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SMJFL - Under
12's
Division 1 Match
Sunday 23rd March 2003
Venue: Home
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Hazel Grove Utd
U12's
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1 -
2
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Reddish Villa
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Andy
Denny
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With the lads still on a high from last weeks
win, it was important for the team to maintain their good form in
today's game against Reddish Villa, who are currently flying high in
the league. The team has made huge progress over the past couple of
months and the manager must be well happy with the increased
commitment shown on the pitch. It was a game of two halves today, as
Grove played a very good containing game of football in the first
half without giving their opponents much time to settle. Right from
the kick off, and the lads were called into early action when the
Villa attack almost made something out of nothing when a mix up in
the Grove defence saw Chris off his line and the ball bobble on for
Gareth to clear off the line. Two minutes later and a shot from a
Villa player hit the side netting. After this early scare the Grove
settled into some good football. Scott had a good opportunity saved
by the Villa keeper from a cross into the box by Andy Denny. Moments
later and a great shot by Andy Shepherd forced another good save by
the keeper for a Grove corner. The corner kick was lofted into the
Villa box by Scott and saw Gareth latch onto the ball for a shot just
wide. Grove where having a good spell of football, only interrupted
by a run of good offside decisions and the away teams obvious
inability to adapt to Groves shorter pitch. The breakthrough did come
when a good goal kick from Gareth found the head of Naill who glanced
his header into the path of Andy Denny who managed to poke the ball
past the on coming keeper for one nil. A deserved goal, rewarded for
some excellent football, from Shaun and Calvin in midfield and Andy
Denny with Niall linking up well up front. The lads did come under a
sustained spell of Villa pressure late in the half, but coped well
with excellent defending by Danny and Matt in defence. After
weathering the storm the lads put together two more good chances in
the half, when Andy Denny saw his lob drift just wide and Niall hit
the post with the rebound just over from Andy Shepherd. The half was
almost spoiled when a strange decision by the referee saw a free kick
awarded to Villa just outside the Grove box on the stroke of half
time. Luckily for the home team the shot was blasted well
wide.
The second half came and saw an immediate
improvement from the away team who managed to force a number of
errors from the lads. Villa where looking dangerous at times and it
was only a matter of time before their efforts were rewarded. A ball
that should have been cleared by the Grove defence fell kindly for
the away team to shoot and level the score. Two minutes later and the
away team found themselves in front after an unstoppable shot by a
Villa player gave Chris no chance in the Grove goal. With the home
supporters stunned the Grove manager made a change bringing Matty off
and Jack on. The lads continued to test the Villa defence with a half
chance by Andy Shepherd into the side netting and a shot from Andy
Denny saved by the keeper. With full time approaching their was time
for Shaun to hit the Villa post from a Scott corner and Chris pull
off some excellent saves racing off his line to deny the away team a
third. On reflection a draw would have been a fair result especially
based on the first half performance. I spoke to Steve after the game
who says that although the away team had spells of domination in the
game, he was pleased about the way the lads played and the amount of
chances created.
Man of the Match: Niall
Brooks
(Match reporter: Lee
Elwers)