Thurlby Tigers Vs U13 Clarets

U13 Thurlby Tiger Vs U13 DRFC Clarets, Kick off 14:00,

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

Result: Thurlby Tigers 1 – 3 Clarets

Before the game the Clarets suffered injury to a player during warm up, leaving them with only one sub for the game. A game that has always proven tough for the Clarets as this has been a team the Clarets historically have never beaten.

The conditions the game took place in started bad and got worse as the game progressed. Thurlby started the game and both teams in the early exchanges cancelled each other out, weather condition made it hard for both teams to adopt their own style of football.

Due to the injuries suffered by the Clarets it meant that the team had to be set up in a different formation, choosing the midfield diamond as the preferred option.

12 minutes had gone, neither team although having chances at goal could not dominate the game, nor put away any chances they had.

28 minutes in and the game poised at 0-0, Sam Bell took a heavy challenge to the foot, causing him to limp off the pitch and play no further part in the game. On came Archie Parkinson, defender, which meant again the Clarets formation changed again to 3-3-2.

The impact was immediate, on the 29th minute Dan Malcolmson found George Cushen breaking down the left wing, the ball placed nicely in front of him meant he could strike the ball without breaking stride, George connected well, and on its way towards the goal it took a deflection from a Thurlby player, leaving the tigers keeper rooted to the spot, only to watch the ball hit the back of the net. Goal to the good, Clarets take the lead, 0-1.

The game started to heat up between the two teams, with the Clarets defending the top spot, and the tigers, knowing if they won would climb a few places up the league and be the first to beat the current league leaders.
Both sets of defences were called into action with Callum Cawthorn, Isaac Fleming and Archie Parkinson making some desperate tackles to keep at bay the tigers attacks.

It was on the stroke of half-time, when the tigers won a corner, the Clarets defence partly cleared only for the tigers to have a clear header in the Clarets box, goal, the tigers drew level, it was 1-1 and all to play for in the second half.

The Clarets knew that the tigers had their tails up and was looking for the next goal, it was important that they remained a strong unit, although it was clear what the tigers was playing for it did not distract the Clarets from their aim, it was within the 36th minute of the second half that James Russell let loose with a powerful shot which the tigers keeper spilled, Ewan McCracken was on hand to respond and made certain the ball ended up in the back of the tigers net with a thundering shot as the ball hit the roof of the net, goal, 1-2 Clarets.

The tigers continued their assault on the Clarets goal and there was some fantastic saves needing to be made by the Clarets Keeper, Nat Manders Jones, who met a low drive that was goal-bound, and tipping it round his post.

It was on 42 minutes when the Clarets broke through again as George Cushen broke down the tigers right wing, crossing the ball into the penalty area, where James Russell met the ball, controlled it well and with his right foot, blasted the ball towards goal, the tiger keeper, who had been equal to most attacks could not stop the ball on this occasion, goal, tiger 1 – 3 Clarets.

It was the conditions that played havoc with both teams as the rain just poured down, for the remainder of the game the Clarets were able to contain any attack the tigers threw at them and the game remained 1-3 Clarets until the referee blew the final whistle.

The Clarets beat the tigers for the very first time, maintaining their winning record keeping them top of the U13 0v0 league.

Man of the Match: James Russell