U13 Deeping Clarets Vs Wittering, Kick off 12:00, Outgang Rd

Team Sheet: Nat Manders Jones, Callum Cawthorn, Ewan McCracken, Sam Bell, Dan Malcolmson, James Russell, George Cushen, Matt Holland. Joe Goldsmith Subs: Owen Jacob, Isaac Fleming

Result: Deeping Clarets 9 – 5 Wittering

Another high scoring and entertaining game began with Wittering taking the kick off and within the first 2 minutes Dan Malcolmson was making his presence felt amongst the Wittering midfield, winning possession for the Clarets and releasing George Cushen who fired towards the Wittering goal, the Wittering keeper was equal to the shot and made a fine save.
Neither team settled into their rhythm and as a result it was on 4 minutes Wittering counter attacked and the Clarets defence left flat footed when a pass split the Clarets defence which left Wittering an opportunity on goal, an opportunity they took well, a great shot on goal burst through the net, Clarets 0-1 down.

Immediately at the restart the Clarets released James Russell down the right wing who crossed the ball only for George Cushen to head against the Wittering crossbar.

The Clarets starting to settle and was playing the ball around the team, keeping possession and making a number of advances on the Wittering goal. It was during one of these attacks that the Clarets uncharacteristically lost possession and a break for Wittering down their left wing was on.

It was route one that caught the Clarets off guard, Wittering keeper hit the ball down the left wing, the ball cut in and a shot was on, it was taken well and within 11 minutes the Clarets 0-2 down.

The Clarets didn’t let the score line phase them and got on with the game in hand, they didn’t wait long before an opportunity created as James Russell crossed in the ball from the right a knock down by Ewan McCracken to George Cushen who made no mistake, the ball fired into the Wittering net, the Clarets down 1-2.

Wittering started the game for the fourth time and a bad centre kick meant that Sam Bell was able to intercept the ball on the left side of play, Sam heading towards goal unchallenged faced the Keeper and let rip with a powerful left footed shot, goal. The Clarets back on level terms, 2-2.

On 25 minutes the Clarets who had firmly camped in the Wittering half was awarded a corner, James Russell delivered the cross, Sam Bell shot at goal and the keeper saved it, the ball rebound into the penalty box and met by the right foot of George Cushen, the Clarets now 3-2 up.

A number of midfield tussles was won competently by Dan Malcolmson who during one of those fights released Sam Bell, who ran into the Wittering penalty box, under a challenge Sam went to ground, the referee without hesitation awarded the Clarets with a penalty. On his hat-trick up stepped George Cushen, stepping a few paces back from the ball, then ran and placed the ball firmly out of reach of the Wittering keeper where it nested itself in the bottom right corner. Clarets now 4-2 to the good and controlling the game.

As the first half approached the Clarets continued the assault into the Wittering half, this allowed the defence, Joe Goldsmith to add support to the attack. It was as a result of a move that started at the Clarets defence that led to the Clarets being awarded another corner. On 31 minutes James delivered a sublime cross which caused mayhem in the Wittering 6 yard box, it was that scramble that presented an opportunity to Ewan McCracken who wasted little time to release a shot, goal, Clarets 5-2.
This is how the first half ended. The Clarets turning round a 0-2 goal deficit to go in 5-2 to the good.

The second half was to become as entertaining as the first, Wittering coming out with gusto and prepared to give the Clarets a game. It wasn’t long when the Clarets via Sam Bell found Owen Jacobs, whose shot went just wide of the Wittering upright.
The score line didn’t faze Wittering, it was on 13 minutes when a lucky break happened and Wittering closed the deficit, the score now 5-3.

A few minutes after the restart the defence via Callum Cawthorn initiated another Clarets attack, via Dan Malcolmson, George Cushen found himself with the ball who immediately spread the play onto the Clarets right wing, the ball crossed and met by the head of Owen Jacob, leaving the Wittering keeper stranded to the spot, Clarets up 6-3.

Clarets keeper, Nat Manders-Jones launched the ball from his hands the ball well controlled by Owen Jacobs who slotted the ball between two Wittering defenders as Ewan McCracken was making his run, beating the off side flag Ewan not breaking stride connected with the ball and beat the Wittering keeper, goal. Clarets 7-3.

With 24 minutes on the clock Wittering’s determination paid off, after a goal mouth melee in the Clarets goal mouth the ball rebounded off Callum Cawthorn for the ball to be greeted by a Wittering player who took his opportunity and found the back of the net, score now 7-4.

It was 6 minutes later after another Wittering attack, a foul occurred in the Clarets box, the referee awarded the second penalty of the game, up stepped the Wittering player who made certain of the goal, score 7-5 and created an exciting end with 5 minutes to go.

With 5 minutes to go the game was poised and Wittering could sense a comeback, it was on 32 minutes the Clarets soon put any hopes of that comeback on ice, Dan Malcolmson pushing the ball through to George Cushen who took the shot which rebounded off the Wittering upright, on hand was Owen Jacobs who made no doubt of the win and secure his second goal of the game, score 8-5 .

It was in the closing stages that the Clarets won a corner, a short corner was taken as Isaac Fleming moved the ball onto James Russell who made the cross into the box, the rebound found Dan Malcolmson at the edge of the box, with his right foot, hit the ball and scored the goal of the game. The Clarets 9-5 up.

Wittering barely had time to start the game as the referee who called time to another exciting game and the Clarets maintaining their 100% home form and now securing another 3 points.

Man of the Match: George Cushen