Stanground 2 - 12 Clarets

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

Result: Stanground 2 – 12 Clarets

Before the game the parents, players, Managers of both teams with the match day officials observed the 2mins silence in remembrance of our fallen Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen.

On time Stanground started the proceedings, it was from the off that the Clarets started to mingle with their opposition. In those first few seconds that the Clarets won possession from Stanground and headed towards Stanground’s penalty area.
The ball rebounded into the air and after numerous headers, and still in the first minute Ewan McCracken directed a header over the top of the advancing Stanground Keeper, The Clarets 0-1 up in the 1st minute.

At the restart Stanground tried to build a bit of momentum which was dealt with professionally by the Clarets defence which was made up of Callum Cawthorn, Isaac Fleming and Matt Holland. It was from the defence winning possession that a break was on, the ball passed in field to Dan Malcolmson who played the ball wide to James Russell, who launched a cross into the Stanground penalty area, as the Stanground keeper and Ewan McCracken challenged for the ball, it fell to the feet of George Cushen who rifled a right footed shot goal wards, the Keeper unable to recover in time and the Stanground defenders could do nothing but watch the ball fly into the back of the net and with only 6mins gone, the score, 0-2 Clarets.

The Clarets were now starting to build up their play with some intricate passing across the width of the pitch, the Clarets defence played an important role in supporting their team mates. It was on the 8min mark when the Clarets awarded a throw in, which Matt Holland took and found Dan Malcolmson, in turn he found George Cushen who fed the ball through to Ewan McCracken who released a shot with his left foot, goal, 0-3 Clarets.

As soon as Stanground restarted the game the Clarets through Dan Malcolmson won possession who passed to James Russell who crossed the ball from Stangrounds left flank, the ball broke to Ewan McCracken, this time with his right foot shot at goal and scored, his third of the game. By the 9th minute, 0-4 Clarets.

The game started to settle and Stanground made some attempts to attack the right side of the Clarets defence, Isaac Fleming handled any challenges well and was able to distribute the ball for the Clarets to control possession.

On 13mins, the Clarets awarded a throw in on Stangrounds right wing, Dan Malcolmson controlled the ball well to spread the play from midfield back onto Stangrounds right wing, in doing so he found Sam Bell who after rounding one player put a cross into the Stanground box, the ball edging towards the back post, where James Russell met it with his right foot, he connected well to ensure the score line between the teams widened, goal, 0-5 Clarets.

The Clarets now dominating the game really started to see their impressive passing starting to make holes in the Stanground formation, the Clarets used these gap to make the occasional run on goal, only for some of their attacks to be met by an equally competent keeper, who although had already picked the ball out of the net 5 times ensured the score line didn’t get any wider.
As half-time was approaching George Cushen found himself on the receiving end of a great pass from Sam Bell, and with one eye on where the keeper was shot the ball goalwards, the ball was out of the reach of the keep and rested in the back of the net, goal, 0-6 Clarets.

The whistle blew and the Clarets at half time were 0-6 to the good.

The Clarets began the second half and exchanges during the break meant that Ewan McCracken was subbed for Owen Jacobs, and Isaac Fleming for Joe Goldsmith, Owen up front and Joe at left back.

It was Stanground who started the brighter and caught the Clarets sleeping, as on the 36th minute an attack broke down the Clarets right wing, Stanground cut in and a shot was released, goal 1-6 Clarets.

From the re-start the Clarets attacked and penned Stanground into their own half, after a few minutes of exchange and attempt on goal James Russell, passed the ball to George Cushen who met the ball with a powerful shot, the ball flying between the Stanground posts to rest in the back of the net, this ensured George’s hat-trick, and the seconds hat-trick of the game, 1-7 Clarets.

Within 3 minutes of the restart the Clarets made sure of another opportunity, this time George Cushen breaking down the Stanground left, cutting the ball back for James Russell to release a right footed shot goal-bound and secure the Clarets 8th goal of the game, 1-8 Clarets.

Nobody knew how many more goals was in this game but irrelevant of the score-line Stanground did give the Clarets a few frights, in all credit, Stanground continued to battle on and never let their heads drop.

On 49mins, the Clarets began an attack, James Russell now having the run of the park, this time from the centre of the field, James found George Cushen who in turn laid a pass to Owen Jacobs whose back was facing the goal, and with pure technical skill Owen passed the ball through two Stanground players to give him the space to shoot, which he did to ensure the Clarets lead extended further, a great piece of individual footwork leading to a well-deserved goal, 1-9 Clarets.

At the back of the Clarets defence stood Matt Holland, Matt throughout the game dealt with any challenge that came his way, encouraging his team mates on and helping them build up the next foray into the Stanground half.

In the 53rd minute the Clarets awarded a short corner taken between Matt Holland and James Russell, which allowed James more space on the ball to direct a cross which found Sam Bell, who with his left foot, drove the ball passed the Stanground Keeper, goal, 1-10 Clarets.

Another substitution after the goal off came George Cushen for Ewan McCracken, the effect of the change almost instantaneous as the Clarets attacked the centre of the Stanground defence the ball landed at Owne Jacobs’ feet who let off a shot, the Stanground keeper fumbled the ball as it re-bounded towards Ewan McCracken who made certain of the Clarets 11th goal of the game. 1-11 Clarets.

On the 58th minute a lapse of concentration cost the Clarets to concede a second, as the Clarets was attacking the ball broke to Stanground and with the Clarets players in high offensive positions they asked too much of their team mates in defence. The defence coped well only to concede a corner but it was the oncoming corner that allowed Stanground in at the Clarets back post, it was only what Stanground deserved given their spirit and never say die attitude they showed during the game. 2-11 Clarets.

The Clarets Manager made a final change to the team, bringing on new signing Archie Parkinson for Matt Holland. This was Archie’s first competitive game and when required used his strength and bravery to ward of any Stanground player approaching his area.

The game now coming to a close and on 66mins, the Clarets won a corner, taken by James Russell and Sam Bell met the ball with his head and directed it goal-wards beating the Stanground Keeper, 2-12 Clarets.
Stanground wanted to see the game out fighting and it was only a brave and outstanding save from Nat Manders-Jones that stopped Stanground from scoring.

The referee brought the game to an end, the Clarets securing another 3 points and a 100% away record so far.
The two team next meet at the end of November in the Hereward Cup.

Man of the Match: Matt Holland