way with his energy and pressing but a special mention to Joel who was outstanding at the back.