Eagles U16 Lightning Vs Keyworth Utd (Friendly)

LIGHTNING THWARTED

13/6/21

The under 13 Lightning squad never fail to entertain and this game was no exception! Credit to both teams in a highly competitive game played in good spirit. The friendly had been hastily arranged as we had no fixture and thank you to Keyworth for hosting us on their brand new 3G pitch. Matt button kindly agreed to referee and the old man, Steve, ran the line – phew!

The game kicked off with a temperature of 27 centigrade!

Starting line up: Olivia, Kayleigh, Isla, Edie, Chloe, Autumn, Keira, Molly, Sharay

Sub – Mia

Before we went on the pitch the message was – let the ball do the work and save your energy!

The early stages were fairly even and then Lightning began to take control and making chances, Sharay twice going close. We had settled into a good tempo as Chloe pulled the strings from her defensive midfield position. Then a break from Keyworth saw us out of position and as a cross came in, Isla, in trying to steer the cross wide, put the ball past Olivia. Very unfortunate and absolutely nothing Isla could do! 1-0 to Keyworth.

Lightning are a resilient bunch and carried on taking the game to Keyworth, with the back three comfortable and setting up attacks. Olivia, ever watchful for the long ball. Midfield was working well and Sharay was a constant threat up front. Inevitably we equalised and who got it – Sharay, of course. Receiving a ball from Chloe she skipped past two defenders, ran into the box and smashed the ball across the keeper into the far corner! 1-1 and game on.

At half-time Vicki just said keep playing this way, it’s looking good. Mia came on for Molly, with Sharay moving out wide and Mia taking Sharay’s position. The game now changed, with Lightning controlling possession and Keyworth playing on the break. Sharay had a couple of chances going inches wide, Chloe hit one from 20 metres straight at the keeper and Autumn fizzed one past the post.

With 15 to go we changed keepers to give Edie a little match practice. Olivia took Edie’s place in defence and Molly came back on for Mia with Sharay back as striker. We still looked good; passing and movement excellent, chances not converted, but still looking comfortable. Then with only a couple of minutes to play Keyworth broke down the left, sucked in the defenders and a cross field pass to the left was at the feet of the Keyworth winger, who took a touch, moved inside and placed it past Edie. We had one last attack, with Molly breaking forward, but shooting wide. So it finished 2-1 to Keyworth but a super game to watch and we knew we had played well.

Player of the Match was Edie for a faultless display, both in defence and midfield.