Netherton 3 - 1 Deeping Clarets

U13 Netherton Vs U13 Deeping Rangers Clarets, 1st March’15 Kick off 10:30, The Grange

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

Result: Netherton 3 – 1 Clarets.

This was the first encounter of these two team so far this season, and with the top of the 9v9 league so close between three team, this result for both teams an important one in their search for the League Championship.

Conditions on the day was tough, the wind was to play a significant factor in the game that was about to kick off.
Netherton started the proceedings and elected to kick into the wind, this meant that the Clarets had to take advantage of the wind.

For both teams controlling the ball was proving problematic and it was interfering with either team being able to build momentum.
It was on 4minutes when the first opportunity did come and it fell to the Clarets, Owen Jacobs beating his player and at the edge of the area let loose with a powerful low drive which looked almost a certainty to creep in at the bottom of the post, Netherton’s keeper quickly down and was equal to the shot as he tipped it round his left upright.

The Clarets couldn’t take advantage from the following corner as the ball with the wind behind it floated over everyone and out for a Goal kick.

The Clarets did manage to pull together a string of passes which allowed them to progress forward, and start to dominate possession of the ball, transferring that into goals given the conditions was proving problematic.

18minutes in the Clarets broke through the Netherton midfield laid the ball out left to Sam Bell who with the wind behind him hit the ball from outside the area, only for it to hit the cross bar and go out for a goal kick.

Netherton had their moments and were strong on the counter attack, moving the ball swiftly through the Clarets formation, they were held up every time either by the formidable defence of Harry Crunkhorn, Callum Cawthorn and George Cushen, or the wind.
This made it even more important considering the size of the Netherton players that the Clarets seized upon the advantage of having the wind behind them.

The Clarets played some nice intricate football, and worked the ball into the Netherton box, unfortunately only to see their opportunities wither away. This was not a game for nice football, it was a shoot on site approach that was required.
The half-time whistle blew and the score 0-0. The Clarets failed to take any advantage of the conditions and new that backs were against the wall in the second half.

The Clarets did make some changes, Matt Holland placed in a Central Midfield Defence positions for Dan Malcolmson, and Isaac came on for Ewan McCracken, moving George Cushen into a striker role alongside Owen Jacobs.

Going into the second half the Clarets knew that pressing the ball, closing down the opponents to stop the shots was going to be key to disrupting the Netherton team.

Unfortunately while there were some good individual performances from players within the Clarets the team performance was struggling and the Clarets finding it hard to get out of the blocks during the second half.

It wasn’t long when Netherton were awarded a free-kick midway into the Clarets half, with the wind behind them a shot at goal was definitely on, unfortunately the Clarets wall could do nothing to stop the ball. With the wind behind it, the ball picked up momentum and Nat Manders Jones could do nothing but push the ball away, straight away it came back in the box and the Clarets failing to deal with the second phase of the attack conceded their first goal in 4 games. 1-0 Netherton.

The Clarets found themselves a goal behind, in all credit their heads did not drop and almost from the centre spot the ball was moved onto the right wing, and crossed in by James Russell, the ball fell to George Cushen who rounded his opponent and his shot beating the Netherton Keeper only to be saved by the upright.

Shortly after Netherton on another attack managed to reach the Clarets penalty box, Matt Holland made a tackle from behind going through the Netherton player to reach the ball, without hesitation the referee pointed to the spot, Penalty.
After a few moments of trying to stop the ball from blowing away the referee was happy the penalty could be taken. Netherton struck the ball well, the ball destined for the back of the Clarets net, yet Nat Manders Jones managed to get to the ball, make the save; the shot to powerful to hold could only be pushed away, the Clarets team to slow to react meant the ball fell to a Netherton player who made no mistake on the rebound. Goal 2-0 Netherton.

It was after this the Clarets made their final change, Joe Goldsmith coming on for Owen Jacobs.
The Clarets now 2-0 down and facing a uphill struggle to get anything out of the game, and it only got worse, on the 60th minute another free-kick awarded to Netherton about 5 yards out of the Clarets box.

As before with the wind behind them there was only one thing on Netherton’s mind, shoot, Nat was equal to the shot and the ball was well cleared, only for it to be shot straight back in, Nat was lined up to catch the ball when it took a swerve in the air and went by the Clarets keeper, goal 3-0 Netherton.

The game now beyond the Clarets it was a case of damage limitation. The Clarets got the game under-way again and within two minutes found themselves in the Netherton box, Joe Goldsmith received the ball and attacked from the Clarets right, beating one player in the six yard box and releasing the ball with his right foot goal-wards, Goal, the Clarets got their consolation goal and kept the goal difference down.

With only 8minutes left the Clarets laid onslaught to the Netherton goal, but chance after chance could not be converted. The referee blew the final whistle and the Clarets fell not to a technically better team, but a team who played the conditions better. Nonetheless, 3 points lost and a dent to their run up for the league championship.

Man of the Match: Callum Cawthorn